Adapting to Life Without a Gall Bladder

\Although living without a gallbladder isn’t a huge deal, it does require some simple lifestyle changes. Fortunately, these changes are minor enough that most patients have no trouble adapting to them. Most patients find that having their gallbladder removed has no impact on their general comfort or quality of life and it seems that several different factors come into play in the aftermath of surgery, which will affect recovery. For some, there are uncomfortable symptoms that can have an impact on their day to day functioning.

What Does a Gall Bladder Do?

The gall bladder acts as a reservoir to store and, when necessary, release bile. Bile is a liquid which aids in the digestive process. Specifically, it aids the breakdown and digestion of fatty foods. The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine when it is needed. When food hasn’t been eaten for a long period of time, such as when we go to sleep, the gallbladder stores the bile. After having the gallbladder removed it is no longer there to store the bile and, consequently, even though you will still have the same overall amount of bile in your body, there will be less in your intestine.

Changes in Digestion

Following gall bladder surgery NYC, there can be some subsequent changes in the digestion of food. Most doctors will, therefore, recommend that their patients switch to a low-fat diet, usually only temporarily, but if problems persist then this might need to be a long-term change. Fortunately, these issues are relatively uncommon. Some people may notice that they start having more frequent bowel movements and this can be exacerbated by fatty foods.

Managing Any Changes

If you do experience any changes in your digestion then you shouldn’t worry. These issues are very unlikely to be serious and the best defense against them is to switch to a low-fat diet. There also are medications that can be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms by binding the bile.

In addition to avoiding high-fat foods and switching to low-fat diet, some people also find it helpful to eat smaller and more frequent meals rather than a few big meals in the day; it is also a good idea to avoid eating large meals after having not eaten for a length of time.

If you need advice about gall bladder surgery then drop into our gall bladder surgery NYC clinic. One of our expert doctors will then be able to advise you on what to do next.