Can medicines and food help to remove gall stones

What is the latest and best treatment for the removal of gall stones

I wish dietary changes could dissolve gallstones. Unfortunately, studies on diet and gallstones haven’t
provided us with a clear picture of what foods might make a difference.

People who consume large quantities of simple sugars and dietary fats are more likely to have gallstones
compared to people who eat what is considered a “heart healthy diet.” However, this is just an
association. There is no proof that sugar and fat cause gallstones.

While the types of foods a person eats don’t reliably influence the formation of gallstones, the amount
of calories you eat does matter. Overweight people, especially women, tend to develop more gallstones
than people at healthy weights.

Body size is one part of the equation. The other just-as-important risk factor for gallstones is rapid
change in body weight. Gallstones often form when someone gains or loses a significant amount of
weight over a relatively short period of time.

Even though you can’t dissolve the stones you have, managing how you put on pounds and how you
take them off matters. If you need to lose weight, do it slowly. Don’t go on a crash diet. And definitely
don’t allow yourself to gain weight rapidly.

The one kind of diet I recommend when people have symptoms related to gallstones is a low fat diet,
and I mean really low fat. A low fat diet decreases contractions of the gallbladder. This may prevent
stones from moving out of the gallbladder into the bile duct where they may get stuck. So, a low fat diet
may decrease the risk of future attacks of pain related to the gall stones, known as biliary colic.

A low fat diet won’t dissolve the stones, but by preventing biliary colic, the diet may allow a person to
put off surgery to remove the gallbladder, at least for a while.

Many patients have gallbladder surgery to alleviate pain and to avoid the potentially serious conditions
caused by gallstones. In fact, surgery — in this case, a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal — is the
most common form of treatment for gallstones. But the fact that surgically removing gallstones requires
the removal of an entire organ has led to a growing interest in nonsurgical treatments for gallstones.

Why Treatment for Gallstones Is Necessary

Besides alleviating symptoms, treatment for gallstones is necessary to avoid a progression that can
result in severe conditions, such as acute cholecystitis, the condition in which the gallstone blocks the
gallbladder ducts, causing the gallbladder to become inflamed and infected. Patients with acute
cholecystitis are usually hospitalized and receive antibiotics, pain medication, and often surgery.

If you do not have symptoms, the most common treatment is to “wait and see,” because the risks
outweigh the benefits for both medical and surgical treatments. If you have gallbladder symptoms,
surgical treatments are preferred unless you are at high risk, and then drug treatments may be utilized.

“If someone is symptomatic, we do recommend patients get the gallbladder taken out,” says Nikhil
Kumta, MD, an attending gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “[Gallbladder
surgery] is minimally invasive, so the risk of complications is low. But if people are unable to go through
surgery, if someone is really old or really sick, there are different treatment options.”

Here are seven alternatives to surgery:

1. Thinning Bile With Acid Pills Can Dissolve Gallstones

In some cases, gallstones can be treated with medicine.

Certain chemicals, such as ursodiol or chenodiol, which have been shown to dissolve some gallstones,
are available in oral bile acid pills. These medicines work by thinning the bile, which allows gallstones to
dissolve.

While these pills can be effective and are generally well tolerated by patients, medical treatment of
gallstones is limited to people whose stones are small and made of cholesterol. But according to Mount
Sinai, these drugs can take two years or longer to work, and gallstones may return after treatment ends.

“Decreasing the cholesterol content of the bile can dissolve (certain gallstones), but it’s not effective
enough that we don’t refer patients to surgery,” Dr. Kumta says.

2. Small Gallstones Can Be Broken Apart With Shock Waves

Another nonsurgical treatment for which gallstones must meet certain criteria is extracorporeal shock-
wave lithotripsy (ECSWL). Although it is most commonly used to treat kidney stones, it can also be used
on gallstones. The goal of the treatment is to break up, or fragment, gallstones by sending shock waves
through the soft tissue of the body.

This method is only effective on solitary gallstones that are less than 2 centimeters in diameter, so fewer
than 15 percent of patients are eligible for ECSWL. A case report published in 2017 in the International
Journal of Surgery Case Reports found a low success rate for ECSWL patients with multiple gallstones.
Even when stones are fragmented, a diseased gallbladder may not expel the fragment.

