Gallbladder Removal Side Effects

The liver produces bile in order to digest the fats. Some of this bile produced by the liver is held in a small pear-shaped sac-like structure called the gallbladder. The gallbladder is attached to the underside of the liver and is situated at the right side of the abdomen. Bile is composed of bile salts, cholesterol and waste products. When these substances get out of balance, gallstones are produced. Failure to empty the gall bladder and crystallization of extra cholesterol in the bile results in gallstone formation. These gallstones cause trouble mostly after a fatty meal, making the person feel sick and feverish. This gallstone disorder affects about 15% of people aged 50 and above. When the gallbladder gets damaged by the gallstones, it has to be surgically removed. Since the gallbladder is not a vital organ, the body can cope well even in its absence.

Gallbladder surgery or cholecystectomy is usually safe and performed often. However, there are certain gallbladder removal side effects that follow the surgery. The diet after gallbladder removal should include skimmed milk, soups, salads, lean meat, skinned fish, etc. Fried food, spicy food, peanuts, pastries, cereals, etc. should be avoided.

Gallbladder Removal Side Effects

Even after gallbladder removal, the liver continues to produce bile in order to digest the fats. However, the bile after gallbladder removal is not readily secreted and the liver gets overwhelmed when encountered with large amount of fats (especially hydrogenated and saturated fats). For some people, even small amounts of fat can cause uneasiness and distress. Patients often experience a lot of pain after gallbladder surgery. Besides the pain after gallbladder removal, the other common problems associated with the removal are:

• Heartburn
• Bloating
• Gas
• Feeling sick
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Cramps
• Pain in the shoulders and abdomen
• Constant pain in the right upper abdomen
• Dumping of bile leading to instant diarrhea
• Decrease in bile secretion.

During the first few days after the surgery, patients will face significant amount of discomfort. This is because the organs have been shifted internally during the surgery to remove the gallbladder. Moreover, carbon dioxide is pumped to inflate the abdominal cavity. Some of this gas remains in the body causing bloating and uneasiness. Breathing also becomes painful; however, it is important to practice deep breathing after the surgery to avoid lung complications.

The liver produces lesser bile after gallbladder removal, which is thick and sluggish leading to pain and bile stone formation. Some people develop bile stones after removal of the gallbladder. These bile stones cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Moreover, the gas that inflates the abdomen causes pain in the shoulders and abdomen. However, the pain usually disappears within 48 hours. Often, bile salts irritate the digestive system, causing many people to get diarrhea.

Almost 40% of people undergoing gallbladder removal surgery will encounter these symptoms for months after the surgery, or even years. Some of the serious side effects that affect one in five patients is injury to the common bile duct. This defect will be obvious by the onset of fever, jaundice and abnormal blood test results after the surgery. To rectify the injured bile duct condition, further surgery may be required.

In the US as well as other countries across the globe, various natural cures are gaining popularity. Several doctors are prescribing alternative medicines to treat gallbladder disease, and are opting for gallbladder surgery as the last resort. This is because of the several painful side effects associated with the surgery. Natural remedies aim to replace gallbladder surgical treatments. In case of gallstones, one can flush them out naturally. It is claimed that almost 85% patients can avoid gallbladder surgery by opting for natural remedies.