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Let's do our own study, shall we? GB REMOVAL QUESTIONNAIRE Date of removal Open abdominal or laparoscopy Do you still have pain Is your pain worse than before surgery Is your pain better and if so by what % has it improved Please list the symptoms you are experiencing and if they are new symptoms (since surgery) or |
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| SHOULD I HAVE MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED? WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF GALLBLADDER SURGERY? Over 1/2 million people in America have their gallbladders removed every year. Is it necessary? Will your digestion be perfect afterwards? That's what everybody's hoping for, to be pain free, gas free, bloat-free and to be able to eat whatever they like. You have a 60% chance of that happening. Out of every 10 cholecystectomies, 4 people will still have symtpoms. So read the research and find out what your chances are of that happening before you give your body parts up. And scroll over to the right of this page to read what my readers are saying about their experiences. And if you've had a good experience and are symptom-free 2 and 3 years after surgery, please write and tell us about it. We want to hear from you too. The most frequently asked question I receive on this website is this: "I have had my gallbladder removed. Why do I still have pain?" If you think of your problem as a biliary (bile) problem as opposed to a "gallbladder" problem you are more on the right track to understanding how to take care of it. Removing the gallbladder does not always address the problem in the body that is causing these symptoms. In order to break down and digest fats, your body must produce bile, which is done in the liver. Your gallbladder is merely a sac for holding some of the bile that the liver produces. Whether or not you have had your gallbladder removed, your liver is still producing bile in order to digest fats. Without the gallbladder, however, the bile is not as readily secreted in the body, and the liver can become overwhelmed when faced with large amounts of any fats, especially saturated fats and hydrogenated fats. And for some people even small amounts of fats can cause discomfort. (One of the side effects of gallbladder removal can be the dumping of bile which is now not as easily regulated and can send someone running to the bathroom immediately after eating.) A more common side effect is a decrease in the secretion of bile. If the bile produced by the liver becomes thick and sluggish, painful symptoms and bile stones can occur. Bile stones can form in the liver as well as the gallbladder. One woman had her gallbladder removed only to end up back in surgery again two or three days later where they found stones in the bile ducts of the liver causing her alot of pain. However, removing the gallbladder may be an absolute medical necessity. But, unless it is diseased, ruptured or otherwise sick, know that just having gallbladder stones does not mean you have to take it out. If you have gallbladder attacks, pain or discomfort or digestive problems but not a diseased gallbladder, this does not mean you necessarily have to have gallbladder surgery. Get a second opinion. You do have an option of cleaning up your diet, doing some work on your gallbladder and liver and keeping the body part that God gave you. If you happen to think that nature made a mistake and that you don't need it anyway, you probably wouldn't be reading this page in the first place. What's the worst thing that can happen? You try to fix the root of the problem which is based on cleaning up your diet and eating real food and real fats and not the "pretend food" that can sit on a shelf for 6 months to 2 years. What kind of a food takes two years to go bad? Nothing that will give health to your body, that's for sure. And if the gallbladder still needs to come out later, you've only gained by eating better anyway. The gallbladder does facilitate and regulate the flow of bile in your body. When that facilitator is taken away it is quite possible that the flow will be not as efficient, ie. too much at one time, or more commonly, not enough. Whether you opt for gallbladder surgery or not, consider taking products and changing your diet as well as doing a series of gallbladder and liver flushes (it does both at the same time) to take care of the root of your gallbladder problem. The most common problems, apart from actual pain are impaired digestion: bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea. You are/were already having trouble digesting fats. So why would removing the organ that regulates the metabolizer of fats improve your digestion? It may help with the pain, but know that 34% of people who have their gallbladder removed still experience some abdominal pain. (4) The easiest way to avoid this is to take an external supplement of bile salts to help your body with the digestion of fats. And do a series of mini gallbladder flushes. Supplemental bile salts, (unless you are experriencing bile dumping) available separately or in the Gallbladder Relief Kits, should be taken frequently along with the digestive stimulant (also in the kit) to help stimulate your own digestive juices. Alternating the dosage of bile salts will help to mimic the body's way of secreting bile. For example, take one with breakfast, two at lunch, three at dinner, two with breakfast the next day, and so on in rotation. If you have the less common, but not unusual side effect after gallbladder removal of needing to run to the bathroom immediately after eating, you are probably getting too much bile instead of too little. This, unfortunately is much harder to control. IS GALLBLADDER SURGERY EFFECTIVE What is meant by effective? Will you never have another gallbladder attack? I mean, how could you if you have no gallbladder, right? Will you never suffer from