Your gallbladder is located just underneath your liver and releases fat-digesting bile into the duodenum when you eat. There are several conditions that can affect your gallbladder, such as gallstones, acute cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, and on rare occasions, gallbladder cancer. These conditions often require gallbladder surgery, which can sometimes present various side effects. Let’s take a look at what you can expect after gallbladder surgery as well as a few helpful dietary tips.
Changes In Your Body After Gallbladder Surgery
The majority of gallbladder conditions are treated with a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Your gallbladder is not regarded as an essential organ and people typically live a normal life after surgery. However, there are a few potential side effects that you could experience. According to the Mayo Clinic, some studies show that up to 20% of individuals report experiencing diarrhea after gallbladder surgery. This is because bile flows directly into the intestine after surgery, which can potentially irritate the bowel. A very common side effect in the first few post-surgery weeks is bloating. This happens because fat digestion is less efficient without a gallbladder, which can result in gas, indigestion, and bloating.
Approximately 5 to 40% of gallbladder surgery patients report experiencing symptoms collectively referred to as Post-Cholecystectomy syndrome. These symptoms occur due to irregular bile flow and include nausea and upper abdominal pain. Even without a gallbladder, stones can still form in the bile duct itself. This is known as Choledocholithiasis and can cause infection and pain. This is a relatively rare side effect but can potentially arise in people who previously had gallstones. Bile acid malabsorption is reportedly experienced by around 5 to 10% of gallbladder surgery patients. When excess bile enters the colon, it can sometimes overwhelm your intestine’s ability to reabsorb it. This often results in bile acid diarrhea and reduced fat absorption in rare instances.