Care and diet after gallbladder surgery

Among the many functions of our liver is to produce bile, a liquid that contributes to the digestion of fats in food. Bile is produced continuously and is deposited in an organ attached to the liver, called the gallbladder, from where bile is emptied when needed. The presence of stones in this gallbladder, known as stones, is quite common and is the main indication for removing this organ, among other possible justifications for this procedure, which is one of the operating room procedures that are performed with greater frequency.

Due to the importance of this organ for the diet and the high frequency of its removal, in this FastlyHealarticle, we want to explain what the care and diet are after a gallbladder operation.

Laparoscopic gallbladder postoperative

After gallbladder surgery, the main symptom you will feel will be a pain in the right abdominal region due to the incision made or the presence of residual gas in the abdomen, depending on the type of surgery you have received. The pain will decrease over the days until about two weeks have passed. This area will also have the appearance of bruises due to the trauma that the surgery itself causes.

Another sensation you may have is a sore or sore throat from the tubes used during the procedure for anesthesia and ventilation. A reasonably common consequence immediately after surgery is a feeling of nausea and the urge to vomit, which is a side effect of general anesthesia.

Gallbladder operation: recovery time and care

During recovery from gallbladder surgery, you should take essential care to avoid the physical effort. If the fresh wound is subjected to stress, muscle tension or movements can cause bleeding or intensify the pain.

Although it is good to take short walks, and you can do light activities such as climbing stairs or tasks that do not require a lot of effort, you should avoid lifting weight and demanding a lot in other types of exercises. Every day the symptoms will improve, and it will be possible to gradually increase the effort until recovery is completed after 4 to 8 weeks.

Another critical point is medication. Your doctor will prescribe some analgesics and anti-inflammatories that you should regularly take to control the pain. Still, even more necessary than the painkillers are the antibiotics that you indicate since they are the ones that will prevent the appearance of an infection that can significantly aggravate the recovery.

Wound care after gallbladder operation

After the surgery, you will have a wound in your abdomen approximately 15 centimeters long, closed either by stitches or staples. This wound can be much more minor or several slight injuries, depending on the type of surgery you have had.

You will have a gauze dressing over the wound to protect against the damage. The doctor usually indicates the change of this dressing daily, which is essential mainly due to showers. The wound should be washed and kept clean with the use of soap and water, in addition to any antiseptic that the doctor has indicated. The baths should be taken in a shower and not in a bathtub so as not to submerge the wound in water.

There is the possibility that the surgeon will leave tubes in the abdomen, which have the function of draining the bile and other fluids that accumulate in the stomach during the recovery process.

Some sutures do not need to be removed because they disintegrate over time, but if required, or to remove staples and the tubes mentioned, the doctor will give you a date to return to the consultation, which will usually be after a time of about two weeks.

Why should I change my diet after gallbladder surgery?

The gallbladder is an organ that is responsible for collecting the bile that is produced in the liver, which is a substance that is poured into the beginning of the small intestine when we eat to contribute to the digestion of food, precisely that of the fats that we consume.

After surgery that removes the gallbladder, it is expected that the digestion of fats will not be as efficient. In addition, because the liver no longer has the gallbladder to deposit bile, this substance is continuously poured into the intestine. The arrival of bitterness to the intestine without food implies that it will reach the large intestine, which causes diarrhea.

Similarly, when a person without a gallbladder ingests too much fat, these foods reach the intestine undigested or partially digested, causing diarrhea, adding and intensifying the effect of bile itself in the large intestine. Consequently, a person who does not modify his diet can have periods of diarrhea that can last even years, bringing with it all its consequences.

Gallbladder operation: diet

As general dietary recommendations, dividing meals between eating smaller portions over 5 or 6 meals is recommended. It is best to eat slowly and make sure you chew your food well to facilitate the digestion of food.

The recommended foods have little or no fat and are rich in fiber. As low-fat examples, we find the following meats:

• lean beef
• Chicken breast without the skin
• Fat-free ham
• Whitefish

High fiber foods such as rice and whole wheat bread are recommended to decrease diarrhea by making stools firmer. This includes eating fruits, vegetables, and grains, such as:

• Lentils
• Beans
• Apple
• Money
• Carrot

The foods that should be avoided are mainly those that contain high-fat content, such as:

• Pork Meat
• Cordero
• Hen
• Processed meats such as cold cuts and hamburgers

Dairy is often a cause of intolerance, but not always, and it may be an option. On the other hand, alcohol consumption should be avoided at all times due to its impact on the liver, as well as certain foods that stimulate bile production, such as:

• citrus fruits
• Spinach
• Café

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Care and diet after gallbladder operation, we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category.