How to Go to the Toilet After Gallbladder Removal

Gallbladder surgery is a fairly routine procedure that is traditionally performed laparascopically. Surgeons make three or four small abdominal incisions, instead of a large opening, generally allowing patients to recover more quickly with fewer risks for complications. However, the procedure is still a major surgery where muscles can be bruised and care must be taken during the recovery period. This care extends to self-care.

Things You'll Need

• Elastic waist pants

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Instructions

• 1

  Leave plenty of time for toileting, if possible. Following surgery you should be ambulatory, but there will be some pain associated with the surgery. In addition you may be taking narcotic pain relievers, which can make you dizzy. To avoid further injury make sure to move to the bathroom slowly and steadily.

• 2

  Be prepared for diarrhea. According to health care providers at The Mayo Clinic, one of the common side effects of gallbladder surgery is diarrhea. The best way to avoid this problem is to eat only small amounts of fats and introduce them to your digestive tract slowly to give your intestines the ability to better metabolize them. Without a gallbladder the liver sends a steady stream of bile into the intestines to metabolize fats and any fat that is not metabolized will pass quickly through your system as diarrhea.

• 3

  Wear elastic waist pants that are easy to put on and remove, so that you don't have to fumble with zippers, snaps or buttons when time may be short in the bathroom. A bonus is that the elastic won't pull against the incisions you'll have.

• 4

  Lower yourself slowly onto the toilet so you won't re-injure muscles that are healing. When you're finished, stand up slowly, placing your hands on your knees to boost yourself up.