Gallbladder disease is a common problem for millions of Americans. While some may never develop symptoms, many people benefit from surgery to remove the gallbladder, relieve pain, and prevent problems in the future. Since your gallbladder plays a role in digestion, many people wonder if having it removed means they’ll have to alter their eating habits, too.
As leading gallbladder surgery providers, the Desert West Surgery team is dedicated to helping patients recover from their procedures as quickly and easily as possible. Here, learn the basics about your gallbladder, including what dietary changes you’ll need to make in the days, weeks, and years after your procedure.
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located under the liver in the upper right part of the belly. The primary job of the gallbladder is to store a digestive juice called bile that helps break down foods (particularly fats) so they’re easier to absorb. By breaking down fats, bile helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A and E.
In addition to storing bile, your gallbladder helps regulate its release via a special opening called the bile duct. When you eat food, your digestive system signals your gallbladder to release bile to break down and process foods efficiently.
Sometimes, the gallbladder becomes inflamed, or small, hard stones (gallstones) form, preventing the flow of bile and causing significant pain. In most instances, inflammation, stone formation, and other gallbladder diseases require cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal.
Cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure that can be performed using tiny incisions and minimally invasive techniques or using an open technique with a larger incision. Our approach depends on many factors, including the severity of your condition.
Like many surgeries, gallbladder removal does require some adjustments to your diet during the first couple of weeks while your body heals. For those 2-3 weeks, you’ll need to limit your fat intake first to avoid digestive upset and symptoms like cramps and bloating. That includes fatty animal products and plant-based foods with high-fat content, like nuts and avocados.
After that initial healing period, the good news is that most people don’t require any special diets in the months and years following surgery. Your liver continues to produce bile, but instead of being stored and released, bile is released directly from the liver into the digestive tract on an as-needed basis.
Some people sensitive to fats or have other digestive issues may still need to follow a low-fat diet after gallbladder removal. Maintaining a food diary is a good way to keep track of any symptoms you have so that you can amend your diet appropriately.
If you have gallbladder disease, surgery is typically the best way to find long-term relief and prevent serious complications in the future. To learn more about cholecystectomy and our different surgical techniques, call Desert West Surgery and schedule a visit at the Las Vegas location nearest you.
