5 Tips for Avoiding Discomfort After Gallbladder Removal

Your gallbladder is a small organ near your liver that stores bile, which your body uses to break down fats. The gallbladder releases bile into your stomach after you eat.

But if you’ve been dealing with painful gallstones, your doctor might have recommended gallbladder removal. Once this organ is removed, the liver can take over its bile-based responsibilities.

In other words, you don’t need your gallbladder. That’s why Dr. Elvira Klause offers gallbladder removal as one of her abdominal surgeries at our office in Laguna Hills, California. She can perform your gallbladder removal laparoscopically (minimally invasively) to make your recovery faster and less painful.

We want to provide some tips to help you avoid discomfort after your surgery and as you adapt to life without your gallbladder. We recommend:

#1: Icing the area

Applying a cold pack to your stomach can limit discomfort. Apply the ice for about 15 minutes every couple of hours.

Never apply ice or a cold pack directly to your skin. If you’re wearing a shirt, you can put the ice on top of that clothing. If you’re not, wrap it in a towel before applying it to your stomach.

#2: Watching out for constipation

Constipation is common after surgery. The anesthesia and pain medications can play a role. Add in the fact that your digestive system is adjusting to life without your gallbladder and constipation becomes a widespread issue.

If you’re feeling constipated, we recommend:

Milk of magnesia
Saline enemas
Over-the-counter laxatives
Prune juice
Mineral oil

If these don’t help, contact our office. We can help you treat the constipation to get your digestive system on the right track.

#3: Eating smaller meals

To minimize the strain on your digestive system, eat smaller meals. Smaller meals taken more frequently can help you avoid discomfort after gallbladder removal.

#4: Avoiding caffeine, dairy, alcohol, and spicy foods at first

While constipation is common after gallbladder removal, so is diarrhea. Caffeine, dairy, alcohol, and spicy foods can all make that issue worse. For the first few days, avoid these.

Over time, you can gradually reintroduce foods and drinks you enjoy from these groups. See how your system responds before consuming more.

#5: Cutting back on fat

Because the bile the gallbladder stored helped your body break down fats, ease your system back into managing this type of nutrient. Even once you’ve fully recovered, your body might have a harder time digesting fat.

To stay comfortable, it’s best to avoid high-fat foods like:

Fast food
Fried food
Full-fat dairy
Processed meats
Poultry skin

Throughout your recovery process, stay in touch with us. While you might experience some discomfort — especially immediately after surgery — the pain should lessen with time. If it doesn’t, call our office at 949-245-6910 or connect with us online.