AFTER EFFECTS OF GALLBLADDER REMOVAL

In regard to the weight gain, I can share with you the way my nutritionist explained it to me...
After gallbladder removal you have a constant flow of bile that is considerably weaker than if it had been simmering and condensing in your gallbladder. The purpose of bile is to break down fats so the body can get the Essential Fatty Acids and fat soluble vitamins it needs. Weaker bile means that it is more difficult for your body to break down and absorb EFAs. When your body senses a shortage of EFAs it panics and stores fat because it thinks it's not getting enough and wants to have some in reserve just in case. After all the body needs EFAs for proper brain function.

SO...after gallbladder removal it's vital to OVER-supplement with EFA's so that body doesn't kick into survival and fat storage mode. For me this means 1 Tablespoon of (mercury-free) fish oil every day, and I eat 3oz of salmon or sardines everyday. I also have a fruit smoothie every morning with coconut oil--the only fat your body doesn't need bile to break down and it also promotes weight loss. I also add 1-2 T of Soy Lecithin to my smoothie, which is a fat emusifier that does some of the work of bile to help your body properly digest fats.

The other thing that will help you properly digest fats is supplementing digestive enzymes (for fats lipase). Taking digestive enzyme supplements (check label- should have lipase plus 4-5 other enzymes) with meals will also help stop bloating, gas and constipation.

Hope this helps!

Guest wrote:
Hi yes I feel the same way especially going to the bathroom. I'm bloated and definately feel like my sides are a big spare tire. I also feel that I have the pain on right sometimes. I just had mine out in Febuary. But I have a question for you. Does your right side of your lower back hurt you? I keep thinking that my bowel has something to do with it. I don't know if their something else going on.


just my opinion. i have had alot of back problems also. sometimes if i do get lucky enough to be right around regular then my back does start hurting me. and it is normally on the left side for me. some days i can actually almost outline my colon it is so bad. i had my gallbladder out about seven years ago and i have been living a nightmare every since. i take meds anytime i get ready to eat but it doesnt always help. just sometimes.

I am having problems on my left side since and when I eat anything I end up in the bathroom. Now I feel a large mass on the left side as well and it becomes knotted up and hard at times. Anyone else experience this and can it be fixed.

I too had my GB out in July 2008. I have gained 20 pounds as well. It does not matter what I do I just keep gaining weight. I went to my doctor and he said the weight gain has nothing to do with my gall bladder. I also have pain in my lower right back. I hope someone can figure out what is going on with us. I least I know it is not in my head like my doctor has told me.

hey,
I also have the problem of diarhea since my gual bladder was removed, but it only becomes a problem when i eat too much fat. So i try to limit it. I was already over weight when i had mine out so no idea if its effected me with weight gain. But i've recently realised that i possibly have back pain when it co-insides with too much fat. I also am getting terrible trapped wind which is increasing the pain in my back.
I've been told by the docc that anything over 6grams of fat per 100g is considered high fat, so i'm going back on a low fat diet to see if it gets rid of the pain i'm getting.
I'll post if it helps me.

I have heard this being a major issue and a friend of mine suffers from this. If it does happen to work or it doesn't, can you let me know how it goes? I'd like to help my friend. Thanks!

I ALSO HAD MY GALLBLADDER OUT IN DEC. 2008 OH THE WORST PAIN EVER I HAD PANCRINTITIS W/ MINE WHICH HOSPITALIZED ME FOR TWO WEEKS. I HAD THE HARDEST TIME AFTERWARD WITH DIAHHREAH SO I WENT TO A GI DOCTOR AND HE PUT ME ON SOME HIGH COLESTEROL PILLS TO STOP UP THE DIAHREAH ANYWAYS MY STOMACH NOW IS ALWAYS SO SOAR MY LOWER BACK ALWAYS HURTS AND I KEEP THINKIN SOMETHING ELSE IS WRONG WITH ME BUT MY TESTS KEEP COMING BACK NORMAL. ALSO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE TIREDNESS I FOUND OUT AFTER MY GB WAS REMOVED I NOW HAVE A LOW B12 SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE B12 SHOTS ONCE A MONTH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE SO I WOULD HAVE THAT CHECKED.

Hi, My name is Eva Sanchez and I had my Gallbladder removed this year 2009. I don't know if anyone have experienced this problem but I lost alot of weight before the surgery happened and now I hate looking at myself because I feel too skinny. I've tried eating alot but it is not helping. I want my own body back. Have anyone experienced this before?

Hi my name is Tee and I had 50-60 stones in my gall bladder forcing me to get my gall bladder removed .I was reading everyone's questions and have a few myself.I am noticing that I have this ugly stomach fat hanging off the sides of me and I even noticed how large mt stomach still is I had the surgery sept.16 2009 ....for the last 3 days I have been throwing up and it starts with a burning feeling in my chest and then my stomach starts to hurt not even talkin about the pain that is non stop on my right side and lower back especially with rainy weather.My menstruals are very unusal use to last for 5 days. And lately its been 2 weeks staight. Please if anyone one knows this feeling respond thank you

I know how you all feel. I'm 19 and it is just disturbing to me all the side effects I have gone through. The only real difference is my weight has been dropping almost scarily. I feel embarassed and in a lot of pain, like my intestines seize up with any sudden movement, the need for a bowel movement, or any strain at all of my abdomen. I don't know what to do...