According to research published in the October-December 2014 issue of the Journal of Indian
Association of Pediatric Surgeons, for this form of treatment, children may be the best candidates.

3. Gallstones Can Be Dissolved With an MTBE Injection

This nonsurgical treatment option involves injecting a solvent known as methyl tertiary-butyl ether
(MTBE) into the gallbladder to dissolve the gallstones. According to research published in June 2015 in
the journal Case Reports in Surgery, MTBE rapidly dissolves gallstones — but there can be some serious
side effects, such as severe burning pain. MTBE creates fumes, and if it’s not administered properly in a
ventilated area, it could cause severe burning for the patient and operators, and even cause electrical
fires. Inquire about your doctor’s level of experience with performing this procedure before getting this
form of treatment.

4. Endoscopic Drainage Follows the Gallbladder’s Natural Path

Endoscopic drainage mimics the healthy route of bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine. An
endoscopic transpapillary treatment involves accessing the cystic duct with a camera through the mouth
and down the throat. Then a wire is placed through the duct into the gallbladder. It is coiled to imitate
the trajectory of the bile out of the small intestine, which is the same process as that of a healthy
gallbladder. Kumta says that this form of treatment allows the gallbladder to resume normal bile
disposal.

5. Percutaneous Cholecystostomy Is Best for Seriously Ill Patients

This is a nonsurgical treatment option, but it’s most effective when followed by gallbladder removal.
Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is typically saved for seriously ill patients who cannot tolerate
surgery right away. The procedure involves using a needle to withdraw fluid from the gallbladder and
then inserting a catheter through the skin to drain the fluid. The catheter is left in place for a number of
weeks, after which gallbladder removal surgery is performed to prevent recurrence.

6. Transmural Drainage Decompresses a Swollen Gallbladder

“Transmural drainage creates a new tract directly through the stomach into the gallbladder,” Kumta
says. An expandable metal stent is then placed to allow the gallbladder to drain into the small intestine.
“This allows the gallbladder to decompress.”

With this approach, a study published in March 2016 in the journal Therapeutic Advances in
Gastroenterology found high success rates, with one only 1 out of 16 patients experiencing
complications during the stent placement process.

7. Acute Cholecystostomy, an Ultrasound-Guided Drainage Procedure

For patients who have acute cholecystitis or gallbladder inflammation and are unable to have surgery,
an endoscopic stent can be placed between the gallbladder and alimentary tract to drain infection in a
procedure called acute cholecystoenterostomy (ACE). A meta-analysis published in April 2018 in the
journal Surgical Endoscopy found that ACE was just as effective, if not more effective, than
percutaneous cholecystostomy in managing the pain and re-intervention rates of acute cholecystitis.

“Sometimes the surgeons will opt to do this before surgery when the gallbladder is inflamed. We give
the patient antibiotics and drain the gallbladder so that it isn’t hot, sticky, and inflamed during surgery,”
Kumta says.

When Considering Treatment Options, Talk to Your Doctor

As a gastroenterologist, Kumta always refers people to a surgeon if they are experiencing pain in their
right abdomen, so that they can learn the pros and cons of removing the gallbladder.

Still, Kumta says that obesity is correlated with gallstone formation, and that patients can make dietary
changes, lose weight if they are obese, and opt for a low-fat diet.

If you pick the change your diet, “wait and see” approach, be mindful of the factors that predispose
someone to gallstones: You can’t control your age, your gender (women are more prone to gallstones),
or your genes.

If you have gallstones, knowing what's available to remove or otherwise treat them can help you in
making your treatment decisions. Discuss these treatment options with your doctor and find the one
that's right for you.
Why Pregnancy Can Lead to
Gallstones and How to Help
Prevent Them
Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing gallstones
because of extra estrogen, but it's not difficult to avoid these
gallbladder problems.
By Krisha McCoy
Medically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD

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Hormonal increases during pregnancy can put you at risk of gallstones.

Thinkstock

On top of morning sickness, stretch marks, and swollen feet, pregnant

women have yet another thing to worry about: gallstones. But despite the

increased risk, there are things you can do to help prevent this unwanted
side effect of pregnancy.

Gallstones can lead to pain and other symptoms, and if left untreated, they

can cause your gallbladder to become infected or even rupture. Women have

a 2 to 3 times higher rate of gallstones than men, and hormonal changes

that occur during pregnancy put them at even greater risk. Still, gallstones

are not an inevitable part of pregnancy if you’re willing to take steps to help
avoid them.
What's the Link Between Pregnancy and
Gallstones?

