Surgical removal of your gallbladder may be necessary if you develop gallstones. Gallstones are hard deposits that accumulate in the bile and block the ducts in your gallbladder. After surgery, you will initially be given only liquids, but you will also need to follow a special diet for at least several weeks.
Gallbladder Function
To understand some of the dietary restrictions after gallbladder surgery, you need to understand the function of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is responsible for storing bile, which is made by the liver. Bile is important for the digestion of fats because fats do not mix well with the water-based contents of the digestive fats and tend to form large globules. Your body needs bile to break up these globules so that the fats can be absorbed. Your liver can make bile even in the absence of the gallbladder, but once your gallbladder is removed you no longer have a reservoir of bile.
Low-fat Diet
After your gallbladder is removed, you will need to follow a special low-fat diet, the New York University Medical Center explains. This is because eating foods with fat will stimulate your digestive tract to secrete bile. Because your body is still healing after the surgery, this can cause abdominal pain. After a period of time, typically between four to six weeks, you will be able to add fat back to your diet and can start to eat normally again.
Chronic Diarrhea After Removal
Some people have chronic diarrhea or frequent loose and watery stools that persist several months after gallbladder surgery. Doctors do not know why this happens, and while the diarrhea typically subsides over time, it can cause significant discomfort. If this happens to you, MayoClinic.com recommends avoiding foods which seem to trigger this problem. Common triggers for diarrhea after gallbladder surgery include dairy products, very sweet foods, caffeine and greasy foods.
Vitamins
You may need to take certain vitamin supplements after gallbladder removal. The removal of your gallbladder can make it harder for your intestines to absorb fats. If this occurs, you can develop deficiencies in vitamins which dissolve better in fat than in water, also known as fat-soluble vitamins. The fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K, Colorado State University notes. If you have problems consuming fat after your surgery, talk to your doctor to see if you are becoming deficient in any of these vitamins.
