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? 

[BeccaT62]

If you are giving up starches and fat, what are you eating?

[BeccaT62]

keep an eye on your cholesterol if you eat meat and dairy.

[princesscorbs24]

Hi I cant fond my original post but I have found Carb cycling to be amazing aswell as training hard ive lost nearly 2 stone in 12 weeks

I feel amazing best ive felt in years 

[t56]

No diet is totally starch free. But, I say no starch because that is what my husbands heart Dr says. We eat a lot actually. Lots squash, zucchini , green beans and other non starchy vegetables. We eat Harvest chicken hamburger meat from Walmart. Saluted hamburger with mushrooms and vegetables . Chicken salads. Chicken Hamburger’s no bread. It is basically a salad. I make non fat sugar free deserts. There is a little starch in some the deserts, which is ok because we don’t have it otherwise. Fish is broiled and blackened. Soup is chicken, celery and green beans. I use salt replacement which once you get used to it is fine. A small amount if nuts, peanut butter(oil drained) and cashews us ok because we have no other fat. Plus, they are protein for my Hypoglycemia. I have to have them. Non fat milk and non fat butter. Nothing is totally non anything, but we get as close as we can. I don’t want anyone to think we are perfect at it. We aren’t. We mess up. But, if we stick to it as much as possible I can keep the weight down. I have to eat a little starch because I have Hypoglycemia and have to keep my sugar level happy. If I go off for 2 days, I am back up. I run 1 hr 5 days a week unless something is going on that keeps me from it. God bless

[DrDebND]

I am glad that you were able to lose weight even with the difficult
restrictions.

--
Create Greatness!

Doctorate of Naturopathy|Speaker|Author| Health Advisor| Debra Muth ND, NP
BAAHP

Doctor Debra Muth ND, WNP, BAAHP, MSH, MS
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[Sue1551]

1. I have to disagree with you regarding digestive enzymes. I was prescribed digestive enzymes after suffering pancreatitis, these enabled me to gain weight as I was unable to digest fats. Digestive enzymes help the body to absorb fats (and other nutrients) NOT eliminate them. In fact, without digestive enzymes you will lose weight quite dramatically. 

[Sue1551]

Here’s an explanation on the benefits of digestive enzymes for weight gain,

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/digestive-enzymes-weight-loss-product-will-probably-produce...

[DrDebND]

It would depend on what type of enzymes you are using. I disagree with you
on this topic. There are enzymes for the pancreas that is different from
what the gallbladder produces.

--
Create Greatness!

Doctorate of Naturopathy|Speaker|Author| Health Advisor| Debra Muth ND, NP
BAAHP

Doctor Debra Muth ND, WNP, BAAHP, MSH, MS
Founder: www.serenityhealthcarecenter.com

Founder and CEO: https://stodkie.com
Founder and CEO: www.Phoenixfactor.com
The Developer of Sex-cess Program
https://letstalkwellnessnow.com/downloads/sex-cess-program/


262-522-8640 fax 262-522-8649

DISCLAIMER: This message (and any associated files) is intended only for
the use by the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may
contain information that is confidential, subject to copyright, or
constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, copying, or distribution of this
message, or files associated with this message, is strictly prohibited
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in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and
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[Sue1551]

1. The gallbladder doesn’t produce enzymes, digestive enzymes are predominately produced in the pancreas and a smaller quantity in the salivary glands and stomach. Read the article, it explains in layman’s terms the science behind the role of enzymes in digestion and why they aid weight gain, not loss. 

[JenT1970]

I have very low cholesterol and triglycerides. Just had them checked.

[BeccaT62]

Thanks for sharing. I will check it out! My energy level is great now also! Best of luck to you.

[Happy_me_au]

Wow. That was a bit judgy. My dr told me my gall stones are a common occurrence after multiple pregnancies. My health was actually great until I had gall bladder removal. Now I struggle with breaking down sugars and proteins which results in putting on weight 

[Glenda]

@Happy_me_au  What are you referring to.  Wish you had used your shift key and the @ so we would know.   All of these posts seem interesting, helpful, and logical to me.  In any case you are referring to something very old.  I always start by checking the date because I can't get my computer to open to the current place.  

[Happy_me_au]

@Glenda  I’m so sorry I didn’t follow ‘post etiquette’. As a first time user I’m finding my way. I hit reply for the second comment back in 2018. I assumed it would be a direct reply. The person said all gall bladder issues are diet related which is crap. 

[darkfairy]

When I lost my gallbladder I ate almost all veggies. I only ate animal fat every once and awhile. Since I lost my gallbladder over 5 years ago. After my surgery I had gained 30 pounds, and have been trying to lose it. I have only been able to lose 10-15 pounds at most no matter what I do. In order for me to keep those pounds off I can only eat 1200 calories or less a day. Also power walk for 2 hours a day. I have to get more then 10,000 steps in a day.

Also I am still on a very strict diet as my body still won't let me eat anything that will cause gas and anything fatty. Also no chocolate or caffeine.

