# What will change when I have my gall bladder removed?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 20, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749 "2010-10-20T05:56:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/1 "2010-10-20T05:56:27Z")
I’ve heard everything from, “nothing will change” to “chronic diarrhea after every meal.”
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/2 "2010-10-20T09:00:36Z")
No more pain! 🙂
For me, I did have some problems digesting fat at first (or not digesting, actually), but I got over it.
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### Author:  [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/3 "2010-10-20T09:22:46Z")
I had my gallbladder removed about a year ago and before the operation had visited several forums and read some minor horror stories from people after their gallbladder surgery. This probably increased my apprehension but I still had the surgery because the pain during a gallbladder attack was pure misery.
Other than some constipation for several days post op, I have absolutely no ill affects from the procedure. Naturally, your results may vary but for me, there was no decision in not having the surgery because I didn’t want to go through another attack.
One benefit of elective surgery is the ability for you to select your surgeon as opposed to experiencing a severe gallbladder attack requiring emergency surgery by whatever surgeon is available at the time.
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### Author:  [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/4 "2010-10-20T12:36:12Z")
My sensation was that I was always ready to eat. IANADoctor, but figured this was due to getting a continual stream of bile rather than just getting it when it was needed for digestion.
I gained some weight in the two years after surgery, and have only recently got my eating habits correctly adjusted.
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/5 "2010-10-20T13:16:23Z")
The aftereffects aren’t the same for everyone.
Those whose livers produce a small amount of bile tend to get indigestion from eating fatty/greasy foods, and have to watch their diet.
Those who have a medium amount of bile may not notice any difference.
Those who have a lot of bile tend to have bile salt diarrhea, and probably have to take medication for it from then on (or be REALLY REALLY careful about having a restroom handy).
I doubt it can be predicted what the effects on any given individual will be. You’ll find out after the surgery.
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### Author:  [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/6 "2010-10-20T13:17:29Z")
Yeah, that’s probably correct that you’ll find out afterwards. I have never noticed a thing.
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### Author:  [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/7 "2010-10-20T13:20:59Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> No more pain! 🙂
> For me, I did have some problems digesting fat at first (or not digesting, actually), but I got over it.
My sister reported exactly this after having hers removed several years ago.
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### Author:  [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/8 "2010-10-20T13:27:47Z")
11 years later I still have fairly frequent times when I get the big D soon after eating. There’s treatment for it, but I’m more used to diarrhea than the gas and constipation from the medicine, which, btw, is a powder that tastes and feels gross.
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### Author:  [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/9 "2010-10-20T13:36:22Z")
For me, no more painful attacks was the only result. Appetite and digestion returned to normal in days and stayed that way. My operation was about 14 years ago.
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### Author:  [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/10 "2010-10-20T13:43:44Z")
Moderate amounts of fat don’t bother me, but if I weaken and get lunch at, say, McDonald’s, I will definitley feel a _very_ strong need to visit the little boys’ room shortly thereafter. It’s not _always_ diarrhea, but often it is. (And I always keep some immodium on hand. For me, it works great.)
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> No more pain! 🙂
But this is the main change, and the most important one.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/11 "2010-10-20T14:22:34Z")
It depends a lot on your current habits.
When Grandma’s gall bladder had to come out, it was done in my home town (shorter waiting time and more convenient for the family). Mom and her went to the pre-surgery consultation with the internist and, when he said “you will have to modify your dietary habits”, Grandma caught onto the word “diet” and started freaking out, jumping up and down and hyperventilating. Mom, who had previously consulted her own physician, calmly explained that “you don’t have to go on a diet, Mom, just go on eating as normal, but maybe a bit less chocolate.” “Oh. Really?” “Yes.” “Oh! So why did you scare me, young man? :mad:”
The “change in dietary habits” is “eating several small meals rather than a large one”. But Grandma is a grazer and, until a bad knee finally forced her to stop, unable to sit down for more than five minutes, so depending on how you count she eats about 20 times a day or only 1. She had to give up chocolate con churros and a few other “heavy” sweets, woe is she _angst_
It would have been much harder for Grandpa, who would eat three squares and loved such items as fabada, cocido, [insert here other Spanish dishes made up of mostly beans, pork and potatoes], chorizo, the fat of bacon, grilled shrimp…
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/12 "2010-10-20T15:37:58Z")
> [@Caricci](#):
>
> 11 years later I still have fairly frequent times when I get the big D soon after eating. There’s treatment for it, but I’m more used to diarrhea than the gas and constipation from the medicine, which, btw, is a powder that tastes and feels gross.
I’ve had no side effects from the medicine. While I agree it’s nasty if you mix it with food (e.g. applesauce), it’s not bad when mixed with water and drunk. There are also medicines in pill form that work for some folks.
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### Author:  [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/13 "2010-10-20T17:33:09Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> No more pain! 🙂
That’s why I told the doctor I wanted it out ASAP. Being able to eat without having Tylenol for dessert, will be a nice change.
Thanks for the input folks!
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### Author:  [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/14 "2010-10-20T18:46:40Z")
I can’t eat alfredo sauce any more but little else bothers me. Once in a while if I eat a super greasy, fried meal I’ll have some stomach discomfort but the no more pain and no more puking every day more than makes up for it.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/15 "2010-10-21T15:25:32Z")
I had mine out in February after an attack just before Christmastime. My tale is [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=544745)
Post-surgery, I had the occasional clench-cheeked run-waddle down the hall for the first month or two - but since then, no problems.
Especially at first, do NOT hesitate if your body suggests to you that it’s time to go to the potty.
Now, all of this refers to _after_ you’ve recovered from the surgery. Immediately post-op, you’ll have the _opposite_ problem and I _strongly_ suggest loading up on high-fiber foods, stool softeners, and fiber supplements, plus drink lots of liquids. Things won’t work _at all_ for 3ish days.
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### Author:  [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/16 "2010-10-21T16:16:48Z")
I had my gallbladder out about 13 years ago. I haven’t noticed any major changes in my digestive or excretory processes. However, I have to be careful about how much fat I eat at one sitting - too much, and I’ll have some gut discomfort and I’ll have to defecate in short order (not the clenched-cheek-waddle, just the “call of nature” speaking rather more strongly than usual).
By “too much” fat, I mean a big piece of cheesecake, a big sundae, a slice of cake loaded with frosting. Smaller portions of those things, and most reasonably-sized portions of food, cause no problem.
Basically, listen to your body. Generally, it will tell you pretty quickly if you’ve exceeded its capabilities. If X amount of food Y is followed by stomach upset, try X/2 amount next time; don’t repeat with X amount just to confirm your suspicions.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/17 "2010-10-21T16:48:37Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> No more pain! 🙂
> For me, I did have some problems digesting fat at first (or not digesting, actually), but I got over it.
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#):
>
> That’s why I told the doctor I wanted it out ASAP. Being able to eat without having Tylenol for dessert, will be a nice change.
>
> Thanks for the input folks!
It took a couple of years for my digestion to begin to approach normal, but it was worth it. I had the old, larger operation and recovery still didn’t hurt as much as an attack had.
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### Author:  [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-change-when-i-have-my-gall-bladder-removed/557749/18 "2010-10-21T23:19:09Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#):
>
> I had mine out in February after an attack just before Christmastime. My tale is [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=544745)
It sounds like my symptoms have been milder than most people’s. But I have a weirdly high pain threshold, so who knows how long I’ve had the symptoms.
I didn’t notice anything until July when my husband’s mom died, and we were so busy I just ate what I could, when I could. But, when I got on my normal diet, the symptoms didn’t go away. They weren’t severe, but getting more frequent and lasting longer.
I get the little sucker removed Tuesday.