It's looking like I'll be having my gallbladder removed sometime next year. Had a ultrasound that showed a stone. Been suffering off and on for the last 14 months. Constant nagging pain in right side just under/bottom of rib cage. I've have about 6 attacks in that time period, the last one was six weeks ago and lasted 8 hours, caused by eating fish an' chips (I know!)
I've been checking various forums, and seen that folk have complained of weigh gain after the removal of their gallbladder, weight that is hard to shift. Most of these forums have been American based, possible their diet could be a factor.
Has anyone suffered from weight gain after they've had their gallbladder removed?
I agree with you, diet and no exercise probably contribute to it. I think that most people try to eat low fat and end up consuming more sugars than they realize. I also believe that those who can't shift their fat may have fatty liver disease. That was the case for me. If you're interested in knowing about it, I suggest that you do some research on-line. However, I would not suggest that any one with this disease try to "cleanse" their liver with OTC herbs! This is because in fatty liver disease, the liver is diseased and struggling.
I wonder if people myself included put a little weight back on because eventually(many months in my case) they feel better. I was told to gradually return to a normal diet which pretty much I have been able to.
Lynda I was very interested in what you said about don't trying to help yourself with over the counter herbs if you have fatty liver. I asked if I had this on my first scan of liver before I had gb removed. They said they didn't know so I decided to try and help myself with milk thistle but I found this made my liver feel tight and spasmy. I didn't know if this was a bad sign or showed that it was working so I stopped. I do wish we could have better after care or advice. I have had more help and advice on here than with the doctors but we are not experts , just doing the best we can. Good luck and good health to everyone.
An ultrasound would have revealed the fatty liver. Maybe the radiologist didn't bother to check. It happens. If you have a fatty liver you have fat deposits in your liver. The liver can't digest fat, and stores the fat in itself and in your body, making the condition worse over time.
It is thought that fatty liver is caused by eating a diet high in sugars, especially high fructose corn syrup (HFC). HFC is extremely cheap, so most food manufacturers have switched to using it to sweeten prepared foods. Unfortunately, food touted as low fat usually makes up by putting lots of sugar/HFC into it.
Using artificial sweeteners does a number on your gut bacteria, and actually makes a person hungrier, so they eat the calories they think they've saved.
Most people in health food stores don't have any conception of medicine. It's rare that you get a real herbalist. They just want to sell you something.
Here's what helped me. Most women need about 450-500 mg of choline, which is naturally found in vegetables, daily. This substance assists the liver to gently, and I do mean gently, rid itself of fat. I took this amount daily. I moderate my intake of sweets, and use 1 teaspoon of turbinado sugar in my tea. I drink water and unsweetened tea and milk. No artificial sweeteners. If I want fruit juice, I take a very small amount and dilute it 1/2 with water. I eat salads with salmon. I use natural (grass fed) butter or coconut oil. I eat small amounts of meat when I eat meat. I eat eggs and chicken, too.
Doing this, I lost about 30 pounds in a little over 3 months. It wasn't easy, but my liver is better. You are never "cured." But, if you are careful, the liver is the one organ that is capable of regenerating itsself.
Hi thanks for your reply im going to try some of the things you suggested. I do seem to be able to take some weight off if I try. If im honest im enjoying being able to eat again. When I had a scan to diagnose gallstones no mention of fatty liver. After I had a very nasty gallbladder removed and was still unwell 6 months later they sent me for another liver scan. He never mentioned fatty liver I asked and he said it was borderline and was wondering if to note it or not. Asked my gp who said lots of people have it shouldn't have any symptoms maybe watch your fat intake. But as you say low fat is often high sugar. I have been a yo-yo dieter all my adult life so I'm not overly surprised. I find the doctors not really interested to be honest. I try not not to take any medications at all in the hope my liver is getting a chance to heal itself.
I lost weight, 3 1/2 stone in all, kept it off after 5 years, due to not being able to eat much variety and nothing too fatty. Mostly oats, white fish , rice, grains , walnuts, dried fruit, oat milk. Virtually gave up dairy. Can't drink alcohol now either which helped lol
Most doctors are taught nothing about nutrition and don't bother to learn. I learned about the choline by reading an advertisement from one of our national drug chains about living healthy. I knew I hadn't gotten the minimum daily requirement for choline for years. It's often found in a blend with inositol, which helps, too.
I agree that I think people gain weight because after removal they go back to a normal diet, or realize that they can start eating whatever they want again and go a little harcore. I lost 10lbs before my surgery and gained about 6-7 of it back due to testing everything out again
I don't think it's a general concern for gaining weight after gallbladder removal as long as you stick to the diet/excerise regimen you were on before.