Bile is a liquid produced by your liver that is primarily made of cholesterol,

bilirubin, and bile salts. Your gallbladder stores bile until your body needs it,

and then releases it into your small intestine, where it helps with the

digestion of dietary fat and fat-soluble vitamins. If the substances that make

up your bile become imbalanced — too much cholesterol or bilirubin and not

enough bile salts, for example — hardened gallstones may form in your
gallbladder.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

“Pregnant women are at increased risk for gallstones because of increased

estrogen levels,” says Jose Nieto, DO, a gastroenterologist at the Borland-

Groover Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, adding that weight gain and rapid

weight loss after pregnancy also increase the risk. Increased estrogen is

problematic because it can cause cholesterol levels in bile to spike, which

can lead to the development of gallstones.

Women who take birth control pills or are on hormone replacement therapy

are also at increased risk of developing gallstones since these contain

estrogen.
Symptoms of Gallstones During Pregnancy

Sometimes gallstones don't cause problems or symptoms, and they may go

away on their own after you deliver your baby. But it’s important to tell your

doctor if you’re having any of the following potential symptoms of

gallbladder problems:

 Steady, severe pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen,

especially after eating a fatty meal

 Pain in the upper abdomen that radiates into your right shoulder and

back

 Abdominal pain that lasts more than five hours

 Nausea and vomiting

 Fever or chills

 Yellowing skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)

 Stools that are clay colored

Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstones During

Pregnancy
To confirm a diagnosis of gallstones, your doctor may perform an

abdominal ultrasound, much like those you’ve probably already had to see
your developing baby.

Make sure your doctor knows that you’re pregnant, since many diagnostic

tests for gallstones, such as an oral cholecystogram (X-ray of the

gallbladder), computerized tomography (CT) scan, or nuclear scan may not

be safe during pregnancy.

Gallstones are most commonly treated by cholecystectomy, which is the

surgical removal of your gallbladder. Depending on your symptoms and risk

factors, your doctor may choose to carefully monitor you during pregnancy
or go ahead and remove your gallbladder while you are pregnant.

How To Prevent Gallstones During Pregnancy

Here's what you can do to help lower your risk of gallstones during
pregnancy:

 Gain a healthy amount of weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for

the development of gallstones in women. Pregnancy is not a time for

weight-loss diets, but working with your doctor to avoid excess weight

gain can help.

 Eat a high-fiber diet. Too little fiber can increase your risk of

developing gallstones. Eating more fiber-rich foods can help keep your

gallbladder — and your baby — healthy.

  Choose the right fats. Monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fats help

prevent gallstones, while foods high in saturated fat tend to promote

their formation.

 Cut back on sugar and other refined carbohydrates. Sugar and

products made from white or refined flour — such as many types of

bread, pasta, crackers, and chips — increase the risk of gallstones.

They also provide mostly empty calories, which is not something you or

your baby really need.

 Manage diabetes. People with diabetes often have high triglyceride

levels, and both conditions have been linked to an increased risk of

gallstones. So work with your doctor to keep your diabetes under

control while you are pregnant.

Avoiding gallstones during pregnancy may just take some small tweaks to

your routine. But talk to your doctor if you are at higher risk for gallstones,
or are developing any worrisome symptoms during your pregnancy.

Why Is Fiber Important in Digestive Health?

You know you're supposed to eat lots of fiber — but why? And can you get too much of a good thing?

Don't Miss This

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4 Natural Remedies for Nausea

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Depositphotos.com

Everyday Health: What is the role of fiber in digestive health? Is it possible to eat too much fiber?

Mark Babyatsky, MD (mssm.edu)

Dietary fiber, found particularly in vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains, helps to keep bowel
movements regular. Individuals who consume high — fiber diets have much lower rates
of constipation than individuals that eat a low — fiber diet, plus they have fewer hemorrhoids and
diverticula (outpouchings) in the colon. Too much fiber may result in loose stools, bloating, or even
diarrhea.

