Can i eat mashed potatoes after gallbladder surgery

Surgeons remove more than 600,000 gallbladders each year to help eliminate pain associated with it. Often times, surgery is done because of gallstones, which are hard deposits of digestive fluid in the gallbladder. As people age, gallstones become more common.

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If you have your gallbladder removed, you’ll likely experience changes in your digestion and will need to carefully watch your diet.

The gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ on your right side beneath your liver, isn’t necessary. However, it does help you digest fatty foods. It also stores, concentrates and secretes the bile your liver makes.

After surgery, your liver will still make enough bile, but you might have difficulty processing fatty foods – at least for a while. More than half of patients who have their gallbladder removed have trouble digesting fat.

Laura Jeffers, MEd, RD, LD, shares five tips to avoid discomfort after gallbladder removal:

1. Add foods back into your diet gradually

For the first few days after surgery, stick with clear liquids, broths and gelatin. After that, gradually add more solid foods back into your diet.

2. Avoid fried food and stick with smaller portions

Avoid fried foods, high-fat foods, foods with strong odors and gas-causing foods. You should also stick to small, frequent meals.  

3. Skip high-fat foods to help avoid discomfort

Eating the wrong food after gallbladder surgery can induce pain, bloating and diarrhea. To side-step this gastrointestinal discomfort, avoid eating high-fat or spicy foods, including:

• French fries and potato chips.
• High-fat meats, such as bologna, sausage and ground beef.
• High-fat dairy, such as cheese, ice cream and whole milk.
• Pizza.
• Lard and butter.
• Creamy soups and sauces.
• Meat gravies.
• Chocolate.
• Oils, such as coconut and palm oil.
• Chicken or turkey skin.
• Spicy foods.

Typically, fat calories should total no more than 30% of your daily intake. That means if you eat about 1,800 calories each day, you should consume no more than 60 grams of fat.

Be sure to read food labels carefully. Look for foods that offer no more than 3 grams of fat per serving.

4. Take it slowly as you reintroduce high-fiber foods

Consider adding these gas-producing foods back into your diet slowly:

• Whole-grain bread.
• Nuts.
• Legumes.
• Seeds.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Broccoli.
• Cauliflower.
• Cabbage.
• Cereal.

Slowly add small amounts of foods back into your diet. Re-introducing things too quickly can lead to diarrhea, cramping and bloating.

5. Keep a food journal

It’s a good idea to keep a food journal after surgery. This will help you keep track of what you eat and what the impact was. Doing so will help you know what you can and cannot eat comfortably.

Most people can return to a regular diet within a month after surgery. However, talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms:

• Persistent, worsening or severe abdominal pain.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Jaundice.
• No bowel movements for more than three days post-surgery.
• Inability to pass gas more than three days post-surgery.
• Diarrhea that lasts more than three days post-surgery.

After surgery, doing these things should help you feel more comfortable. As time goes on, take note of your tolerance for high-fiber foods and fats, especially healthy fats.

Recovery from gallbladder removal is easy when compared to what a patient experiences during a gallbladder attack. Most patients are excited for the surgery and relieved the pain has ended. To heal properly and comfortably, patients will need to maintain a proper diet following surgery. The diet after surgery is comparable to the one a patient follows when trying to avoid gallbladder attacks; low fat and high fiber.

After gallbladder surgery, many patients experience diarrhea. When the gallbladder is removed from the digestive system, bile becomes less concentrated and has a laxative effect on the body. Your body will soon adjust, but in the meantime, it’s important to follow a proper diet. The diet after gallbladder surgery, which can help lessen the symptoms and improve your body’s healing rate, includes the following points:

• Avoid fatty foods. Don’t eat fried foods or high fat foods for at least a week after surgery. This includes gravies, butter, and ice cream.
• Increase fiber. Don’t go overboard on fiber but add it to your diet. This can be as simple as having oatmeal with non-fat milk for breakfast. Be cautious, as too much fiber can cause stomach issues.
• Smaller meals. Eat small, frequent meals for better digestion. Limiting food to small portions will make the small bile production better suited for digestion.
• Avoid caffeine. You should also avoid caffeine until the diarrhea clears up and your bowel movements are more normal. This includes coffee and tea. Once your digestion has returned to normal, you can slowly reintroduce it back into your diet.

What Should I Eat After Gallbladder Surgery?

Keep your meals small, healthy, and avoid spicy foods. It may be best to prepare meals ahead of your surgery, so they are available when you come home. Below are a few sample menus for use after surgery.

Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal, with non-fat milk and fruit
• Toast with peanut butter or sunflower butter
• Scrambled eggs with whole grain toast

Lunches:

• Whole grain bread sandwich, with turkey, lettuce, and tomato
• Vegetable soup with soda crackers
• Whole grain bread sandwich with tuna

Dinner:

• Roasted turkey breast, steamed white or brown rice, cooked carrots
• Grilled fish, baked potato, side salad
• Whole grain pasta with marinara or meat sauce

Recovery from Gallbladder Surgery

You will begin to feel better a few days post-op, but the limited diet will need to continue for a few weeks to stabilize your digestive system. As your body begins to normalize, slowly reintroduce foods back into your diet but in limited amounts. Wait to see how new foods affect your body before consuming too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I eat ramen noodles after gallbladder removal? Soft, solid foods (i.e. bananas, plain pasta, eggs, etc.) are easier for your body to digest,but this depends on how you are feeling after your gallbladder removal. It is important to remember that it is best to slowly introduce solid foods as more time passes.
• Can I consume dairy products? Yes and no. It is best to avoid whole milk dairy products as they may upset your stomach further because your body might have trouble breaking it down. However, dairy products that are low in fat or are fat free may be easier for your body to digest due to the low fat content.
• Can I eat peanut butter after my gallbladder removal? Yes, peanut butter contains many nutrients such as protein and magnesium so it can help with diarrhea and other stomach problems you may be facing post-op.

Minimally-Invasive Gallbladder Removal Surgery

Dr. Malladi is an experienced, highly qualified bariatric surgeon in the Dallas and Plano areas. She has extensive experience with laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. Call today to schedule a consultation.

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