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Gallbladder removal

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Alabama
Alabama

Hi, I had keyhole surgery on 2/2/2018 (just over 3 weeks ago) to remove my gallbladder. Every thing went well, I have been able to eat what I like from day one (although I haven’t tried spicy food) haven’t had any nausea or diarrhoea. However I do have a problem....every day I get this gargling feeling in my tummy , I can feel wind and hear noises (the kind of noises you hear when you’re hungry) I feel like if I could burp the wind up, then everything would be ok but I can’t seem to bring this wind up.                         Before gallbladder removal, I went on a diet and lost 7st2lb of weight through diet, I have put 7lb back on already and don’t want to put all my weight back on so have been trying to get back on my diet but this gargling hungry feeling is making me break the diet every time I try. Does anyone else get this gargling & starving feeling? If so does anyone know what to do to help it go?         I’m trying to stick to 1500 calories per day but my body is asking for 4000, per day.                                                                             

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest Alabama

    Posted

    Hi Alabama

    I have a similar thing my op was 4 months ago and after only being able to eat a very restrictive diet for more than 2 years from day one after the op I have been able to eat everything which is great.

    But the downside is my digestive system seems to need to be busy all the time or it feels uncomfortable and I get nausea and bloating. I'm still trying to work out how best to manage it.

    What I have found so far is that eating small amounts often and increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables I eat is helping. Peppermint capsules also are helping with the windy feeling smile

    • Alabama
      Alabama Guest

      Posted

      Thank you for replying Snowred, comforting to know I’m not alone with my problems. I agree that vegetables seem to help a little, the days that I cook fresh veg (about 3 times a week) I pile up my plate and the horrible hunger feelings seem to go for quite a while.  I have tried some peppermint capsules for a few days but they didn’t seem to do anything. I’m just so scared I’m going to put all my weight back on because December 2016 I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with gallstones and had a stone stuck in a ducket  , I did pass the stone.... but at this time I weighed 21st4lb and don’t ever want to go back to that weight after all the effort I’ve put in to lose weight.  The othe thing I do have is constipation but had this before gallbladder removal.                              
  • judy13495
    judy13495 Alabama

    Posted

    After your gallbladder is removed, the acid your body produces drips slowly into your stomach.   Some people tolerate this well and some do not.   Suggest you take a Pepcid 20 mg (over the counter) at least once per day 30 minutes before you eat, which will cut down on the gargling feeling, I believe.   Also, while you may feel okay eating whatever you wish, fatty foods will probably increase these feelings, so the fruit and veggies are a good idea.   Good luck.
  • judy13495
    judy13495 Alabama

    Posted

    Sorry, I meant the BILE your body produces.
    • Alabama
      Alabama judy13495

      Posted

      Thank you Judy, what you are saying makes sense and I have started to think a long these lines too.  I am in uk so I will go to The chemist or Holland & Barrett and try to find Pepcid 20g or get the closes thing to this.                                                     Another point I forgot to mention in my original post was that I have experienced this horrible gargling hunger feeling before in my life (probably 5 or 6 times over the last 20 years) and one occasion was after drinking about 4 or 5 large glasses of wine at a wedding , another time after having a upset tummy and running to the bathroom.  Thanks again for your reply.

  • Guest
    Guest Alabama

    Posted

    I am a bit concerned about the weight side of things too Alabama smile but I'm also figuring its going to take some time for my body to adjust to digesting things a slightly different way.

    I've been keeping a food diary and I have had no negative effects from fats in the diet but I have had benefits of increased fruit and vegetables oh and brown seeded bread.

    We are all different and things seem to vary wildly from person to person both pre and post op. It's just finding what helps and giving things time I think smile

    • Alabama
      Alabama Guest

      Posted

      Thank for your reply, I’ve just been to shops and stocked up on lots of fruit & veg. And trying to stay positive. That’s a good idea to keep a food diary , think I should do that. To day I’m going to try to stop drinking fizzy drinks , when I’m on my diet or off my diet I drink about 3 cans of fizzy per day and think this could be part of the problem. It has never been a problem before GB removal but as you say things need to adjust. My weight loss began when they told (a year & two months ago) that I would have to have my gallbladder removed, I was so very scared of having surgery being over 21st so something kind of kicked in my brain to be able to stick to the diet. Good luck with your problems and hopefully all this gargling will settle down for the both of us.

