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Expected Weight Loss After Gallbladder Removal

Posted in Uncategorized | June 15th, 2011

Life after gallbladder removal?

I had my gallbladder removed yesterday after having many, many problems with it for the past 2 years. I feel fine today other than the soreness of the surgery (laparoscopic) I have resumed eating as normal, just not over doing it. I want to know what I can expect from now on. I have heard everything from rapid weight loss/gain to severe diarrhea. Can someone (preferably someone who has had this done) tell me what to expect now that I have my gallbladder removed? Thanks!

I had mine removed by laproscope at age 20. I did not experience any weight gain, however, as soon as I was able I resumed my fitness routine of 30-90 minutes of cardio several times a week- as I had done prior to the surgery. There was a lot of swelling in the general area- I had a hard time getting my pants zipped up the first four days, but that is not weight gain and the swelling does go down (I thought it never would).

It’s important to get right back in the swing of things when you start to feel better. I think a lot of people like to blame the surgery for weight issues – in fact, many people who have the procedure are already overweight to begin with.

I did not experience weight loss either. I have also heard that having the gb removed causes diarrhea in a lot of people. This wasn’t a chronic problem for me but I do believe I have more loose stools than I had before I had it taken out, particularly after heavy meals. But it has never been a problem. Everybody is different.

I think the level of physical fitness and age of the person when they have the surgery is a big factor in how quickly they recover. I was back to work about five days after the surgery, however I know someone who was pretty obese and had the surgery recently and she was out of work (at a desk job) for five weeks! That’s ridiculous. A person should get up and move around and get their circulation going so the body can heal faster.

I don’t think the severity of your problem with your gallbladder has much bearing on your recovery. Because once it ‘s gone, it’s gone. I suffered for six years before I spoke up to the doctor after a particulary bad attack. I always ate a very low fat diet, and whenever I splurged on something “bad” (mainly on holidays) I would have such incredible pain. I had no idea what it was. My mom always said that I had just “stretched my stomach out” from eating too much and I believed that for awhile but as I got older the pain got much more intense. When I went to the doctor for a checkup I mentioned it to him and you probably know the rest of the story.

So anyway, it sounds like you are feeling pretty ok already. I know it is sore. It stays sore for awhile. I have heard a lot of people say the third day after is the hardest day- it didn’t seem any harder than any of the other days to me though- and it was pretty painful for awhile. I think it was about a month before I could barely feel anything in the incision spots. After the first week though, it doesn’t hurt too bad. What was the most painful for me was that air/(gas?) that they use to inflate your abdomen so they can do the surgery. I remember the day I had surgery, I stayed the night at my parents in case there were any complications. I woke up in the night in pain so bad I couldn’t even talk, just cry. My mom brought me some hot tea and that helped. But boy, that air can hurt until it gets out of your system.

That was my experience.