Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder, or bile storage sac. Used to treat conditions like gallstones or chronic inflammation, removal of this organ does not usually lead to any special ongoing dietary considerations. However, some dietary considerations may make recovery easier and decrease some annoying side effects of the surgery, such as diarrhea. Foods to avoid after a gallbladder removal are personal -- keep a log of daily food intake to establish a correlation between foods that are safe and unsafe for you.
Greasy or Fried
After gallbladder removal, the body has lost its bile storage component and may have fat digestion difficulties initially. Avoid fatty, greasy and fried foods after gallbladder removal if diarrhea is troubling, according to the Mayo Clinic.com. Examples of foods to avoid include inexpensive red meats, nuts and oils and greasy and fried foods like fast foods and donuts. In time these foods can be re-introduced to the diet.
Dairy
The dairy food group includes milk and all milk products such as butter, yogurt, ice cream and cheese. These products are typically high in sugar and fat, which can lead to intestinal upset and diarrhea after cholecystectomy. Ice cream or milk may cause bloating that will cause pain after abdominal surgery. The Mayo Clinic urges decreasing dairy in the diet if diarrhea persists after the recovery.
Soups and Processed Foods
Although diarrhea is common in the long run, immediate post-operative concerns include constipation. The American College of Surgeons warns that three days without a bowel movement is a sign of constipation -- call your doctor. Decreased gastric motility is a direct result of the surgery and the narcotics, or pain medications, used after the surgery. Foods high in sodium such as canned soups and processed foods can exacerbate constipation by drawing fluids out of the colon.
