What to expect after gall bladder surgery

What are the side effects of having your gallbladder removed?

Gallbladder surgery side effects

• Difficulty digesting fat. It may take your body time to adjust to its new method of digesting fat. …
• Diarrhea and flatulence. Indigestion can cause diarrhea or flatulence, often made worse by excess fat or too little fiber in the diet. …
• Constipation. …
• Intestinal injury. …
• Jaundice or fever.

How long does it take to recover from gallbladder surgery?

After open surgery, you’ll usually have to stay in hospital for 3 to 5 days, and your recovery time will be longer. It can take around 6 to 8 weeks to return to your normal activities.

How painful is recovery from gallbladder removal?

Recovering from laparoscopic cholecystectomy will take up to 6 weeks for most people. You may be back to most normal activities in a week or two, but it can take several weeks to return to your normal energy level. You may have some of these symptoms as you recover: Pain in your belly.

Do you put on weight after gallbladder removal?

When the body adjusts to changes caused by gallbladder removal, it impacts how the digestive system processes energy. In some cases, this leads to weight gain. The body may not be able to digest fat and sugar efficiently. The energy from food is then stored as fat in the patient’s body, causing weight gain.

Why does my poop smell so bad after gallbladder removal?

However, the system is just not quite as efficient because the bile is less concentrated and there is less available to aid absorption of large, fatty meals. This is one of the reasons some people will have loose or foul-smelling stools after the gallbladder is removed.

Is it harder to lose weight after gallbladder removal?

Without the gallbladder, the body cannot store as much bile, and it does not break down as much fat. While the possible immediate adverse effects of surgery, such as diarrhea, may lead to weight loss in the short term, gallbladder removal may actually lead to a higher long-term body mass index (BMI).

Is it normal to sleep a lot after gallbladder surgery?

After your surgery, it is normal to feel weak and tired for several days after you return home. Your belly may be swollen. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you may also have pain in your shoulder for about 24 hours. You may have gas or need to burp a lot at first, and a few people get diarrhea.

How long does it take for belly button to heal after gallbladder surgery?

During a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon makes two to three small incisions in different areas of the abdomen. Patients remain in the hospital two to three days, and at-home recover generally takes two to three weeks.

Can I sleep on my side after gallbladder surgery?

After 48 hours you may sleep flat on your back, you may not sleep on your stomach or sides for four weeks. Fluids: Fluids are critical following surgery. Drinking fluids is very important to help rid the body of the drugs used in surgery. Clear juices and water are best.

How do you get out of bed after gallbladder surgery?

Getting out of bed

1. Hug your pillows.
2. Roll onto your side.
3. Dangle your feet over the edge of your bed.
4. Use your elbows to raise your upper body.
5. Use your legs to pull yourself into a sitting position.

What foods should you avoid if you have no gallbladder?

Avoid high-fat foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty sauces and gravies for at least a week after surgery. Instead, choose fat-free or low-fat foods.

Is gallbladder surgery serious?

The overall risk of laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is very low. The most serious possible complications include: Infection of an incision. Internal bleeding.

What foods cause gas after gallbladder removal?

Eating these foods after having your gallbladder removed won’t cause serious health problems, but it can lead to a lot of painful gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
…
Fatty meats

• steak or high-fat cuts of red meat.
• beef, whole or ground.
• pork.
• bacon.
• lunch meats, such as bologna and salami.
• sausage.
• lamb.

How much work will I miss after gallbladder surgery?

People generally go home the same day or the next day, compared with 2 to 4 days or longer for open surgery. Recovery is faster after laparoscopic surgery. You will spend less time away from work and other activities after laparoscopic surgery (about 7 to 10 days compared with 4 to 6 weeks).