Celiac Disease

Each patient experiences a different type of recovery after having your gallbladder removed.

Unfortunately, some people who think they’re going to feel better than they did prior to their surgery don’t get what they expect – at least not immediately.

Doctors call this phenomenon “postcholecystectomy syndrome.” Cholecystectomy is the word medical personnel use for a gallbladder removal procedure.

As many as 4 out of 10 people who have their gallbladder removed may have this happen following their operation. Why does this happen? It’s because the bile duct continues to accumulate bile. The bile duct is a tube that carries bile between the liver and the gallbladder.

Here are some things to expect in the days after your gallbladder removal surgery.

There’s bound to be some swelling and bruising in the area of the surgery. This only makes sense. Your body has been somewhat traumatized – even if you had laparoscopic surgery, which is much less invasive than the traditional type.

Shortly after your surgery, you may also experience some discomfort as a result of the air that was pumped into your abdomen during the procedure. The reason your doctor inserts air in this way is to open up space to manipulate his or her instruments. If you’re feeling a lot of discomfort because of this, you can ask your doctor for some pain relief medications.

You’re also likely to struggle a bit when trying to move about, especially when you need to sit down or get up from a sitting position. At least for a few days, you may find “bathroom time” somewhat uncomfortable. Abdominal muscles will need at least several days to heal before soreness fades.

It’s typical to have more gas and bloating than usual for several days after your procedure. Diarrhea often occurs too. Some patients get constipation instead of diarrhea. This happens infrequently, so there’s no reason to be worried if it happens to you. If bowel movements become somewhat distressing, check with your doctor to see what he or she can recommend to help.

Your digestive system may be unpredictable for a while. This is normal. You’ll probably do well eating low fat or fat-free, light foods only. Low cholesterol foods and cholesterol-free foods are generally considered to be a good idea for a while.

Most people who have had a gallbladder operation do better if they eat smaller meals for a while. Big meals, especially cholesterol-rich, fatty ones, may be difficult for your digestive system to handle right away. But make sure you get enough food because your body needs fuel to help with post-surgical recovery.

You can start testing your digestion in the weeks after your operation to see if it can handle some heavier foods.

Getting some exercise can be a good thing, but be careful. It’s important to use discretion. Be mindful of your stitches. Your doctor can give you some guidelines.

Generally speaking, it’s important to keep your stitches dry, so ask your doctor about baths and showers.

Most of the time, you can expect a follow up appointment with your doctor about one week after your operation. Your second follow up appointment will probably take place in 4-5 weeks.

Would you like to get additional information on having your gallbladder removed and related topics? Click on What Happens After A Gallbladder Removal Operation. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television journalist with a special interest in topics related to kidney health. You can read more of his articles at http://www.gallbladderhealth.info.

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