In the days after gallbladder removal, many friends are most concerned about “what can they eat today?”
The surgery has been completed, and the "small warehouse" with specific functions for storing bile is missing. The body needs a process of adaptation.
If the food is too greasy or too stimulating, bile will flow into the intestines continuously, which will easily cause diarrhea, abdominal distension, and even abdominal pain.
Accurately controlling the period of time in the months after surgery, especially the dietary guidelines used during the first month, can help the body recover in a more smooth manner.
Don’t be anxious, let’s do it step by step, sorting out the things that you should pay attention to and what to avoid, as well as the rhythm of dietary transition, you will be able to find that the way of eating is correct, and your body will definitely send you a positive response.
High-cholesterol foods: "Loading" bile is the key
Many people think that "everything is fine" after surgery. However, in fact, after the gallbladder is removed, the bile secreted by the liver has no place for temporary storage and concentration, and can only be discharged into the intestines uninterrupted and slowly.
It is best not to touch this type of food within one month after surgery.
If you must use oil for daily cooking, the amount used must be controlled to a very small amount, and you should choose oil with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, such as olive oil.
Spicy condiments: Don’t irritate your intestines
Spicy condiments such as chili pepper, mustard, and Sichuan peppercorns are usually good helpers to enhance the flavor. However, in the immediate period after surgery, they turn into troublesome molecules.
After surgery, the gastrointestinal function is already in a "restart" state, and the secretion of digestive enzymes and the rhythm of intestinal peristalsis have not yet been completely stabilized.
Eating spicy food at this time will directly irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, causing congestion. Not only may it worsen abdominal pain, but it may also easily induce reflux esophagitis. A burning feeling in the chest is really unpleasant.
Right now, a bowl of warm winter melon soup and warm pumpkin soup are more suitable for you than any heavy-flavored dishes.
Alcoholic drinks: Give your liver a "long vacation"
The metabolism of alcohol mainly depends on the liver, and the liver is also the "production workshop" of bile.
After cholecystectomy, the liver needs to focus more on maintaining bile secretion and quality.
If you drink alcohol within three months after surgery, ethanol will directly damage liver cells, affect the normal emulsification function of bile, and make you even less able to digest fat.
In such a situation, some people would think that even a little drinking is fine. However, in the specific clinical observation process, it is not uncommon to see cases of acute pancreatitis caused by drinking alcohol after surgery, or cases of steatorrhea (that is, the stool appears greasy and the frequency increases). It is not uncommon to see an end.
Moreover, alcohol will disrupt the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, which can easily lead to malnutrition over time.
If you really feel that you are lacking those tastes in your mouth, you might as well try to replace them with barley tea or flower and fruit tea (the flower and fruit tea mentioned here is like water made from roselle flowers and dried apples). This can not only satisfy the need to drink something "flavorful", but it is also beneficial for recovery.
Caffeine drinks: Be wary of "biliary spasms"
They may cause minor troubles in the early days after surgery, and coffee and strong tea are daily habits for many people.
Caffeine can stimulate the sphincter of Oddi, the "valve" that controls the flow of bile into the intestine, causing it to spasm.
It should be understood that after the gallbladder is removed, the common bile duct will undergo mild compensatory dilation to assume part of the storage function. At this stage, if the sphincter of Oddi spasms repeatedly, it will easily lead to abnormal bile duct pressure, which will then manifest as dull pain in the right upper quadrant.
It is recommended to put away coffee, strong tea, and functional drinks for at least one month after surgery.
If you want something warm, you can choose light soy milk , lotus root starch or the aforementioned flower and fruit tea.
These alternative drinks are mild, non-irritating, and provide hydration and a small amount of nutrients.
Indigestible crude fiber: patiently wait for the intestinal tract to "restart"
Crude fiber food, which is a regular part of healthy diet, is "unfriendly" to the digestive system in the early stage after surgery.
The dietary fiber of bamboo shoots is hard and difficult to digest, which will increase the burden of intestinal peristalsis. The same is true for celery, leeks, and uncooked cereals and beans.
Within one month after the operation, the intestinal mucosa may still be slightly edematous and poorly tolerated. If you eat foods containing crude fiber, you will easily experience abdominal distension, more gas, and even abdominal pain.
But this doesn’t mean not eating vegetables, but eating them “smartly”.
They provide vitamins without irritating the intestines.
The entire recovery period is like climbing a staircase, one step cannot be too high.
Divide it into 5 to 6 meals a day, with each meal being smaller in size to allow your body to slowly adapt.
Limit fat intake to less than 10 grams per meal (about the amount of a flat spoon of olive oil).
Taking into account the long-term course of time, don’t forget to get as much sun as possible, or properly supplement with some vitamin D and calcium. You should check your liver function and blood lipids at certain intervals, and develop the habit of keeping a food diary. Only in this way will you gradually figure out what your body likes and what it resists.