Kenneth Brown, MD (kennethbrownmd.com)

Dietary fiber is the term used to describe the combination of both insoluble and soluble fibers. Soluble
fiber is the form of fiber that dissolves in water. Examples of foods that contain soluble fiber include
fruits, oats, legumes and barley. Insoluble fiber comes from plant cell walls and does not dissolve in
water. Examples of foods that contain insoluble fiber include wheat, vegetables, and seeds. Fiber works
by both bulking up the stool and retaining water. In addition, bacteria help digest the fiber which
produces healthy ingredients for the colon such as short chain fatty acids. Fiber can be beneficial for
both diarrhea and constipation depending how much fluid is also taken in with the fiber. Fiber can
actually become a constipating agent if the ratio of fluid taken in is too low.

Christine M. Esters (adventureinwellbeing.com)

We need to eat 35 to 40 percent of fiber. American eat 10 percent or less. Fiber moves toxins,
excess hormones, and mucus.

Some fibers are too binding for some people (e.g., psyllium seeds), so listen to your body and drink lots
of water after taking a dry fiber.

Lisa Ganjhu, DO (wehealnewyork.org)

Fiber plays a major role in digestive health. Fiber is the fuel the colon cells use to keep them healthy.
Fiber also helps to keep the digestive tract flowing, by keeping your bowel movements soft and regular.

It is possible to get too much fiber, and your body will know it. You may experience bloating and many
more bowel movements than you are normally are used to.

Jo Ann Hattner, MPH, RD (gutinsight.com)

Fibers are primarily non — digestible carbohydrates. Fibers are components of plant foods, fruits,
vegetables, dried beans and peas, lentils, nuts, and seeds — any food that is classified as a plant. The
fiber provides structure. Think of the celery stalk and the obvious vertical fiber strings that one often
gets caught in their teeth. In addition, because fibers are non — digestible, they contribute to stool bulk
and add form to the stool. People with irregularity are often advised to increase their fiber and fluid
intake.

But can you get too much? Well yes, you can get too much of anything. But you will know. When you eat
too much fiber your digestive system may be overwhelmed and you will suffer from abdominal bloating
and pass excessive gas. You don’t want that, so keep an open mind and just eat as much fiber as you
personally need to keep regular and enjoy a flat abdomen.

Another really important role of fiber is that some fibers are prebiotics — meaning they are fermented
in the colon by the healthful beneficial bacteria. The products of this fermentation, which include short
chained fatty acids, are thought to be healthful to the lining of the colon. In addition the acidic milieu
that results from the fermentation is unfriendly to the survival of the pathogenic (harmful) bacteria
which cause illness and may contribute to an unhealthy colonic environment. Expect more research
findings on this subject.

Lisa Pichney, MD (stopcoloncancernow.com)

Fiber is good for the gastrointestinal tract because it provides bulk to the stool, helping in colonic
lubrication and transit. Too much fiber can result in unwanted gas production.

Seth Rosen, MD (gastrohealth.com)

A high — fiber diet can contribute greatly to gastrointestinal health as well as to a general healthy
lifestyle. Fiber helps to regulate bowel movements so they are not too loose or too hard and may
decrease the risk of diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Most high — fiber foods tend to be low in calories,
sugar, and fat, so they are generally healthy. When eating high — fiber foods one may feel fuller and
thereby less inclined to overeat. Additionally, high — fiber diets are often part of a low — cholesterol,
heart — healthy diet. While it is rare for most of us to exceed the recommended daily fiber intake, some
people do have difficulty with gas and bloating when eating a large amount of fiber or introducing fiber
too quickly into the diet. Also, keep in mind, eating fiber always requires adequate hydration and help to
minimize the gas and bloating that may develop.

Sutha Sachar, MD (susacharmd.com)

A diet high in fiber has repeatedly shown benefits in preventing colon cancer. Contrary to what many
patients think, soluble fiber can be used for diarrhea as well as constipation. The only drawback to
eating "too much fiber" is the fact that is can be gas — producing in many patients. This can usually be
overcome by drinking plenty of water along with it.

Albert Snow, ND (holisticgastroenterology.com)

Contrary to conventional (mis)understanding, its role in assisting constipation is perhaps its least
important. Its most important benefit is as a source of nutrition for the bacterial culture that makes up
the mucosal lining, thus maintaining it. Subsequently the mucosal lining protects the gastrointestinal
wall, preventing inflammatory diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and Crohn's disease.
The most common cause of constipation is a magnesium deficiency. If you do not address that first, the
fiber is likely to just back up on you.

