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The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located anatomically behind the liver. Its principal function is to store and increases the concentration of the bile, before releasing it into the small intestine. The bile is known for its numerous clinical significance, but fat emulsification is one of its vital functions in the body. This process helps in the absorption and proper functioning of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, and K). The bile produced by the liver is received through the common hepatic duct and released into the duodenum via the common bile ducts. The proper functioning of the gallbladder can be disrupted by various diseases such as cholecystitis, or gallstones in the gallbladder. This medical conditions can be treated by conservative or surgical treatment. Recent research revealed that there is increased the incidence of weight loss after gallbladder removal. Present off gallstone in the gallbladder can be treated by cholecystectomy. Patients with gallstones in their gallbladder often present with symptoms such as colicky pain in the right upper quadrant, fever, tenderness, and fatigue. The mode of treatment depends on the etiology of the diseases and the signs and symptoms present in the patient.
How Much Weight Do You Typically Lose after Gallbladder Surgery
Cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the gallbladder, especially in the presence of gallstones in the gallbladder. It can be performed openly or laparoscopically. Physiologically, people lose a vast amount of weight after gallbladder surgery, because of the Post –surgical diet regimen. Gallbladder helps in emulsification of fats, and most people are advised to stay away from fatty food after cholecystectomy. Some people experienced steatorrhea and lost appetite after cholecystectomy, which leads to rapid physiological weight loss. However, you can influence the amount of weight loss post-surgical, by controlling your diet or restricting your calorie intake. Most surgeons and medical practitioners provide the patients with specific diet guidelines to help achieve their weight loss goals. The primary reason for post –cholecystectomy weight loss is reduced appetite and low tolerance to fatty foods after gallbladder removal. The amount of weight loss after gallbladder surgery depends on a lot of factors such as diet, exercise regimen, and level of physical activity. Most people lose appetite for fatty foods or experience steatorrhea after surgery, the combination of this two factors is the leading cause of physiological weight loss experienced by post-cholecystectomy patients. Most people take in fewer calories after surgery due to various factors that come into play during recovery. There are different lifestyle changes in post-cholecystectomy patients such as eating bland foods, smaller portions with increased frequency and eliminating fatty foods. These changes enhance the rate of weight loss in post-surgical patients.
Losing Weight after Gallbladder Removal Symptoms
There are numerous side effects of cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal; the most prominent post-cholecystectomy symptoms is weight loss. However, weight loss is not the only symptoms experienced by patients that removed their gallbladder. There are a lot of accompanying symptoms with weight loss after gallbladder symptoms. Most symptoms experienced after gallbladder removal lasts only for a few weeks, moreover, if it persists for a prolonged period, contact your surgeon as soon as possible. The most common symptoms that accompany weight loss after gallbladder removal include:
- Diarrhea: Disruption in the normal flow of the gastrointestinal tract could present as diarrhea in most people. This change in bowel movement occurs due to disruption in fat emulsification process and diet regimen. The body tries to adjust to this new dietary regimen and feeding routine. Most people avoid certain types of foods during the recovery phase of cholecystectomy.
- Steatorrhea: This is a medical terminology used to describe fatty stool, which is a common symptom in a patient that removed their gallbladder, gallbladder helps in fat emulsification and absorption. Regular intake of fat after this type of surgery means that there would be disruption in fat metabolism leading to steatorrhea
- Indigestion and Bloating: The Sudden change in diet regimen and choice of food could lead to indigestion and bloating in most people. Post-surgical diets often include restriction of some specific types of foods due to the altered fat metabolism of the body. The reduced fiber and essential nutrients intake could cause indigestion and bloat.
Can a Bad Gallbladder Make You Gain Weight?
Conventionally, holiday seasons are the only period when people are worried about gaining weight. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of reported cases of weight gain after cholecystectomy. If you are reading this article, you are probably one of the numerous people trying to understand the reason for this occurrence. The following factors below are responsible for the weight gain experienced by people:
- Metabolic Changes: The removal of the gallbladder could alter the normal functioning process of the body; These sudden metabolic changes could lead to weight gain in most people despite a proper diet.
- Faulty fat metabolism and Digestion: A bad gallbladder could lead to impaired fat absorption and metabolism, This sudden change forces the body into a starvation mode to conserve the stored fats in the body, this is leading genesis of weight gain in most people.
- Diet: Poor food choices, especially increase indulgence in high-fatty food could make you gain weight after removing your gallbladder.
- Inflammation: Inflammation due to stress, hormonal imbalance, menopause, and diet could lead to suppression of leptin This hormone helps in regulating appetite and when restricted can cause weight gain.
- Insulin Resistance: Resistance to insulin hormone, especially in diabetic patients can cause weight gain in most people.
How to Lose Weight after Gallbladder Removal?
There are different ways to lose weight after gallbladder removal, especially in previously obese individuals. If you are wondering How to lose weight or avoid weight gain after gallbladder removal, you are reading the right article, and the following tips below can help you achieve that goal:
- Diet: Proper diet and be cautious of hypovitaminosis can assist in enhancing weight loss. Eat the specific foods prescribed by your surgeon.
- Stress: There is increased production of cortisol during stress, which leads to weight Cortisol makes it difficult to shed those excess pounds from your body.
- Fat burners and Sugar Control: Intake of fat burners and sugar level control can help in preventing weight gain.
- Inflammation: consume anti-inflammatory foods and avoid anything that can cause inflammation
- Exercise: The goal is to keep moving, avoid sedentary lifestyles and participate in different exercise and sporting activities.
A ball gallbladder can be treated conservatively or surgically by removing it. However, you can either experience weight gain or weight loss based on the choices you make.
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References
Dr. Axe. (2018). 5 Foods You Should Never Eat the Gallbladder Diet. [online] Available at: https://draxe.com/gallbladder-diet-natural-treatment/ [Accessed 7 Jan. 2018].
Dr. Axe. (2018). 5 Natural Treatments for Gallstones – Dr. Axe. [online] Available at: https://draxe.com/gallstones/ [Accessed 7 Jan. 2018].
Drdavidwilliams.com. (2018). My Natural Treatments and Remedies for a Bad Gallbladder. [online] Available at: https://www.drdavidwilliams.com/bad-gallbladder-natural-treatments [Accessed 7 Jan. 2018].
Williams, D. (2018). My Natural Treatments and Remedies for a Bad Gallbladder. [online] Drdavidwilliams.com. Available at: https://www.drdavidwilliams.com/bad-gallbladder-natural-treatments [Accessed 7 Jan. 2018].
