Going through any type of surgery, including gallbladder removal, can be taxing on your body. Because your gallbladder played a role in secreting digestive fluids, you must adjust your diet initially after surgery to give your body time to adjust to the change. Follow your surgeon's orders to eat certain types of foods after your gallbladder removal to promote an optimal recovery.
Choose Bland Foods
You should not rush into eating your regular diet after your gallbladder removal surgery, or cholecystectomy. The University of North Carolina School of Medicine recommends eating bland foods immediately after your surgery to allow your body time to recover. Although most surgeons will allow you to eat what your prefer, foods such as toast, rice, bananas, soups and pastas may be easier to initially digest.
Avoid Fatty Foods
Previous to your cholecystectomy, you may have been advised to avoid fatty foods because fatty foods may irritate an inflamed gallbladder. Now that your gallbladder is removed, you should still avoid fatty foods for a few days after surgery, recommends the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. Your body may not be adjusted to digesting fatty foods without the additional digestive enzymes from the gallbladder. After the first few days after surgery, you may slowly introduce fatty foods to your diet. Keep fatty foods to a minimum; however, because fatty foods are linked to heart disease, obesity and other chronic diseases.
Progress to a Regular Diet
After a few post-operative days, you may resume a normal diet, states the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. To promote optimal health, you should eat a well-balanced diet composed of a variety of different foods. You should eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, legumes and low-fat dairy. Set a goal to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. In addition, control your portion sizes and caloric intake to prevent becoming overweight or obese.
Cautions
If you have trouble adjusting to a regular diet after your cholecystectomy, you should not hesitate to call your surgeon. If you experience stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, bleeding from the rectum or any other concerning signs or symptoms, you should seek immediate medical treatment. Refrain from eating anymore food once you decide you are going to the hospital in case additional surgery is required.