Rule number one: If you have any kind of inflammatory bowel disease such as IBS, colitis, leaky gut, etc.
do not take any kind of bowel cleanser of fiber supplement — you will definitely make you problem
worse.

William Chey, MD (med.umich.edu)

Fiber helps to regulate water content in the stool. If stool is too dry, fiber tends to retain fluid and soften
stool. If stool is too runny, fiber can absorb water and add form to the stool. Taking additional fiber can
also impact of blood cholesterol levels. The typical western diet contains 7 — 12 grams of fiber per day.
To improve constipation — related symptoms, people should consume 20 to 25 grams of fiber per day.
Eating too much fiber can lead to problems with cramping, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. When
starting fiber, it is best to "start low and go slow." Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet too quickly
(days as opposed to weeks) can lead to the development of unwanted side effects.

Jacqueline Wolf, MD (drjacquelinewolf.com)

Fiber is plant material that can't be digested by the small intestine. Soluble fiber (can be dissolved in
water) passes through the small intestine relatively unchanged until it reaches the colon (large intestine)
where the bacteria can ferment or digest the fiber. The products of the fermentation stimulate the
bowels, cause retained water in the stool and bulk up the stool. Insoluble fiber passes through the colon
relatively unchanged and helps bulk the stool. A combination of soluble and insoluble fiber helps
maintain normal intestinal function by affecting the consistency of the stool and affecting digestion of
other substances.

Fiber may cause gas and bloating in some people and this may be a function of the amount or the type
of fiber. In addition in some people fiber may make the constipation or the symptoms of irritable bowel
syndrome worse. In a person with a narrowing in the intestine, for example from Crohn's disease,
insoluble fiber could make that person more at risk for a blockage of the bowel.

Your Diet After Gallbladder Removal

By Krisha McCoy

Medically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD

Your diet after gallbladder removal may include fiber-rich foods like beans and broccoli, as well as
healthy fats like almonds.

Getty Images; Thinkstock; Shutterstock

When you have a problem with your gallbladder, like gallstones, your doctor may recommend that you
have surgery to remove your gallbladder.

Your gallbladder is an organ that you can live without, but it may take some time for your body to adjust
to its absence.

Most people don’t experience digestive problems after gallbladder removal, according to the Mayo
Clinic. But if you do, you may need to avoid certain foods. (1)

Depending on your body’s ability to adapt, you may only need to modify your diet for a short period, or
you may need to make lasting changes. (2)

The Gallbladder and Digestion

The gallbladder is a small organ that sits under your liver.

Its main function is to store, concentrate, and secrete bile, a liquid made by your liver that helps digest
fatty foods. (3)

If you need to have surgery to remove your gallbladder, your liver will still produce enough bile for
normal digestion. But instead of being stored in your gallbladder, bile will flow directly from your liver
into your small intestine.

As your body adapts to this new reality, you might have some difficulty digesting certain foods in the
days and weeks following gallbladder removal (also known as a cholecystectomy). (2)

Dietary Adjustments After Gallbladder Surgery

It's important to carefully follow your doctor's instructions about your diet after gallbladder surgery.

If you're hospitalized, your medical team will help you transition from a liquid to a solid diet almost
immediately after your gallbladder surgery.

If you're recovering at home, you'll need to introduce foods slowly and consume mainly clear liquids,
broth, and gelatin at first.

As you start feeling better, you can slowly introduce solid foods back into your diet. But you may need to
avoid certain foods for a while if you experience bloating, diarrhea, and gas during this time.

Most people can return to a normal diet within a month of having gallbladder surgery. (2)

Foods to Avoid

While your body adjusts, it's a good idea to avoid high-fat foods for a few weeks after your gallbladder
removal.

High-fat foods include:

 Fried foods, like french fries and potato chips

 High-fat meats, such as bacon, bologna, sausage, ground beef, and ribs

 High-fat dairy products, such as butter, cheese, ice cream, cream, whole milk, and sour cream

 Pizza

 Foods made with lard or butter

 Creamy soups or sauces

 Meat gravies

 Chocolate

 Oils, especially palm and coconut oil

 Skin of chicken or turkey

Certain high-fiber and gas-producing foods can also cause discomfort after gallbladder surgery, so you
may want to introduce them slowly back into your diet.
These foods include:

 Whole-grain breads and cereals

 Nuts

 Seeds

 Legumes

 Brussels sprouts

 Broccoli

 Cauliflower

 Cabbage (2)

You may benefit from including more soluble fiber in your diet, since it can help regulate bowel
movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats and barley.