My gall bladder was removed six years ago as the result of a near fatal accident. My gall bladder was healthy prior to removal so I had not experienced the pain and problems that most of you speak of prior to surgery. I was given no nutrition information and really no one said my diet should be different or that I would experience any discomfort or issues. I was told I could leave the hospital after I had a bowel movement and I clearly remember thinking, they are letting me leave after completing something that was nothing like bowel movements I had experienced in the past. Life has been completely different for me. I plan my menu around the proximity of the nearest restroom. I skip breakfast at times because I may not be able to go when I need to. I have not found "safe" foods. I find my body can handle no fat in the mornings, but I can get away with some fatty foods later in the day. I would appreciate any information on nutrition that would help. I have experienced a little weight gain as others have mentioned, but I am working out again and think that will help tremendously. I worry that as I get older that my condition will worsen... I have had no accidents, but sometimes I am extremely worried that I will not make it. My right arm gets goose bumps and the hair stands up on it just as I have to get to the restroom. I am guessing I am alone on that one.... Anyway thanks for listening.

I had my GB removed 01/05/2010. I spent all of December sick and in pain and not able to eat. I had an ultrasound and they found a ton of stones. 108 was the final count after removal. The surgeon removed it and all was well for the first week or so. Than on the 11th I felt really nauseated and ill. I was constipated and needed to go, I hadn't gone since before the surgery, about 9 days! I felt like a million bucks for 4 days and then on the 15th I woke up and felt ill. I skipped breakfast and went to work, I was miserable for the first 2 hours and then I felt ok afterward. At lunch I went home and ate and it was heavy fats, I knew better but was sooooo hungry. I ate a salad with blue cheese dressing and BBQ rib. I felt icky afterward and took a nap. I got up a few hours later and felt icky still. I was kinda hungry so I ate a pear. Later on I ate a half a cup of icecream. As the night progressed I began to feel worse and worse. All the next day I was in excruciating stomach pain and nausea. I thought I was losing my mind. Yesterday was better but I avoided food too. So I haven't eaten since Friday and I am hungry but terrified to eat. I had 2 bowel movements on Saturday and they were normal. I began diarrhea yesterday with 2 small bouts. I guess I am empty now. I have been able to drink coke and water and may try some jello today or some broth. I don't know if I over did it at work and just ate the wrong things or if this is how things are going to be forever. I feel so lost and out of control with this. I am scared to eat and scared to not eat. I hurt from not eating and I hurt when I do. I don't know what to do. I think I am over hungry since it has been 3 days, but I don't know if its safe to eat. My back aches where it did when I had my GB. I mean I know I should give it a few more weeks but a bunch of my friends had their GB's out and have had no problems at all and say it was the best thing they have ever done. My skin cleared up and I have lost like 25 pounds and that is all good. But at the cost of feeling well sucks. I am mad cuz I had a few days where I felt great! I mean I had soooo much energy and felt so good that I could have danced in the streets! Than the last 3-4 days have been awful. Any ideas or help would be great. :'(

So, I am the poster of this. I just got back from blood work and I have an ultrasound scheduled for this afternoon. Now from what I have read, I might just have over done things and over thought my healing. I also probably ate the wrong c**p. I was just so elated that I had felt good that I thought I was golden and all was well. But...sounds like I might need to give myself some extra time. Also, we shall see if I have any remaining stones or whatever via the ultrasound. If not, than they will do the ERCP and see if there are additional issues. I am scared of the ERCP because of the high incidence of panreatitis. I just wish I could feel good again like I had for those few days. Oh man it was amazing. The energy and the lack of pain...I felt NORMAL, for the first time in over 10 years. My husband was so happy to have ME back instead of the sad depressed hurting angry person I was. Now, I am terrified that I am going to feel miserable for the rest of my life.

Hello,I had my gall bladder removed January 2009. I suffered with gall bladder attacks for 2 winters as no one diagnosed them. It became diseased in November 2008 and i was hospitalized, surgery in january. In that time i was terified to eat, i seemed to have tea toast jello , but i still would bloat and end up in excurciating pain, after surgery, i woke with a real bad pain in my lower right side and it still is there, i also continue to bloat for no reason, feels llike my upper ribs are being pulled or a vice grip , hard to say which. I had lost 30 lbs and now have gained back those and another 25. I did have bowel problems at the beginning , the bile was going through i guess and now i am constantly constipated or diaherra. I have no energy and i wasnt sure if it was me because i hurt my back at work a few months later. so yes pain is constant and so is bowel..My question is...if the gall bladder has a function and a necessary one, and it is removed what then replaces that function and is the problem to all these problems? I believe it broke down fats but i dont know anymore as i still had stones after my surgery also, which bothered my liver and pancreas...i wish doctors would listen and give some answers instead of i don't know and come into emergency if it happens again. well i thought it happened again and i ended upbeing tested for a heart attack again! but it was plurasy and pneumonia..to say the least i am so tired of being sick when it was supposed to make you feel better..good luck i dont know either

I'm not sure if I like reading these notes but I guess I will know soon what the outcome will be of my surgury for gallbladder removal. It is happening tomorrow March 2, 2010.
I don't mind the loose bowels as I am the opposite now. Wish me luck!
genuinelady2

I read some of the post on this site a few months ago as I was looking for people who had similar experiences to myself.
I had my gall bladder removed 12 months ago and I was finding I couldn't wear a bra and I was constantly undoing my trousers. I felt really depressed. I was trying to loosing weight for my daughters wedding and found it impossible. While looking for information about this I came across Sherry Brescia "no pain in one day" I downloaded her info and was so desperate I gave it a try. It was a 4 day taster of her program. Both my husband and I did the program and by the end of the week I felt so much better. I lost a couple of Kilo's so continued to do it. I now find I don't want to eat certain foods as I feel so good. I don't care if I don't have alcohol, I have more energy, vertually no pain and feel great. If you;re as desperate as I was give it a go. And know I don't know this woman. I live in Australia and she is in the US. I just know how depressed I felt and if you all feel the same - give it a go. Ruth