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One of the most common post-gallbladder surgery side effects is diarrhea. As mentioned before, the function of the gallbladder is to store bile, which contains digestive salts made by the liver. During meals, the gallbladder releases the stored bile salts into the intestine to help with digestion, and after food is digested and absorbed in the intestine, the bile salts are also reabsorbed and recycled. Following a cholecystectomy, the liver must make more bile salts, and more are released between meals. This is necessary because there is no place to store these substances. The problem is that an increased amount of bile salts can sometimes overwhelm the intestines' capacity to absorb them. In this case, the unabsorbed bile salts can prompt the colon to secrete fluids, leading to diarrhea. This scenario is benign and it does not get worse, but each patient should be aware of it. Interestingly, some patients who were prone to constipation before their surgery are happy with this side effect. Also, certain medications, such as Questran, that bind the excess bile salts can be prescribed to patients who experience severe diarrhea.[1]
However, if a pale yellow diarrhea occurs soon after gallbladder surgery, other factors must also be considered. These include new medications that patient may be taking or an infection that may have been acquired in the hospital. If this happens, the patient should discuss these symptoms with the doctor, who will perform appropriate diagnostic testing.[9]
There are also some other gastric symptoms common after a cholecystectomy, often lumped together under the term “post-cholecystectomy syndrome.”
The most common symptoms reported by gallbladder patients include [9]:
- right-sided abdominal pain,
- flatulence,
- bloating,
- nausea.
The reason for these symptoms is unclear. They have no relation to the surgical procedure. Often they were present before the operation and may have been the reason that diagnostic tests and diagnosis were done in the first place.
They may have been mistaken for gallbladder symptoms, which leads to the operation, but since gallstones are so common, finding them does not necessarily mean that they are the cause of a patient's symptoms. That is why the removal of the gallbladder may not eliminate the problems after all. In some cases, these are new symptoms and may indicate a disease in another organ that must be investigated by your doctor.
General Effects Of Gallbladder Surgery
The gallbladder removal can be a shock to your system, but generally, there are no long-term restrictions on your diet after gallbladder removal. However, some patients do complain of increased gas or bloating after meals for up to several weeks after their gallbladder surgery. In most cases, these changes are temporary and will improve within a few weeks of having the operation. If you have had major surgery involving the removal of other organs such as the pancreas, you may have problems digesting your food, and you may not feel like eating much; eating small meals often may seem easier than having three large meals a day.[9]
Ii is important to take care of your bowels after gallbladder surgery. The fact is that 20% of people who have their gallbladder removed experience diarrhea afterward, as the small intestine absorbs a lot of substances that should not be there in such amounts. That is why the extra bile passes into the large intestine or colon. The bile holds water in the large bowel, causing loose and watery stools. After the gallbladder has been taken out, the patient's stools tend to stay in the intestine for less time, which is the reason the patient has more frequent bowels after gallbladder surgery. Diarrhea will improve with time, but unfortunately, it can last for many years, which can make everyday life more difficult.
Being continuously worried about having a bowel-related accident when a person is out can be a great strain, but some things may help. Individuals with this problem could eat a high fiber diet to absorb excess water and make bowel motions bulkier. It’s recommended to consult your doctor which could prescribe anti-diarrhea medicine to slow down the excessive bowel movement.
Some experts recommend avoiding food that can make diarrhea worse, such as tea and coffee, dairy products, spicy and fatty foods. Wearing a small pad might help you prevent embarrassing moments in public and help you feel confident.