For example, you’ll need to eat lean protein and low-fat dairy and avoid fatty foods.
This is because thebilefluids that are normally stored in the gallbladder now go directly into the small intestine.
This article explains how gallbladder removal may alter the way your digestive system works.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
There is no standard diet that you should follow after your gallbladder surgery.
Changing your diet allows the bile that remains to work more efficiently in your small intestine.
In most cases, you should probably avoid anything fatty, greasy, or fried.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions
Processed and sugary foods should be avoided too, because they can lead to diarrhea.
You should continue following these guidelines for at least a month after the surgery.
However, doing so will almost always improve bowel function as well as overall health.
It is characterized by:
Persistent PCS may require the extended or permanent use of a low-fat diet.
Fatty Meats
Avoid cuts of meat that contain a lot of fat.
High-Fat Dairy
Whole dairy products are very high in fat.
Some examples include:
Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice.
High-Sugar Foods
Desserts that are high in sugar and trans fat are especially difficult to digest.
Ice cream, cakes, cookies, puddings, and chocolate should only be eaten occasionally and in moderation.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcohol after gallbladder surgery.
Alcohol can cause GI pain along with inflammation of the pancreas.
If you are unwilling to cut out alcohol entirely, avoid sweet cocktails and high-carb beers.
Even sweeter wines, like port and sherry, can cause problems.
This means that:
There isnt a single post-cholecystectomy diet that works for everyone.
Some foods tend to cause more problems than others.
Lean Protein
You don’t need a gallbladder to digest protein.
This means that high-protein foods arent likely to cause you trouble unless they are also high in fat.
Don’t cut out all fats from your diet.
This will significantly lower your risk of bile acid diarrhea andirritable bowel syndrome(IBS).
it’s possible for you to also try dairy-free cheese made from cashews or tofu.
Bile acid diarrheais a common complication of gallbladder surgery.Sphincter of Oddidysfunctionmay also occur.
This causes painful spasms of the valve that connects thepancreasto the intestine.
Other Diet Tips
Your diet will be much more restrictive immediately following surgery.
This will help to prevent nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
Some of these liquids include:
Over the next few days, you will advance to a blandBRAT diet.
If you are already passing normal stools, though, a BRAT diet may not be needed.
If you are on the go, have plenty of low-fat snacks on hand to keep you on track.
This may help to keep you from overeating when you finally are able to sit down for a meal.
After meals, give yourself time to digest your food.
Jumping straight into a strenuous activity after eating will certainly increase the risk of indigestion.
Substitute steamed vegetables for raw vegetables whenever possible.
you’ve got the option to also steam fish or poach chicken rather than pan-frying them.
As a general rule, avoid cooking with butter, lard, margarine, and hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Spicy foods may set you up for indigestion and diarrhea.
Vegetable soups are nutritious and easy to digest.
As you begin easing back into a regular diet, focus on increasing your fiber intake from whole grains.
They include brown rice and barley.
Your body is an interrelated system that strives to maintainhomeostasis(an overall state of balance).
When starting a low-fat diet,constipationis a common response.
Sometimes, you may add too much fiber to your diet by eating extra vegetables and whole grains.
Fortunately, side effects like these tend to be mild and will ease after several days or weeks.
Summary
Some people develop diarrhea and other symptoms after a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal.
Some of these changes, like drinking only clear fluids, last only for a few days.
Fortunately, there are many food choices you’re free to make to help you make this shift.
Discuss them with your healthcare provider or consider seeing a dietitian who can offer advice.
