What to you eat after gallbladder surgery??

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by tarragon

Are these suggestions for life? Or just temporarily? Because if it's for life, that would explain alot of things for me. Since Ihad my surgery several years ago, I get acid reflux easier, I also get bloated easier.

Logically it's food issues for life, since the gallbladder is no longer in play in the digestive system.

Lo fat, lo salt, less spicy, higher lean protein, lo carb and absolutely no fried foods. Unless of course you enjoy being bloated, in pain, and grumpy.

Metamucil a day would always be beneficial to help digestion move through faster. Filling up on fiber filled veggies and fruits are ideal as well.

[h886]

Some say you can eat whatever you felt like eating after the surgery (including our surgeon), but I would still start with very bland foods that are easy to digest--gatorade, broth, jello, crackers. IMHO, you don't want to be twisting your guts around throwing up right after surgery and the meds make some people nauseated anyway. The abdomen is tender for at least a week after surgery and too much bending (like over a toilet) won't be good.

We found that it took some time to work back up to meals that had a lot of fat, spice or meat in them. Those will likely be problematic in the long-term, at least in large portions. In small portions, the family member who had theirs out is now able to eat them again, where they couldn't before the surgery.

Most "bad" foods will eventually be okay in moderation, but try to eat more healthy, fresh foods and compromise. Instead of a big platter of ribs, french fries and cole slaw (which would make anyone sick) most eventually would be okay having small portions of 1-2 of those things (pick the ones you're most craving) with something healthy substituted for the rest. You can eat the things you love again, but you have to be more sensible about it.

[southernnaturelover]

If he starts having the burning bile salts diarrhea he needs to ask about getting some Questran. I still have my gallbladder, but I have IBS(D) and I'm thinking of asking for some myself.

[Wyomama2]

From my own personal experience, avoid all fried foods, spicy foods, fast food of any kind and take a fiber supplement if everything still runs straight through him. I had a horrible time after I had mine out but after several years I finally balanced out and can eat something fried or certian fast foods without it doing more than giving me soft stools. I notice if I eat too much of it, my body definately lets me know. One thing I strongly suggest not doing is taking any kind of anti diahrea medicine for a prolonged period of time if he's having problems with that. I took Immodium for a long time, not daily but probably once a week for a year or so and it really messed me up. I quite doing it when I found out it actually paralyzes your bowels. So it probably took me longer to get regulated because of that also. Everyone is different, he will just have to figure out what works best for him. For some reason eating a lot of roughage doesn't help me unless I also take a fiber supplement when doing it. It's a crap shoot I guess

[Abby852]

If you feel you are having issues with digestion post gallbladder removal, try ox bile. Great reviews, it basically replaces your gallbladder function

[trusso11783]

I didn't change my eating habits at all after my gall bladder was removed. I was never a big fried food eater to begin with but I have McDonalds and other fat food a few times a month. I have never had an adverse experience eating whatever I wanted these past 12 years, even the burning dark brown pepper in Genetal Tso chicken. I do not even miss it.