I got my gallbladder removed a little over 2 months ago and I'm still feeling "off". Trust me - I'm happy that it's out. I felt absolutely horrible when it was still in! I knew something was wrong with my digestive tract in March but the doctors didn't know it was my gallbladder until May because I didn't look like the "typical" gallbladder removal patient. I'm 20 and used to be the perfect weight. After my surgery I started feeling a lot of burning in my stomach but that faded and now it is just replaced with this very full and "icky" feeling in my stomach. I'm eating VERY STRICT small meals throughout the day to try and combat this feeling (along with two protein shakes) but I still don't feel well. I also get very groggy and light headed. I'm 108 lbs which is waaay too small but I'm trying my best to include protein in every meal. Food just isn't enjoyable anymore and I live my days treating food like it's a medication I need to take every few hours. I have so much anxiety because I don't like this full, gross feeling. It always feels like my stomach is having a hard time digesting and I'm eating super simple, small meals. I talked to my doctor and she just said it might take 3-4 months for me to balance out and all I can do is just wait. Was this the case for some of you? It's so frustrating because I don't feel like myself anymore. I hope all of you are on the road to recovery. Thank you for reading.
Hi Gracie! I'm day 5 since GB removal and I feel the same I'm eating just oatmeal and soups , I know it's too early for us and we need to be patient but it's not easy , what was your symptoms before your surgery ?
hello,we have to be patient,we have had surgery,it takes time, you may have seen my other posts,my gb was taken out xmas 2016 and im still sore upper body, been told it will get back to normal,just take it easy no heavy lifting,;;
Hi Gracie
I'm almost five months into my recovery. I had open cholecystectomy in February followed in March by a liver resection through the same incision because the labs found cancer in my gallbladder. I should add this cancer is rare, so I was unlucky but, conversly, I was lucky that it may have been caught in its early stages and I may survive this. I get a checkup in September.
I have a ten inch scar running horizontally across my abdomen, more to the right than the left. Consequently I have quite a lot of scar tissue. It looks like I have a rolled up towel wrapped round my middle or that I'm in the early stages of pregnancy. I'm told this will improve in time. Meantime I choose what I wear carefully to disguise it. My body will never be the same as it was, but if the gallbladder had stayed, the cancer would be growing inside me so I count myself lucky.
I do get an uncomfortable full feeling when I eat. Today I went out for lunch as it is my daughters birthday and I ordered a pizza marguerita, but I could only eat half as I didn't want to overload my stomach. I do eat smaller meals since my gallbladder attacks started and I normally eat a low fat diet. On the plus side, the pizza has not caused me any issues like diarrhoea or indigestion as it once would have.
In the early days post op, I would order food from the hospital menu, usually plain food like a baked potato or rice pudding, but when it arrived I had to force myself to eat just a couple of mouthfuls, so I understand your comments about food not being enjoyable any more, however I have regained my appetite now.
I think your doctor is right in that it can take some time for your body to adjust to not having a gallbladder. Once it makes those adjustments I think your appetite will slowly return. Lack of appetite was probably my first symptom and last to go.
I still get some tenderness near my right lower rib, especially if I've lain on my right side in bed, but otherwise I feel I'm doing well. I have more energy than I've had in years though I sometimes need a nap during the day.
Just take it easy and enjoy life. In a few months you'll look back and realise just how far you've come.
Hi! The only symptom I had before surgery was just nausea and a sour stomach all day long! Day 5 is so soon! Day 5 I still felt pretty bad. I know you'll start feeling a little better soon!
Thanks, Terry! Luckily I don't feel sore. That sounds awful. Just weird indigestion 😞 Just gotta wait it out, it seems.
Oh my goodness! That is so awful. I can't imagine what you're going through and I pray that you will continue to overcome it. It's so nice to hear you say that you've gained your appetite back though! I can't wait for that! My diarrhea stopped after a month but my other symptoms are still around BUT hopefully that's a sign that I'm on the road to being well soon (since you mentioned that you no longer struggle with it)! Thank you so much for the input! I wish you the best at your next appointment!
Do you mind if I ask why you are eating STRICT small meals? Is that what your doctor told you?Do what your doctor says but you can ask questions and run ideas by him!!By now I would think you can start gradually back to eating whatever you want and get back to a more normal meal pattern...I went about 6weeks eating 5 small meals kind of bland but at two months i started eating whatever I wanted and gradually went to 3 reg meals not huge just closer to normal and snacks..stay hydrated drink water (ask dr about a multi-vitamin for now)the full feeling got better and more calories helped dizziness & energy...if you don't eat much you can get gas as you don't poop much if you don't eat a lot(which can make you feel full and icky) and protein shakes are liquid (a bland diet is usually starches and wears off quickly IMO eating foods you like and getting more calories will help you feel better..your digestion is getting used to its new way and return to reg food (temp gas)watch for constipation as you increase your food intake and keep an eye for problems w/fatty food and run it all by your doctor...they may have reasons why to take it slower Good Luck & Feel Better💟
Hi! Thanks for all that info! I'm eating strictly because I still don't feel well even after eating small, simple meals. I eat rice, plain turkey, toasted bagels and English muffins, scallops, plain pasta, bananas, peas and reduced fat wheat thins. That's really all I've been eating. My doctor said that's fine because I told her I still don't even feel that great after eating plain things like that so I can't imagine how awful I'd feel eating more complicated/larger dishes. The protein shakes are to gain weight because my doctor said I needed to. Not that fun to drink but I'm trying! I've been avoiding fat like the plague! Hopefully I'll make improvements soon Thank you so much!
Do your shakes have vitamins and minerals? Eating a restricted diet can make you feel run down due to lack of key nutrients(esp things like iron)...at your point calories are important, maybe cereal bars or even dry cereal, warm oatmeal w/o milk or with a little skim milk, is great, yogurt (there is low fat and it has probiotics so you won't get side effects of other dairy) try sneaking in calories, there's nothing wrong with many small meals but your stomach kind of shrinks so dont go to full meals all at once....I was where you are 5'6" 110lbs....I would get so upset over feeling crappy and not eating, but one day I woke up and I just felt better and things got better fast....hang in there, you should be starting to feel better soon...Best Wishes 💟
What you are eating is actually similar to BRATs diet which is sometimes used in hospitals for patients who are unable to eat 'normally'. It stands for bananas, rice, apple sauce, tea and toast and isn't meant for long term use because of lack of nutrients. If eating like this helps you get through a difficult phase in your recovery, I think that's ok, especially as your doctor has okayed it. I'm sure as your appetite improves, you will be able to introduce more foods. I know I was unable to eat lots of foods at first, but five months later I am eating whatever I like. Some people have really bad repercussions if they start to eat some foods too soon. I heard of a nurse who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a day patient, then went home and ordered an Indian takeaway, but not everyone can do that and get away with it. We are all different and recover at different rates.
Hope your appetite returns soon and you're able to eat a more varied diet. X
Thank you so much! Hearing that after a few months others were able to eat more variety gives me hope. Right now I just feel stuck and feel like I'm gonna have indigestion for the rest of my life! But it's only been a little over 2 months so I guess I gotta be a little more patient
Yes! I think the protein shakes are what are saving me right now since I eat so little and so plain. Thank you for commenting. Knowing that you are able to eat more now gives me hope. Hopefully in a couple more months (maybe even sooner) I'll be able to too!