I know below is "book", but I really wanted to share in hopes that it will help others and we all ended up here looking for different info...
After being a stable weight for all my life (even after births of 5 kids), I found the past 4 years I have put on 30 pounds and was unable to lose no matter what. I have never had any gallbladder problems. But on 3-15-16 around lunch time I suddenly got seriously different pain at the center of ribs just beneath the breast area. The pain continued to worsen over the next 3 hours and then I started having uncontrollable vomiting. This led to being driven to the ER. Suffice to say, I ended up having both a gallbladder and appendix inflamed, infected, and at the point of rupture.
After being started on morphine for pain and massive IV antibiotics, I had laproscopic surgery and had both removed. (I learned from laprascopic tubal ligation years ago to ask for and take ibuprofen/motrin as soon as possible to help get through the "gas" pain from trapped carbon dioxide after laprascopic surgery. Unless unable to take it, it is amazing the difference in gas pain). I received ibuprofin in the hospital, along with stronger pain meds, and was up walking (with a spotter -- my husband) a couple of hours after returning to my room from surgery. I started eating light food (jello, popsicle, apple juice) right after surgery, and was put on a "normal diet" the next morning which I was able to choose. I went for lighter fare and had fresh mixed fruit (watermelon, grapes and other melons), and whole wheat toast. The food was delicious, and although did not leave me in pain, it did leave me feeling a bit full and triggered my bowel to start working again -- a few uncomfortable trips to restroom but too soon to be from my breakfast. I was also discharged that same morning and just before I left for home my breakfast hit my tummy and another bathroom trip.
I was sent home on antibiotics, pain meds, and a once a day probiotic. At home I took pain meds (and continued with ibuprofin (200-400 mg) for about 3 days. I also stuck more with the brat diet (bananas, jello, toast, gingerale) but also started adding foods with 6g fat or less. I did not have my first bowel movement at home until day 5 and have had 2-3 each day since that vary from soft firmness to diarrhea. (I have actually found that the diarrhea seems to be first thing in the morning before I eat anything. Almost like payback for going without food overnight while I sleep. Maybe that is just me).
When I first came home, I had "gained" 7 lbs from when I entered the hospital which is attributable to all the IV fluids being continued while at hospital. I am now 16 days after surgery -- still 2-3 BMs a day-- getting more energy back each day, feeling better than I have felt in the past few years, and have lost the 7 extra pounds + 8 pounds off my pre-surgery weight (so 15 lbs altogether). I think the biggest food group I am having trouble with is (specifically milk which I like organic 2% so already lowfat. Other dairy like pudding packs or cheese do not seem to be bothering me. I am eating smaller meals more often, and don't seem to have a problem with vegetables, meats, etc.
Also, because removal of the gallbladder means the bile goes directly from the liver into the intestines at a lesser concentration than if it has been stored in the gallbladder fat tends to be very difficult to process and thus is not readily absorbed which means it runs right through with a bowel movement. (You will know if your system is not absorbing fat well because the stool will float in the toilet.) Because important vitamins A, K, E and D are "fat soluble" vitamins (they need fat in order to be absorbed by the intestines during digestion) or else these vitamins pass through with the stool to without being absorbed. I have started using sublingual (absorbed in the mouth under the tongue) vitamin K1, K2, and K3 in one pill, and have picked up Vitamin D3 spray, a multivitamin spray with A and E in it, magnesium, and zinc (all absorbed in the mouth directly into system so bypasses digestion process). (BTW check some other items online regarding the importance of Vitamin D in order to lose weight. A deficiency of Vitamin D reeks havoc on being able to lose weight.) If after gallbladder surgery your body cannot absorb the fat soluble vitamins, it pulls from what is store in the body tissue to use. Once that is not replenished, a vitamin deficiency can result because there is no more stored and no more/not enough being absorbed to use. Although I did not read that magnesium or zinc cannot be absorbed without bile, there is some indication that they work in unison with some of the fat soluble vitamins so it seemed smart to take both sublingually (drops than can be absorbed in the mouth with the vitamins) together.
So what I have learned so far (just my observations or what I am doing based on advice read):
- Most fats have to go through the digestion process and rely on bile at a high enough concentration for the fats to be adequately absorbed by the intestines. Otherwise most just goes right on through and out with bowel movements.
- There are some healthy fats that do not rely on bile (I read this, have tried this and it works for me) to be absorbed. Two that I am using are butter and organic coconut oil. I use these sparingly, but everything I have read says a "no fat" diet is not good. But even if low fat diet, there has to be the ability to absorb those fats. So I figured adding butter and coconut oil that doesn't rely on bile to be processed for absorption at least ensures some fat is being absorbed.
- Ensure vitamin supplements. Try sublingual vitamins OR try ensuring a fat that doesn't require bile to process is taken concurrently with vitamins that will need to be swallowed and go through the digestion process. This can be as simple as having a piece of toast with some butter, or a small bowl of oatmeal with some coconut oil added in.
- More than ever, I have had to conscientiously chew my food more times than I habitually have in my life. Lesson learned: Food goes through system much faster and nothing is more creepy than a whole spinach leaf (from the healthy egg white omelette) showing up in the toilet bowl an hour after you ate it. Just saying. Keeping it real.
- Probiotics seem to help quite a bit to reestablish a good gut bacteria balance -- especially since I (and I am sure others who read this will) received massive antibiotics during this ordeal.
- Invest in some disposable underwear (depends, etc.) for however long it helps. (I have had 2 accidents at home in 2 weeks and this was a lifesaver.) I found it more comfortable to buy up a size as snugger fit was uncomfortable across my tummy. Because of that, I got the larger size and went with the "granny drawers" style so they sit above my navel and don't press on any laprascopic incisions.
These are just things that I have noticed or have worked for me so far into my 3rd week after both appendix and gallbladder removal. I am no doctor, and although many of the above are probably safe for most, everyone is different. Be sure none of these is something you know aggrevates YOUR tummy and digestive system, etc.
Good luck to others in my situation and also to those seeking info on others' experiences both pre and post surgery.
Karen
are you on
my daughter had hers out to save pain and is still suffering.
My daughter had her gall bladder removed for medical reasons and still has bad pain. Yes she has lost a lot weight loss - she now is skeletal thin and depressed.