Your gallbladder performs the essential function of storing bile to aid in digestion, but that doesn’t mean your gallbladder is a vital organ. Your body can get along just fine without your gallbladder, but that doesn’t mean everybody has an easy transition to life without their gallbladder. Today, we take a look at postcholecystectomy syndrome after gallbladder surgery and how to manage issues that arise after gallbladder removal.
Problems After Gallbladder Removal
The term postcholecystectomy syndrome is a fancy way of saying that a person is experiencing symptoms of abdominal distress after gallbladder removal surgery. Bile is typically produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder and distributed to the small intestine during the digestion process to break down foods. However, when the gallbladder is removed, bile goes directly from the liver into the small intestine, regardless of whether or not you’re currently digesting foods. The presence of bile without food, or the lack of enough bile during the digestive process can lead to a number of mild symptoms, including:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
Symptom Prevalence and Treatment
Medical data suggests that a wide range of patients who undergo a cholecystectomy will experience postcholecystectomy syndrome, as the current numbers range from between 5 and 40 percent. Symptoms can set in within the first few days after a cholecystectomy, and they may resolve quickly or last for years depending on your exact case. Estimate suggest that roughly 10 percent of individuals who develop postcholecystectomy syndrome will develop the chronic form.
Treatment of postcholecystectomy syndrome depends on the symptoms being expressed and their severity. For example if the condition is causing diarrhea, your endocrine surgeon may prescribe a bile acid neutralizer to make the liquid less taxing on your intestines. Other treatment options include diet modification to reduce fatty food intake, which can be more difficult to break down or digest, or by eating smaller meals so that digestion is easier.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms after gallbladder removal surgery, talk to an endocrine surgeon. Most of the symptoms are manageable with conservative treatments, so you don’t need to deal with bowel discomfort any longer. Reach out to us today for more information.