indigestion again? Will your gas and bloating disappear? Will the constipation go away? Will diarrhea resolve? The answer to all of the above is "sometimes". Let's look at gallbladder attacks. Gallstones can also be found in the liver and the bile ducts leading to the gallbladder. The attack is often (but not always) caused by a stone blocking a duct. And yes, this can still happen. As seen by research above, stones are formed partly due to what we eat. If we take the gallbladder out and continue to eat the same lithogenic forming diet that we did before, why should stones not form? They will. You may never know it. You may be asymptomatic for the rest of your life. Or, you may get a stone stuck in a bile duct. This is one of the reasons for the most frequently asked question on this site: "I had my gallbladder removed months (or years) ago. Why do I still have pain?" (See testimonials to the right for examples.) Removing the gallbladder does not always address the problem in the body that is causing these or other symptoms listed above. It has probably taken years for your body to form these stones. Your fat digestion has been impaired for a long time. In order to break down and digest fats, your body must produce bile, which is done in the liver. To address the root of the problem you must look to the liver and to your whole digestive system as a whole. These issues will be addressed in length in my future book. In there you will learn more than you ever wanted to know about your gallbladder. DIET AFTER GALLBLADDER REMOVAL If you understand the underlying root of your gallbladder disease usually being one of bile stasis or some imbalance in the bile composition itself, you will realize that most people are not out of the woods after surgery and able to eat anything they like. Treat your lack of a gallbladder as you would any gallbladder disease and eat the same way. There is a whole page on gallbladder diet with foods that are good for the gallbladder (think "bile") and liver and foods that are hard on the biliary system. You still have a biliary system. Treat it gently and feed it nourishing foods. Of particular importance is the understanding of good fats and harmful fats. Follow the links on gallbladder diet for more information on both of these. When should the gallbladder be removed? Many doctors recommend gallbladder removal if you have had only one attack. Others will do so if you have repeated attacks. Some will do so if you have stones; others will say unless you are having attacks with the stones you can leave it. This is a place to get a second opinion and above all, to educate yourself; read all you can. If your doctor finds that you have an infected gallbladder it will almost certainly have to come out. If it bursts you are in similar danger as with a burst appendix. Infection is then lose in the peritoneal cavity. This is like an explosion of infection from a place of contaiment to the body at large and is difficult to clean up. If you have a motility problem or a problem with gallbladder contraction (see biliary dyskinesia under gallbladder diseases) gallbladder surgery is also recommended. If you are bound and determined to keep your gallbladder even with this problem, call me for suggestions. And please take the biliary dyskinesia survey for a study I am doing. Complications of surgery Apart from complications of surgery such as damage to the common bile duct with laparoscopic surgery (due to lack of visibility) or infection from an incision, one may develop postcholecystectomy syndrome. (See below.) "During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gallbladder perforation with leakage of bile and/or gallstones into the abdominal cavity occurs frequently." or 33% according to this study. However, there were no complications of infection or blockages in any of the subjects.(3) LIST OF POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS or LIFE AFTER GALLBLADDER SURGERY Abdominal pain, nausea, gas, bloating, and diarrhea are common following surgery. Postcholecystectomy syndrome (after gallbladder removal syndrome) may include all of the above symptoms plus indigestion, nausea, vomiting and constant pain in the upper right abdomen. Sound familiar? You're right -- gallbladder attack symptoms. Up to 40% of people who undergo gallbladder surgery will experience these symptoms for months or years after surgery. How is this possible? You no longer have a gallbladder and that was the problem, right? Look to the whole biliary tract. Now that the gallbladder is no longer present to act as a reservoir for bile, the common bile duct may expand as the bile backs up in the bile duct between the sphincter or muscular opening at the small intestine and the liver from which it flows. If it drips constantly into the small intestine this can cause problems of a different kind. However, this syndrome with accompanying pain appears to have the flow of bile obstructed by either a narrowing of the sphincter or a malfunction of the sphincter.(1) "Functional biliary pain in the absence of gallstone disease is a definite entity and a challenge for clinicians." which is to say that at this point in time, they don't really know what to do with gallbladder problems that aren't related to gallstones (2) and "Often, following cholecystectomy, biliary pain does not resolve..." (2) which means after gallbladder surgery you may just be stuck with the pain. So in conclusion, your best bet may be to try and fix what is wrong if that is possible, before taking it out. Sometimes, that is just not possible. (1)Torsoli A, Corazziari E, Habib FI, Cicala M. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 1990;175:52-7 Pressure relationships within the human bile tract. Normal and abnormal physiology. (2) Shaffer E., Dig Liver Dis. 2003 Jul;35 Suppl 3:S20-5 (3) Surgical Endoscopy Publisher: Springer New York ISSN: 0930-2794 (Paper) 1432-2218 (Online) DOI: 10.1007/BF00188454Issue: Volume 9, Number 9 Date: September 1995 Pages: 977 - 980 (4)Bates T; Ebbs SR; Harrison M; A'Hern RP.Influence of cholecystectomy on symptoms. Br J Surg. 78(8):964-7, 1991 Aug. |
