Preparing for gallbladder surgery, known as a cholecystectomy, involves several important steps, with nutrition being a crucial, often overlooked aspect. Adapting your diet before and after gallbladder surgery is one of the smartest things you can do to avoid complications and speed up recovery. This article provides a detailed overview of dietary considerations before and after gallbladder removal, drawing upon expert recommendations and research.
Understanding Cholecystectomy
A cholecystectomy is a surgery to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. A cholecystectomy is a common and safe operation and usually carries only a small risk of complications. It is usually done by inserting a tiny video camera and special tools through several small incisions to see inside your abdomen and remove the gallbladder. In some cases, one large incision may be used to remove the gallbladder.
The Gallbladder's Role and Post-Surgery Adaptation
The gallbladder plays a key role in digesting fats. Once it’s removed, your body must adapt to processing fats without the bile regulation it once had. Even months after surgery, your digestive system may remain sensitive to certain foods. Following gallbladder removal, a doctor may advise a person to consume foods high in fiber to help manage temporary side effects, such as gas, diarrhea, and bloating.
Pre-Surgery Dietary Guidelines
The Night Before
Eat nothing the night before your surgery.
Medications and Supplements
Stop taking certain medicines and supplements. Tell your health care team about all the medicines and supplements you take. Continue taking most medicines as prescribed.
Read also: Diet Recipes for Gallbladder Health
Foods to Include in Your Diet
While there is no specific diet for a healthy gallbladder, following some guidelines can help keep the gallbladder healthy and functioning as well as possible. Dietary choices, such as eating protein-rich vegetables and getting plenty of fiber, may help keep the gallbladder healthy. Some foods may help reduce the likelihood of gallstones and other gallbladder problems.
Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats help reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Cholesterol buildup in the gallbladder can cause gallstones.
Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fats include:
- Avocados
- Peanut butter
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Some oils, including:
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Sesame oil
- Peanut oil
- Safflower oil
Fiber
Fiber supports digestive health, and it may help reduce the risk of gallstones. A person should aim for at least 28 grams (g) of fiber per day.
Fish and Fish Oil
A 2019 study suggests that people with a diet rich in fish oil are less likely to develop gallstones than those who do not consume a lot of fish oil. This may be because omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may help protect against the development of gallstones.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Examples of white fish that can provide a good source of omega-3 include:
- Halibut
- Sea bass
- Sea bream
- Turbot
Vegetables High in Protein
Protein is essential for the repair and growth of body tissues. Red meat and dairy products are good sources of protein, but they can also be high in fat. A high fat intake can have an adverse effect on the gallbladder.
Examples include:
- Beans, such as kidney, black, and fava beans
- Peas, such as chickpeas, split peas, and black-eyed peas
- Lentils
Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Foods that contain high levels of vitamin C may help protect the gallbladder. There may be some connection between low levels of vitamin C and the amount of cholesterol in the gallbladder, though more research is necessary.
Examples of foods rich in vitamin C include:
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Kiwifruit
- Red pepper
- Green pepper
- Broccoli
- Tomatoes
Foods to Avoid or Limit
Some foods may increase the risk of developing gallbladder disorders such as gallstones. Consuming low amounts of fiber and vitamin C may also increase the risk of gallbladder disease or gallstones.
- Low-fat foods: Avoid high-fat meats, fried foods, and dairy.
- Foods with highly refined sugars
- Foods high in fructose
- Foods high in saturated fat
- Fast food
- Fried meat
- Fried eggs
- Oily fish
- Fatty processed meats, such as:
- Sausages
- Burgers
- Bacon
- Lamb
- Full fat dairy products, such as:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Butter
- Cream
- Hard cheese
- Pizza
- Pastries
- Cakes
- Cookies
Where possible, a person should try to choose low fat options of the foods they consume.
Post-Surgery Dietary Adjustments
Most people won't have digestive problems after a cholecystectomy. Your gallbladder isn't essential to healthy digestion. Some people may experience occasional loose stool after the procedure. This generally resolves over time. How quickly you can return to usual activities after a cholecystectomy depends on which procedure your surgeon uses and your overall health. People having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be able to go back to work in 1 to 2 weeks.
