Post Gallbladder Surgery Problems

The removal of your gallbladder is called cholecystectomy. It may be performed traditionally, with a five to eight inch incision, or laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgery involves several very small incisions. A laparoscope (a small, thin scope) is inserted through one of the incisions to allow the surgeon to see, and other surgical tools are inserted through the other openings. Either type of surgery can result in problems after the surgery.

Nausea/Vomiting

• Nausea and/or vomiting can occur as a result of pain medications you are taking. Some people are sensitive to certain drugs and are unable to tolerate them. In some cases, taking them with food can alleviate these symptoms. Nausea and vomiting may also be caused by changes in the food you are consuming. Immediately following your surgery you will most likely be on a liquid diet and this can sometimes cause stomach upset.

Blood Clotting

• Blood clots can unexpectedly result following any surgery. Blood clots are caused when your blood fails to circulate properly as a result of being confined to bed for long periods. If you are having traditional surgery, you will probably be required to stay at least one night in the hospital. In this case, you should be provided with pressure stockings to prevent blood from pooling in your legs which reduces the risk of clots.

  Symptoms of a leg clot include swelling, redness, pain and warmth in the area of the clot. They can usually be treated with pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen and warm compresses.

Pain

• You may have pain at the site of your incision(s) with swelling and redness. This can be treated with pain medications and topical ointments to relieve the pain. You could experience abdominal pain due to gas, heartburn and bloating. Your gallbladder stores excess bile that is produced by your liver and regulates its release. When your gallbladder has been removed, the bile may not be released properly, making some foods difficult to digest and resulting in these problems.

Constipation/Diarrhea

• Constipation and diarrhea are sometimes problems following removal of your gallbladder due to the unregulated release of bile. The most common problem is constipation, caused by too little bile. Increasing your fiber intake can help relieve this problem. Diarrhea is caused by too much bile in your large intestine, and some people may find it necessary to go to the bathroom immediately after eating. This can be treated with over-the-counter loperamide (Immodium A-D) or by prescription medications such as cholestyramine, which slows the absorption of bile acids.

Considerations

• To avoid digestive problems following your gallbladder surgery, you should adhere to certain dietary guidelines, such as eating a low fat, high fiber diet and avoiding foods like dairy, sweets, greasy foods and caffeine. The Gallbladder Attack website provides a diet for post gallbladder surgery that includes foods that are helpful and those that should be avoided.