It’s a good idea to avoid larger meals, since your body can no longer store as much bile as before.
Smaller, more frequent meals may be easier to digest. (4)

Related

How to Use a Food Diary to Help Manage Crohn's Symptoms and Flares

Spicy foods may also cause digestive upset for a time after gallbladder removal.

To figure out what foods, if any, are causing problems after your surgery, you may want to consider
keeping a food journal.

In this journal, you can record when you add foods back into your diet, as well as any digestive
symptoms you’re experiencing — and possibly make a connection between the two. (2)

If you need help developing a diet plan after your surgery, ask your doctor to refer you to a registered
dietitian.

Will a Gallbladder Cleanse Help?

Sometimes, news of an alternative remedy will spread rapidly through the internet and social media.
But reading about a remedy in multiple places doesn’t mean that it’s effective or even safe.

One such alternative remedy is the so-called gallbladder cleanse, which is often touted as a treatment
for gallstones or an alternative to gallbladder removal.

There are many different recipes for this so-called cleanse, but most involve drinking large amounts of
citrus juices, Epsom salts, and olive oil.

The advertised promises may sound enticing, especially if you're facing the cost and hassle of
gallbladder removal.

But there are no gallbladder flushes or cleanses that have been proven to break up or eliminate
gallstones, says Sanjay Jagannath, MD, a gastroenterologist in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"There's not any good evidence to suggest there's anything out there to reliably do that," Dr. Jagannath
says.

Jagannath says that people who try out these remedies often have subsequent bowel movements that
include small round objects thought to be gallstones.

Related

Crohn's Disease Treatments: Separating Fact From Quackery

But, he notes, the observed objects are actually the result of the olive oil mixing with bile, the fluid in
the gallbladder that digests fat.

"Bile mixes with olive oil to form a yellowish-colored soap," Jagannath says. "There are no real stones
actually pushed out by the gallbladder in most cases."

Jagannath adds that these objects usually float in the toilet, while real gallstones are hard — like pebbles
— and sink to the bottom.

And you should be especially wary of any product marketed as an herbal gallbladder treatment. "The
problem with all herbal treatments is there's no regulation by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration],"
Jagannath warns.

It's always advisable to check with your doctor before trying any kind of over-the-counter treatment for
gallbladder problems, he adds.

When to Call Your Doctor About Problems Post Gallbladder Surgery

Although it's common to have some food-related symptoms after surgery, it’s important to contact your
surgeon if you experience any of the following symptoms, since they may indicate a more serious
complication:

 Persistent abdominal pain, especially if it worsens

 Severe nausea or vomiting

 Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

 Lack of bowel movements for more than three days after surgery

 Inability to pass gas for more than three days after surgery

 Frequent diarrhea that lasts more than three days after surgery (2)

Your Diet After Gallbladder Removal

By Krisha McCoy

Medically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD

Your diet after gallbladder removal may include fiber-rich foods like beans and broccoli, as well as
healthy fats like almonds.

Getty Images; Thinkstock; Shutterstock

When you have a problem with your gallbladder, like gallstones, your doctor may recommend that you
have surgery to remove your gallbladder.
Your gallbladder is an organ that you can live without, but it may take some time for your body to adjust
to its absence.

Most people don’t experience digestive problems after gallbladder removal, according to the Mayo
Clinic. But if you do, you may need to avoid certain foods. (1)

Depending on your body’s ability to adapt, you may only need to modify your diet for a short period, or
you may need to make lasting changes. (2)

The Gallbladder and Digestion

The gallbladder is a small organ that sits under your liver.

Its main function is to store, concentrate, and secrete bile, a liquid made by your liver that helps digest
fatty foods. (3)

If you need to have surgery to remove your gallbladder, your liver will still produce enough bile for
normal digestion. But instead of being stored in your gallbladder, bile will flow directly from your liver
into your small intestine.