I had mine removed 3 years ago as I also experienced pain in the same area and they believed that I had chronic pancreantits so they removed my gallbladder even though the doctor mentioned to me that it looked perfectly healthy. Since then my digestion has gotten way worse I was already on a pretty limited diet not able to have dairy or wheat but now I cant even digest peanut butter or anything fatty. I also gained about 10lbs per year I was quite slim before as I was training for a competition but dispite eating a 500calorie deficit and exercising 5 days a week in the gym and doing hot yoga 4 days a week I cannot seem to lose the weight I have put on. I have tried bile salts as well as choline which are recommended for after a gallbladder is removed and it helps with digestion but not with the weight. I would just say that you want to be sure that this is a surgery that you need, doctors seem to just to removing this organ as they dont think we "need it" but it doesnt always solve the problem I feel like getting mine out was one of the worst decisions I have never made.
I hope that your experience turns out better than mine, but I have read many stories like mine as well its different for everyone.
i had a gallbladder sergery about 2 years ago and after that i put on 10 kgs . and now im trying to lose my weight but i face many diffulties . when i start exercise i felt i start gaining more weight . And this situation put me in more stress .
I had gallbladder removal over 8 weeks ago. I am femal , 5'9" and usually about 135lbs. I now weigh 150lbs and I'm literally starving myself at this poiny. My stomach still looks like im 9 mos pregnant , I feel awful and I'm gaining over a pound a week and I'm eating nothing but healthy veges and grilled chicken and zero fat. I'm now down to one meal a day and literally starving and I'm still gaining and have muscle aches constantly , can't sleep at all and my feet are always cold. Anyone thinking of doing this surgery ... DONT ! It's the worst thing I've ever done and I feel awful , bloated and 15 lbs heavier and I'm hungry all the time.
No . Not in my case. I am eating more no fat and low calorie because I can keep anything else down and I'm steadily gaining over a lb a week. I'm bloated like I'm pregnant 8 weeks after and I'm utterly miserable. I'm eating less than 1,000 calories a day now and it has done no good. Still gained another 3 lbs in two weeks! Not to mention the sleeplessness and body aches and cold feet. Dr says give it time! They don't listen and they don't care.
Wrong! I weighed 135 at 5' 9" and I weigh 150.2 8 weeks after surgery. I'm eating zero fat , less than 1,000 calories a day and I'm steadily gaining so .. nope . Not everyone . I'm very bloated and unhappy and hungry
I'm sorry that you're having these difficulties, Tara. Eight weeks is just enough time for your external incision to heal. It's not enough time for you to heal internally.
Reducing your calories while trying to recover from surgery is too taxing to your body, because you're not giving your body enough nutrition to heal itself. It appears to me that your body is now in starvation mode.
At this point, it's more important that you heal properly. xx
Tara, not eating enough calories has the opposite effect, it weill cause you to gain initially as your body is in strvation mode and holding onto everything, 1000 calories is way less than the minimum you need, expecially after surgery healing. Also bloat and fluid retention after surgeon can also cause temp weight gain.
Eating zero fat is also not healthy, you need fat too loose fat, it is essential for our brain hormones and fat soluble vitamins.
I never really ate much fat before my surgery and I was a vegetarian for over 12 yrs. After surgery , if I ate anything with fat I got diarrhea immediately. My one guilty pleasure has always been my morning latte and the milk gave me diarrhea too. So, I started to eat veggies and sweet potatoes.. I've even been forcing myself to eat grilled chicken for protein . I gained more than 1 lb a week for the first month. Still bloated the same as the day I got out of surgery. I've literally watched every single thing that goes into my mouth and it makes no difference , still bloated, still gaining a pound a week. I tried to make an appt with my gastro dr and was given an appt 6 weeks out, still haven't been able to get in and I havent seen or heard from him since before surgery. I pleaded with the girl to get me in but apparently they don't care. I'm miserable , achy and my feet are always cold. This is my hell! I feel awful.
I forgot to mention that now I'm constipated all the time unless I drink the latte and even then I don't feel like I'm really going. It would've been nice if my gastro dr had scheduled a follow up appt to help me know what to expect or give me a heads up. The surgeon came in before my surgery and said " eat whatever you want after surgery " see ya in a few.
But I've tried eating some fat and felt awful. So I cut out fat and still feel awful. I've tried everything. And I still have stabbing pains in the same spot I did before surgery. I could have dealt with the pain from having my gallbladder much easier than what I've experienced the past 8 weeks.
Well, you do sound miserable. Have you tried lactose free milk in your latte? That's the only type of milk I can use. From what you've said, it appears to me that before your surgery, your gallbladder was releasing too much bile, and now you have very little.
Unfortunately, most doctors take a "wait and see" attitude when it comes to post-surgical issues. They hope that patients have a good outcome, but give them few tools to help them if they don't.
Star should have some good suggestions for you! I hope you feel better soon! xx