Problematic gallstones and inflammation mean your gallbladder has become more of a liability than an asset, and the next logical step is a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal surgery.
You’re certainly in good company: 20 million Americans have gallstones, and surgeons across the United States — including the experienced team at Rockwall Surgical Specialists — perform 300,000 gallbladder surgeries each year.
While we understand that the idea of removing an organ seems risky, we’re here to assure you that you can lead a perfectly normal and full life without your gallbladder. Nevertheless, there’s an important health tweak you’d do well to make.
Your gallbladder is a small organ that’s located underneath your liver. It connects to that organ as well as to your small intestine.
One of the roles that your liver plays is to produce a substance called bile, which helps break down fats and make them easier for you to digest. As your liver produces the bile, it stores the liquid in your gallbladder. When you eat something that contains fats, your digestive system signals your gallbladder to release the bile via small ducts that connect to your small intestine.
As noted, millions of Americans have gallstones, which is part of an upward trend in gallbladder disease. Over the past three decades, gallstone disease prevalence has doubled in the United States, largely due to metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity.
While not all gallstones lead to symptoms, when they do, it can lead to very painful inflammation, as well as blockages and problems in neighboring organs, such as your pancreas.
If conservative treatments fail to resolve the problem, gallbladder surgery is a good next step to relieve your discomfort and protect your health.
The primary function of your gallbladder is to store bile, and this point is important. After we remove your gallbladder, your liver still produces the substance and releases it directly into your small intestine.
You can run into issues when you load up your digestive system with fats. Without the extra boost of bile that your gallbladder contributed, you can experience bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
The one lifestyle change we want you to make after gallbladder surgery is limiting the amount of fats you eat at a time to 3 grams or less. This means avoiding sitting down to a burger and fries and, instead, maybe having half of a burger patty and a salad instead of fries.
Watching your fat intake not only helps your digestive system run more smoothly without your gallbladder, but it’s also a great way to boost your health in other areas, including your cardiovascular health.
If you have more questions about life after gallbladder surgery, we’re here to answer them. Simply contact us at one of our offices in Rockwall, Rowlett, Greenville, Terrell, or Forney, Texas. You can call us at 972-412-7700 or connect with us online to schedule an appointment.
