A cholecystectomy is the medical term for having your gallbladder removed. Your physician may decide to remove your gallbladder for a variety of reasons. Certain factors such as gender, weight, lifestyle habits and family history may put you at a higher risk for a cholecystectomy.
History
Your doctor may recommend a cholecystectomy if you've developed gallstones or gallbladder disease. Certain things can aggravate your gallbladder, such as a diet high in fat, taking certain drugs such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy or losing a lot of weight very rapidly. A severe case of gallstones can cause your gallbladder ducts to become clogged, which can make you very ill. To correct this condition, a cholecystectomy is usually the recommended treatment. Although the gallbladder is removed, the ducts are left in place and future gallbladder attacks may still occur.
Effects
Gallstones and gallbladder disease can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. You can also experience chills, gray-colored stools, prolonged pain that can radiate from your abdomen to your back and yellowing of the skin or eyes. You may have gallstones without any of these symptoms; this is known as silent stones, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. While they may not produce symptoms, they can be just as dangerous.
Significance
Diet pills can cause you to lose weight very rapidly, which can cause your gallbladder to act up, according to Drugs.com. Certain diet product manufacturers, such as Alli, warn consumers not to use their products if they have known gallbladder, thyroid or kidney problems. The side effects of diet pills can intensify these problems.
Warning
Diet pills can cause side effects such as diarrhea, stomach cramping, constipation, general weakness, fatigue and jaundice, according to Drugs.com. You may also suffer from headache, back pain, muscle spasms and possible vitamin deficiencies. A vitamin deficiency may occur as a result of chronic diarrhea; your body does not have enough time to properly absorb all the nutrients from food before it is excreted in waste.
Considerations
Before taking any diet pills or supplements, consult your physician and read all product inserts. Your pharmacist may be able to provide additional information about over-the-counter diet pills and supplements. Research and compare products prior to choosing a diet aid. If you begin to experience unusual side effects, such as irregular heartbeat or increased pulse, notify your health care provider right away.
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