As your body adapts to this new reality, you might have some difficulty digesting certain foods in the
days and weeks following gallbladder removal (also known as a cholecystectomy). (2)

Dietary Adjustments After Gallbladder Surgery

It's important to carefully follow your doctor's instructions about your diet after gallbladder surgery.

If you're hospitalized, your medical team will help you transition from a liquid to a solid diet almost
immediately after your gallbladder surgery.

If you're recovering at home, you'll need to introduce foods slowly and consume mainly clear liquids,
broth, and gelatin at first.

As you start feeling better, you can slowly introduce solid foods back into your diet. But you may need to
avoid certain foods for a while if you experience bloating, diarrhea, and gas during this time.

Most people can return to a normal diet within a month of having gallbladder surgery. (2)

Foods to Avoid

While your body adjusts, it's a good idea to avoid high-fat foods for a few weeks after your gallbladder
removal.

High-fat foods include:

 Fried foods, like french fries and potato chips

 High-fat meats, such as bacon, bologna, sausage, ground beef, and ribs

 High-fat dairy products, such as butter, cheese, ice cream, cream, whole milk, and sour cream

 Pizza

 Foods made with lard or butter

  Creamy soups or sauces

 Meat gravies

 Chocolate

 Oils, especially palm and coconut oil

 Skin of chicken or turkey

Certain high-fiber and gas-producing foods can also cause discomfort after gallbladder surgery, so you
may want to introduce them slowly back into your diet.

These foods include:

 Whole-grain breads and cereals

 Nuts

 Seeds

 Legumes

 Brussels sprouts

 Broccoli

 Cauliflower

 Cabbage (2)

You may benefit from including more soluble fiber in your diet, since it can help regulate bowel
movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats and barley.

It’s a good idea to avoid larger meals, since your body can no longer store as much bile as before.
Smaller, more frequent meals may be easier to digest. (4)

Related

How to Use a Food Diary to Help Manage Crohn's Symptoms and Flares

Spicy foods may also cause digestive upset for a time after gallbladder removal.
To figure out what foods, if any, are causing problems after your surgery, you may want to consider
keeping a food journal.

In this journal, you can record when you add foods back into your diet, as well as any digestive
symptoms you’re experiencing — and possibly make a connection between the two. (2)

If you need help developing a diet plan after your surgery, ask your doctor to refer you to a registered
dietitian.

Will a Gallbladder Cleanse Help?

Sometimes, news of an alternative remedy will spread rapidly through the internet and social media.

But reading about a remedy in multiple places doesn’t mean that it’s effective or even safe.

One such alternative remedy is the so-called gallbladder cleanse, which is often touted as a treatment
for gallstones or an alternative to gallbladder removal.

There are many different recipes for this so-called cleanse, but most involve drinking large amounts of
citrus juices, Epsom salts, and olive oil.

The advertised promises may sound enticing, especially if you're facing the cost and hassle of
gallbladder removal.

But there are no gallbladder flushes or cleanses that have been proven to break up or eliminate
gallstones, says Sanjay Jagannath, MD, a gastroenterologist in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"There's not any good evidence to suggest there's anything out there to reliably do that," Dr. Jagannath
says.

Jagannath says that people who try out these remedies often have subsequent bowel movements that
include small round objects thought to be gallstones.

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But, he notes, the observed objects are actually the result of the olive oil mixing with bile, the fluid in
the gallbladder that digests fat.
"Bile mixes with olive oil to form a yellowish-colored soap," Jagannath says. "There are no real stones
actually pushed out by the gallbladder in most cases."

Jagannath adds that these objects usually float in the toilet, while real gallstones are hard — like pebbles
— and sink to the bottom.

And you should be especially wary of any product marketed as an herbal gallbladder treatment. "The
problem with all herbal treatments is there's no regulation by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration],"
Jagannath warns.

It's always advisable to check with your doctor before trying any kind of over-the-counter treatment for
gallbladder problems, he adds.

When to Call Your Doctor About Problems Post Gallbladder Surgery

Although it's common to have some food-related symptoms after surgery, it’s important to contact your
surgeon if you experience any of the following symptoms, since they may indicate a more serious
complication:

 Persistent abdominal pain, especially if it worsens

 Severe nausea or vomiting

 Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

 Lack of bowel movements for more than three days after surgery

 Inability to pass gas for more than three days after surgery

 Frequent diarrhea that lasts more than three days after surgery (2)