Each person responds in their own way after gallbladder removal surgery. In fact, many people who have their gallbladder removed are surprised when they experience many of the same symptoms they had before their operation.
Doctors call this phenomenon as "postcholecystectomy syndrome." Cholecystectomy is the word medical personnel for a gallbladder removal operation. Based on recent research done on this subject, it appears that approximately 40 percent of those who have a gallbladder removal operation experience postcholecystectomy syndrome. This is due to the fact that the bile duct is not normally removed. The bile duct, which carries bile back and forth from the liver to the gallbladder, continues to accumulate bile.
In the Days After Your Gallbladder Removal Surgery
There are certain things almost everyone experiences after gallbladder removal surgery, regardless of whether they have postcholecystectomy syndrome or not. These include the following.
You'll notice some bruising, and the area where the surgery took place will become somewhat swollen. There's really nothing surprising about this, even if you've had laparoscopic surgery (which is much less invasive than a large open incision).
Shortly after your surgery, you may also experience some discomfort caused by the air that was puffed into your abdomen during the operation. The reason your doctor inserts air in this way is to open up space to manipulate his or her instruments. If this causes distress after your surgery, you doctor will probably be happy to recommend some pain-killing medications.
Keep in mind that it's probably going to be uncomfortable moving around, especially sitting down or getting up from a sitting position. This may be especially true when it comes to "bathroom time." Muscles in the abdominal area will be pretty sore for a few days at least.
It's typical to have more gas and bloating than usual for several days after your procedure. Diarrhea often occurs too.
Instead of diarrhea, some patients get constipation. This is relatively unusual, but you shouldn't be concerned if it happens to you.
If bowel movements become somewhat distressing, check with your doctor to see what he or she can recommend to help.
Your digestive system may be unpredictable for a while. This is normal. You'll probably do well eating low fat or fat-free, light foods only. Low cholesterol foods and cholesterol-free foods are generally considered to be a good idea for a while.
Your doctor will probably also suggest eating smaller meals rather than large ones. These are easier to digest. But be sure not to skip meals. Your body needs good nutrition to speed along your recovery.
What to Expect in the Weeks Afterward
As the weeks pass, you can start testing your digestive system to see how it responds to certain foods. Start introducing some heavier foods and pay close attention to what happens.
Exercise can be helpful, but be careful. If you were an enthusiastic exerciser before your surgery, you may be eager to get going again.
Keep in mind that you have stitches, and exercising too much and too soon would not be good for them. Talk to your doctor about this. Furthermore, be careful taking baths of showers until your stitches have been removed. Generally, it's best to keep stitches dry.
Typically, you can expect a follow up appointment with your doctor about one week after gallbladder surgery. He or she will probably want to see you again 4-5 weeks later.
For more information on topics related to this article, click on gallbladder health and gallbladder attack.
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