Issues losing weight after gallbladder removal.

[KittyChimera]

I started dieting in October, because I decided that I wanted to be healthy before I turned 30, and my 29th birthday was coming up in November. I got a gym membership and started eating better, and then out of nowhere at the end of October, I had to have emergency gallbladder surgery.

Since I had the surgery, I think that I've gained like 40 pounds, even though I am eating healthier and eating less. I started paying particular attention to what I was eating, and counted calories very specifically and gained 5 pounds over a week. The next week, as an experiment, I ate whatever I wanted and only gained 1.5 pounds. 

Has anyone else had this problem? When I had the surgery, they didn't say anything about how it would affect my body or anything, or how I should be eating if I wanted to get healthy and lose weight. In the follow up with the surgeon, I didn't really get a chance to ask him because he came into my hospital room at like 5am to check the incisions and talk to me and because he woke me up I was really groggy so I didn't really think to ask any questions. 

According to the calculations from Fitbit, I need to eat about 1700 calories a day to lose 2 pounds a week, but people are telling me that that's way too high and I need to cut back to 1200. Does anyone have any thoughts? 

[UkuleleMama]

Interesting. I think I saw Dr. McDougall's book back when we went vegan but I can't say for certain. I just put it on loan from the library.

[DrDebND]

So glad you found something that might make sense. Give it a try and post
your results.

Moderator edit:  removed personal information

[Sue1551]

I had a perfectly healthy gallbladder removed as I was suffering from episodes of acute pancreatitis, the specialist opined that despite no problems viewed through imaging I may have microscopic stones, unfortunately the gallbladder was not the cause so I’m not only stuck with original problem, but have also gained 8kgs (I think that’s about a stone), and like other posters here, this is mainly around my mid section!

At the time of op I was not overweight, and am still classified as within the normal range, but the pot belly is depressing and no amount of dieting or exercise will shift it. On top of all of this I have experienced continual digestive issues which the doctors dismiss as IBS - just a convenient catchall for symptoms they can’t diagnose, let alone treat.

My point is - doctors/specialists downplay the negatives of life without a gallbladder and portray this procedure as simple and that we can live without a gallbladder etc. This may very well be the case for some patients but, as this forum demonstrates, it can be far from plain sailing. 

[Sue1551]

Thank you for that most encouraging and very sensible advice! I have become quite overwhelmed to the point of just wanting to give up and thinking what the heck just stick to the couch (ha)! But yes, you are quite right!

[DrDebND]

You are so correct, thank you for sharing your story. Bringing light to
this issue is very important. We continue to look for a solution to this
problem.

Moderator edit:  format

[UkuleleMama]

Besides the almost immediate weight gain, the other thing I'm worried about is the fact that I've read that just because your gallbladder is removed, you can still create stones. What made my body make them in the first place, and did the removal of my gallbladder solve the problem of making more? None of the doctors I saw had any answers as to why my body seemed to love to make gallstones. And none warned that the possibility existed that I can still do so minus a gallbladder. So I worry about that on top of my "lovely" waistline. My waist/stomach is my daily obsession. I keep waiting to see a change for the better and so far that ain't happening.

My daughter got engaged on Thanksgiving and is getting married in September. She told me she wants me in something sparkly. My husband, who is a super laid-back-keep-things-simple minimalist hippie type, went and picked out a knee length figure hugging black dress with tons of sparkles for me from Macys. Like seriously? I would never have expected him to like a dress like that. I didn't buy it. I would need to do something about my stomach before I would wear something like that. So my New Year's resolution is to be able to fit into a mother-of-the-bride dress that doesn't make me look pregnant at 63 years old!

[BeccaT62]

Hi, I was researching weight gain after gallbladder surgery. I came across your question. I don’t know if you found an answer yet but...one person shared she started taking digestive enzymes and was down 7 pounds. I too couldn’t shed weight. I started the enzymes and am down 2 pounds in 2 days. I have hope and I hope you do too!

We all dieted and exercised and no weight changes. But I think this works. Post for others to see if it helps you as well.

[BeccaT62]

Digestive enzymes help greatly in losing weight.

[BeccaT62]

Try digestive enzymes. It is helping me finally lose weight after Gb surgery.

[BeccaT62]

Try digestive enzymes. It seems to help us folks who gb removed.

[DrDebND]

That is great what enzymes are you using I have tried multiple and nothing.

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[BeccaT62]

I started with GNC Super Digestive Enzymes but will be switching to NOW Super Enzymes basically because it is a better value and I won’t need to take as many.  If I continue to lose weight each week then I know it was what was needed.  I hope this helps.

[1savvy1]

Thank you BeccaT62! What digestive enzymes do you use? Thanks!

[1savvy1]

BeccaT62: Nevermind, just saw your post (describing what you use) after I posted my question. 🙂

[BeccaT62]

NOW digestive enzymes on Amazon. Let me know if you see a change. If you do a lot of people can benefit from this information. Good luck!

Sent from my iPad

Becca Brint Ticker

[1savvy1]

Thank you BeccaT62! I will try them! I have been meaning to begin chronicling what I'm planning to do (as far as diet / exercise (and now, enzymes), and will put it up on my social media (you can find me as Savvy Schmidt.) 🙂

[BeccaT62]

Great. I did diet and exercise. 1400 calories per day and nothing...until enzymes. I hope it continues. But my stomach is less bloated. I like that.Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[Dominique]

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@BeccaT62 wrote:
Let me know if you see a change. If you do a lot of people can benefit from this information.

---

You could yourself provide more information about what you did and what results you got. All you’ve said so far was: "I started the enzymes and am down 2 pounds in 2 days."

Any weight change in a mere 2 days is likely to be mostly water. It would be interesting to know when you started taking the enzymes and what results you have seen over a long enough period of time (several weeks/months).

[BeccaT62]

I started a plant based diet. Immediately lost 3 pound in 2 days. Then nothing for for the next 12 days. Started digestive enzymes and lost 2 more pounds in 2 days. I am on a 1400 calorie per day diet plan. I definitely plan on posting any more positive or negative results.

For the last year a healthy, lower calorie diet with exercise achieved zero results. So I am very hopeful this enzyme trend continues. It is wonderful to have hope.

Sent from my iPad

Becca Brint Ticker

[LolaOnPlants]

Hi Becca! Thank you for the advice, I will talk to her about it! She has now been eating by Dr Esselstyn,  (NO OIL) guidelines for some time and she finally managed to lose some weight and some cm around her belly!