Following gallbladder removal, a doctor may advise a person to consume foods high in fiber to help manage temporary side effects, such as gas, diarrhea, and bloating.
Foods that may be beneficial include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Brown rice
- Wholemeal bread
A person’s doctor will provide them with more information about any dietary changes they may need to make following gallbladder removal.
Debunking the Gallbladder Cleanse
A gallbladder cleanse, flush, or detox is a dietary trend that scientists have described as “misleading.” Supporters say it can reset the gallbladder, flush out gallstones, improve digestive health, and enhance its function. Anecdotal accounts suggest it involves consuming a restricted diet and then taking Epsom salts, olive oil, and lemon juice. There is little evidence to support this trend, and experts say such recommendations may be dangerous. Some people have reported seeing “stones” leave the body in stools, but analysis has shown these to be clumps of oil and lemon juice.
Preparing for the Surgical Procedure
Before the Procedure
A cholecystectomy is performed using general anesthesia. This means you won't be awake during the procedure. Anesthesia medicines are given through a vein in your arm. Once the medicines take effect, your health care team will place a tube down your throat to help you breathe.
During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes small incisions in your abdomen. A tube with a tiny video camera is placed in your abdomen through one of the incisions. If your surgeon is worried about possible gallstones or other problems in your bile duct, an imaging test may be used. This might include an X-ray or ultrasound. Then your incisions are closed, and you're taken to a recovery area.
A laparoscopic cholecystectomy isn't right for everyone. Sometimes your surgeon may begin with a laparoscopic approach and find it necessary to make a larger incision. During an open cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes a 6-inch, or 15-centimeter, incision in your abdomen below your ribs on your right side. The muscle and tissue are pulled back to reveal your liver and gallbladder. The incision is closed, and you're taken to a recovery area.
After the Procedure
You'll be taken to a recovery area as the anesthesia wears off. Then you'll be taken to a hospital room to continue recovery.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: People are often able to go home the same day as their surgery. Sometimes a one-night stay in the hospital is needed. In general, you can expect to go home once you're able to eat and drink without pain and can walk without help.
- Open cholecystectomy: Expect to spend 2 to 3 days in the hospital recovering.
What to Expect in the Hospital
Clothing and personal items: Most people go home the same day of their cholecystectomy. However, complications can occur that require one or more nights in the hospital. Plan ahead in case you need to stay in the hospital by bringing personal items.
The following information may help you arrive prepared. It may be helpful to share this with a loved one as well. In the days or hours leading up to surgery, medical tests are done by your doctor or nursing staff. The main goal is to make sure you are ready for surgery.
- Health check: Your surgeon will ask questions about your health history. He/she will also ask about medications you may be taking and explain pain control options you may be offered after surgery.
- The day before or morning of surgery, your anesthesiologist will meet with you by phone or in person. The anesthesiologist is the doctor who sedates you - puts you to sleep - during surgery.
- Once you are at the hospital, a wristband will be placed on your arm with your name and other identifying information on it. A nurse will start an intravenous line (IV) in your arm. The IV sends fluids into your body through a thin tube.
- Medical staff will wheel you into the operating room, and you will then receive general anesthesia. The anesthesia puts you to sleep and allows you to stay asleep through surgery.
- You should expect to have some pain after surgery, this is a normal experience. Everyone reacts to surgery and pain differently. Doctors and nurses often use a scale of 0 to 10 to measure pain (10 = worst pain, 0 = no pain at all). After surgery, you will be asked about your pain level often. Be completely honest about your pain and any other symptoms.
- Narcotics or opioids are often given to people in severe pain. Your doctor or nurse may also offer you non-narcotic pain medicine. These may include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, or naproxen. Non-narcotic pain medicine can also have side effects.
- When you wake up from surgery and are alert, you will be given a small amount of liquid to drink. If your stomach doesn’t get upset, your nurse will offer you some food to eat.
- While in the hospital, a nurse will help you to walk and get in and out of bed after surgery. Your medical team will give you information on how to increase the chances of making your recovery a full success.
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