But what happens after it is removed?
- Your liver keeps producing bile
One of the biggest misconceptions about gallbladder removal is
-
- that the body can no longer produce bile.
That is not true.
The liver continues producing bile after surgery. The main difference is that there is no longer a gallbladder available to store and concentrate it between meals.
Instead, bile flows more continuously through the bile ducts and into the small intestine.
For most people, the digestive system adapts to this change. They can eventually return to a normal diet, although some people notice temporary digestive changes during the first weeks after surgery.
This is why gallbladder removal does not automatically mean that a person will have permanent digestive problems.
- Some people experience changes in digestion
After surgery, the digestive system may need time to adjust to the different flow of bile.
Some people experience symptoms such as:
Continue on the next page:
