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Each patient experiences a different type of recovery after a gallbladder removal operation.

Unfortunately, a surprising number of patients who expect to feel better than they did prior to their surgery don’t get what they expect - at least not for a while.

Doctors call this phenomenon “postcholecystectomy syndrome.” Cholecystectomy is a term medical personnel use for a gallbladder removal operation.

As many as 4 out of 10 people who have gallbladder removal surgery may have this happen following their operation. This happens because the bile duct, which has not been removed, still accumulates bile. The job of the bile duct is to carry bile between the liver and the gallbladder.

Whether you experience postcholecystectomy syndrome or not, there are some other things you can depend on after gallbladder removal surgery.

There’s bound to be some swelling and bruising in the area of the surgery. This only makes sense. Your body has been somewhat traumatized - even if you had laparoscopic surgery, which is much less invasive than the traditional type.

You’re also likely to feel some minor pain from the air that was pumped into your abdomen during the procedure. The reason this is done is to give the surgeon room to manipulate his or her instruments. If your pain is severe enough, your doctor will probably prescribe some pain medication.

Moving around may become somewhat uncomfortable - especially sitting down or getting up. This may be especially true when it comes to “bathroom time.” Muscles in the abdominal area will be pretty sore.

You’re probably going to have to cope with some bloating, gas and diarrhea for several days while your digestive system adjusts to its new circumstances. Some patients get constipation instead of diarrhea. This doesn’t happen too often, so there’s no reason to be worried if it happens to you. Of course, your doctor may be able to prescribe or recommend something to help with this.

Keep in mind, it’s completely normal for your digestive system to be somewhat unpredictable. For this reason, it’s a good idea to follow your doctor’s dietary instructions. Low cholesterol foods and cholesterol-free foods are generally considered to be a good idea for a while.

Your doctor will probably also suggest eating smaller meals instead of large ones. These are not as hard on your digestive tract. But make sure you get enough food because your body needs the fuel that comes from food to help with post-surgical recovery.

After 7-10 days, you can start some “trial and error” with your digestive system. Experiment with some heavier foods and see how it goes.

Getting some exercise can be a good thing, but be careful. It’s important to use discretion. Be mindful of your stitches. Follow your doctor’s recommendations closely on this.

Furthermore, be cautious taking baths of showers until your stitches have been removed. Typically, it’s a good idea to keep stitches dry.

Most of the time, your doctor will want your first follow up appointment to happen in about one week. Your second follow up appointment will probably take place in 4-5 weeks.

Would you like to find more information on a gallbladder removal procedure and related topics? Click on After You’ve Had Your Gallbladder Removed. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and TV journalist with a special interest in health and fitness topics. You can read more of his articles at http://www.gallbladderhealth.info.

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