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 1/4/2006 I live in Boise Idaho. I had my gallbladder removed 15 years ago at the age of 20. About 4 years ago I started having pain and severe digestion problems (chonic diarehea with bright yello liquid, pain and fatigue). After 2 years, weight loss, and a bunch of expensive tests, my gastro DR did an ERCP and removed small stones and sludge. The procedure was terrible; I was kept in the hospital for days because of nausea, vomiting and fever. I do NOT want to have that procedure again. I have felt good for 2 years but I am starting to have pain again with dizziness and fatigue. I am feeling hopeful after finding your website and seeing that I am not the only one who has continued to get stones. 2006-05-06 Had gallbladder removed jan 1st o6 am if not worse then certainly not much better 2006-04-14 My gallbladder was removed over 15 years ago. Now my weight is 400. I still have attacks, some lasting 9 days. Tests come back negative for stones, colon problems. What now? What should I eat. I am exercising and have started to lose weight. Please help. In HIS service joyfully: Linda 2006-05-08 I am just 1 week post surgery and I am having dietery complications. I am still having the bloating, nasuea, vomititng and abdomianl cramps as pre surgery minus the severe chest -back pain. I am hoping to get a head start on a good post surgery diet to help my body repair itself and feel good again. W.S. 2006-06-03 Debbie, I had my Gallbladder removed 9 months I still bloat after eating, I am constipated, I am gaining weight, I have little to no energy. I need direction. T.R. Answer: Dear T.R., You had problems with fat digestion before you removed your organ that assists with fat metabolism. It is no wonder the body is having a problem. You need to take bile salts with every meal. The bile also needs to be thinned and you need to take something to assist your body break down the fats. I suggest you start with the gallbladder starter kit and stay on it until you feel at least 80% better. Then switch to the weight gain after gallbladder removal kit and stay on it. Do a series of coffee enemas to get the bile moving (instructions on site). In the meantime, work on changing your diet. Stop eating refined carbohydrates (sugars), the wrong fats (read the page on good fats/bad fats on this site), too much meat and other fats (such as dairy). Read the whole site to better understand your problem. If you don't feel 100% better in a few months, including the constipation, the energy and the weight gain, please do contact me for a consultation. This can and should be turned around. Sincerely, Debbie 2006-06-04 i had my gall bladder taken out about 4 1-2 years ago and i have gained about 60lbs since and cant lose any weight know matter what i do. right before i had my removal i lost alot of weight. i dont understand why i am gaining so much weight, when no matter what i eat i have diarria usally right after im done eating, but sometimes it comes while im eating. it is very agitating at times. C.K. Answer: These symptoms, unfortunately, are much harder to work with. The diarrhea is generally caused by the dumping of bile (see side effects of surgery on this site). It's easier to get the bile moving than it is to stop it. I can probably help you with the other symptoms but I need much more information. You will have to call me for a consultation on this one. 2006-06-15 I have had gallbladder attacks for 3 years now. Just recently they have really gotten bad. I seem to keep indigestion and my stomach hurts so bad sometimes I just wanna lay around and do nothing. I dont want to have my gallbladder removed. Ii feel like it is there for a reason. Please give me advice on whether I should or should not have the surgery. Tammy Answer: Tammy, I cannot advise you to have surgery or not have surgery. Wht does your doctor say? I only can suggest you read my whole website, especially the page on gallbladder removal and implement the suggestions on diet, supplements and exercise, etc. you find there. Order a gallbladder relief kit, extra-strength or regular. You'll be amazed at how it can help your pain and improve your digestion. Is it not worth it to at least give it a try? And if you do not feel significantly better, surgery is always available. I have helped many people to keep their gallbladders. It really depends on the actual condition that it is in and how motivated one is to keep it. How willing are you to change make changes? Debbie 2006-06-16 I WISH THAT I FOUND YOUR SITE FIVE YEARS AGO! BEFORE I HAD A GALLBLADDER ATTACK AND HAD IT REMOVED. YOUR SITE IS VERY INFORMATIVE. mY DOCTORS NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING AFTER THE OPERATION AS TO DIET OR SUPPLEMENTING WITH ENZYMES OR BILE SALTS. NOW THANKS TO YOU, I CAN TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO STAY HEALTHY. THANK YOU! E.R. 2006-06-17 I just found your site and Im quite intrigued...I had my gall bladder removed 4 years ago and thought that it was normal to have to run to the can after eating certain foods. My doctor told me it happens with certain people. Its good to know that there may be a way to fix this. Mary |
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| Disclaimer The statements in this website have not been evaluated by or sanctioned by the FDA (just in case you care). Only your doctor can properly diagnose and treat any disease or disorder. The supplements discussed herein are not meant to treat any disease but are for nutritional support of the body only. The user understands that the information in this website is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or a pharmacist. |
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