Your gallbladder plays an important role in your digestion, but you rarely pay attention to it until problems arise. This small, pear-shaped organ stores bile made in your liver that helps you digest food and break up fats. When you have gallbladder problems, you often experience several digestive symptoms, including:

• Bloating after eating
• Not tolerating fatty foods
• Indigestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Having a feeling of fullness

While you can live a normal and healthy life without your gallbladder, you can still experience several uncomfortable digestive symptoms after your surgery

At South Shore Surgical in Valley Stream, New York, Dr. Ira Klonsky is a skilled general surgeon who provides both traditional and advanced laparoscopic techniques for gallbladder removal. He recommends these five simple tips to avoid experiencing continued digestive discomfort after your procedure.

1. Add foods into your diet slowly

It’s tempting to splurge on all of your favorite foods after surgery. But it’s crucial to give your body time to adjust after losing your gallbladder. Dr. Klonsky recommends strictly limiting your diet to foods that are easy to digest, like broths, clear liquids, and gelatin.

2. Focus on smaller portions

One of the easiest ways to avoid digestive upset after gallbladder surgery is by eating several small meals throughout your day, instead of three large ones. You should also avoid foods with strong odors or that cause gas, as well as spicy or fried items that can be harder to digest.

3. Eat a low-fat diet

A surefire way to trigger bloating, pain, and diarrhea after gallbladder surgery is eating high-fat foods. Instead, focus on low-fat foods so fats don’t exceed 30% of your caloric intake. An easy way to make this change is by reading food labels. Look for options that contain less than 3 grams of fat per serving.

4. Gradually reintroduce high-fiber foods

No matter how much you’ve been missing whole-grain bread, seeds, broccoli, or cauliflower, these nutrient-rich, high-fiber foods can cause gas and bloating. To avoid any discomfort, reintroduce these items slowly and in small amounts.

5. Keep a food journal

After Dr. Klonsky removes your gallbladder, he often recommends keeping a food diary to track your reactions to certain items. This approach makes it easier to identify issues and remember which items you can eat and which cause discomfort.

In most cases, you can usually resume your normal diet within about a month of having gallbladder surgery. If you continue to have discomfort or digestive issues after your procedure despite taking these steps, contact Dr. Klonsky so he can review your symptoms.

For more tips on avoiding discomfort after having your gallbladder removed, contact us at  South Shore Surgical right away. Give us a call, send us a message here on our website, or request an appointment using our online booking feature.