    • Guest
      Guest Alabama

      Posted

      Good idea giving up the fizzy drinks Alabama even if just to see if they're as you say part of the problem for you.

      A food diary really helps me feel confident about being able to identify foods that may irritate and what I'm eating. I had 2 years only being able to eat a really bland diet which I managed to gain weight on smile

      All the best Alabama I do hope things settle for you too wink

  • Beenthruit
    Beenthruit Alabama

    Posted

    Maybe your body is craving food and nutrients in order to mend itself? It may ‘only have been keyhole surgery’ but you’ve still had an organ removed. To be honest, I wouldn’t think about dieting for a few weeks until you’re completely recovered. Take care of yourself. X
    • Alabama
      Alabama Beenthruit

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. My Husband said the same as you have suggested, that I am thinking about dieting too soon.  The problem is , I was such a huge person (5ft7in & weighting 21st4lb) think I’m just so scared that after all my hard work, I will put all the weight back on. But I have decided to relax on the diet side of things and just eat really sensible foods like fresh cooked foods and I’m cutting out all the fizzy drinks. Thanks again.

    • Beenthruit
      Beenthruit Alabama

      Posted

      I know how you feel Alabama. I lost four stones in the five months leading up to my surgery. Most gallstones patients seem to lose weight. Since then over the course of a year I’ve slowly lost a further stone although Ive not dieted- in fact I calorie counted to ensure I was getting enough food as I’ve had real issues with lack of appetite!!  However, since surgery that has slowly returned. I’ve also had some issues with fatty foods. I find I can eat a little fat, but I have to take it easy on fatty foods or I get really uncomfortable bloating. I guess that has contributed to my weight loss since surgery. I definitely eat less fatty food than I used to. My weight has now stabilised and I’ve no desire to put any of it back on. Wait a while, before you go back to your diet and ease yourself back in gently. I was told by a nursethat following surgery your body hangs onto calories in order to rebuild itself which could account for you putting a little weight on since?

      There is a theory that a sick gallbladder causes weight gain as you can’t digest fat properly and it gets stored. This hasn’t been proved - yet.

      Hope all goes well for you. Keep in touch and let’s know how you fare. X

    • Alabama
      Alabama Beenthruit

      Posted

      Thank you ... I don’t drink one fizzy drink yesterday and that is an achievement for me lol . I haven’t counted calories but ate sensible. My problem , in the past , is that I’m either on a diet or eating everything and anything, including a lot of sweet foods but I’ve eaten much better yesterday and today .... thanks again 
  • lynda20916
    lynda20916 Alabama

    Posted

    My suggestion is to break it down into small meals, six a day. Stay away from "low fat" convenience foods, that have a lot of sugars in them.  Limit your sugar intake as much as possible.  Don't use diet sodas, as they only make you want more sugar.  Get a liter bottle of water and carry it around with you so you drink water frequently.  

    Use healthy fats, i.e., beef, milk and butter from grass fed cows, chicken and fish. Have protein first thing in the morning.  Walking might help you eliminate that gurgling feeling. 

    Remember, your body is still healing from the surgery.  Six weeks for external incisions, but up to 6 months or longer for the internal parts to knit back together.  Take it easy, so that you heal well.  xx

    • Alabama
      Alabama lynda20916

      Posted

      Thank you for replying, I am doing a lot better today and haven’t drank any fizzy drinks for almost two days. I prepared myself a breakfast of porridge this morning instead of eating a packet of custard cream biscuits. Still hungry most of the time but at last the gargling & wind has gone! Cooked roast chicken, fresh cabbage and potatoes for evening meal...... feeling so much better. Got a feeling it was either the fizzy drinks or wheat that was causing so much wind. Thanks again.

  • fernando90225
    fernando90225 Alabama

    Posted

    You have to eat small meals all day. Your system is telling you I'm hungry. So feed yourself. Stay away from fats though. I had to introduce my body slowly to fats. Stay healthy.

    • Alabama
      Alabama fernando90225

      Posted

      Thank you for replying. Feeling quite a bit better because I have listened to advice on here and I am eating much better but not actually dieting. 
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