I am having tests to find out if anything else is wrong with me, to see if there's anything else wrong aside from not having a gallbladder. 

I wish you good luck on losing weight. Let us know if you do.

[Simplydurian]

I was 58kg and was losing weight gradually with 1-2 times a week exercise. (pre-surgery).

I had some weight loss post. But I have since gained weight when my body started recovery 2 to 3 months post surgery. I no longer have diarhoea/constipation and my bowels are healthy. But I noted gaining an average of 0.5k-1.2 kg per week. I gained 10 kg in 4 months!

With exercise, I manage to hold the weight but when i don't, i started to gain again. During the fasting month, I usually can lose some weight anywhere from 1-5 kg. This time i don't at all.  

I don't want to be diabetic or get other problems with an excess BMI. I have started again to exercise but it's a losing battle. I think i need some help or supplements to help me lose weight.

[Veralll]

Hi, how is the weight loss going? What digestive enzymes are you taking? 

[suki555]

I have read all the posts on this site and I think you are all fantastic.  You are funny, you are informative and I have laughed reading some of the comments.  I am 68 and I had my Gall Bladder removed due to having Gall Stones when I was 30.  I had two really bad attacks of severe pain and my doctor referred my to the local hospital.  I only waited a few months before seeing the specialist who told me that he needed to remove my Gall Bladder.  I woke up from the operation with a tube in my nose and a drain in my right side, these were removed two days later.  It was horrendous, they told me it was like removing an appendix (I had my appendix removed when I was 16 so I thought everything was ok).

I was always underweight before my operation but after it I gained weight gradually.  Over the years I have dieted (attended WW on and off through the years}  I have lost weight and then gained it back plus more every time.  I was never told that you would gain weight due to having your Gall Bladder removed but I agree whole hearted that this is the problem I have.  The way you have all explained how you feel is the way I feel.   I have been a member of SW for over a year and I lost 12 lbs and over the Covid 19 Pandemic I put on 4 lbs and I am really trying to lose weight again following their plan which is an eating plan, not a diet.

It is so frustrating trying to eat the right foods and not having the results I want each week.  I can relate to you all with how you feel. 

I just want to say thank you and I am happy to know that I am not alone in feeling the way I do. I hope we can all find something that can help us all in the future.  Best wishes to you all.

[BeccaT62]

Update: I have lost 25 pounds in six months. I attribute that to eating a plant based diet and by moderating recipes that ask for large amounts of Oil. I do walk three miles everyday and am a physically busy person.

Not to be gross, but I was on cholestipol, a pill that hardens your bowel movements, for about 9 or 10 months , because my bowel movements were diarrhea. Diarrhea happened immediately after having my gallbladder removed.

All of this, weight gain and diarrhea, made me so angry.

But through determination I feel I have found success. I no longer need cholestipol. I would think it had something to do with eating plant based foods which naturally increased my fiber intake. My energy level is much better. I occasionally eat meat and dairy (2 times a month) and use as little oil as possible.

I have found some very good PBWF recipes that are worth repeating. I continue my journey and look forward to losing my last fifteen pounds.

If I do indulge in a meal that has too much added fat then I take a digestive enzyme by Now called Super Enzymes. Amazing how so many healthy meals are destroyed because off added oils in excess.

Good luck to you all. Stay the course. This was quite the journey to discover what my body needed.

Sent from my iPad

Becca Brint Ticker

[8ByteAtlas]

This is more a general reply than a reply to a specific post, but I literally created an account here to say thank you to all of the people who have posted information about their personal post-op experiences, who have shared their struggles, and who have posted information and articles about digestive enzymes, hormones, and other "uncommon" post-op effects that aren't well-documented in medical literature.

My experience is different. I'm 35 and 4 months post-op.  My GB issues were likely caused by rapid 30lb weight loss as a side effect of medication. That weight loss stopped cold after my surgery. The medication isn't helping the issue it was originally prescribed for, so we're looking at switching me off it. But I'm heavy even after the weight loss, so I'm afraid of rebound weight.  The replies on this thread have taught me about some of the things I can do to support my body's ability to deal with fats and digestion without a gallbladder, and that I should probably be getting hormone levels checked. I have some other symptoms that might point to estrogen dominance, or at least a mild imbalance, and reading about that helped me realize that I'm not giving my body the support it needs to keep stress hormones or melatonin at optimal levels.

So I just wanted to say thank you, because I learned a lot here. I hope you all find the solutions that make your bodies feel like yours again. I know what it's like to have my body change suddenly, and feel like it doesn't look or act the way I expect anymore. Not knowing when it would stop made me feel out of control, and always off-kilter and uncertain. It made my body feel like a weird stranger to me. I hope you all find solutions that work for you, and give you the results you want.

I agree that the mechanisms of the gallbladder and the body's reaction to its absence aren't considered closely enough, and that 'weight management' is often oversimplified without taking the needs and specific factors of individual bodies into account. Fingers-crossed for all of us that healthcare, society, and those people who are lucky enough to fit the 'standard' advice for weight management realize that, and adjust their judgements accordingly.