Gallstones All FAQ

After one week of gallstones removal surgery, avoid consuming high-fat food, greasy and fried food items, processed food items and sauces and gravies with high content of fat. The patient should also avoid pizza, chocolate, cheesy food items, high-fat dairy products such as ice cream, cream whole milk,etc., high-fat meats such as sausage, beef, ribs, etc., creamy soups and sauces, lard and butter, food prepared in coconut oil etc.

Prior to the procedure, the surgeon allows patients to have a normal diet barring a few food items. Some of the items that surgeons ask patients to avoid so that the condition doesn’t worsen include high-fat food, high-fat dairy products, chocolates, greasy and fried food items such as pizzas, processed food items and sauces and gravies with high content of fat.

Surgeons prescribe patients to prepare for gallstone removal surgery in the following ways- Complete all the necessary diagnostic tests such as ultrasound tests, blood, urine tests, and any other imaging tests. Stop or adjust regular medications such as blood thinners after proper consultation with the doctor. Additonally, make proper arrangements for yourself, be on an empty stomach for atleast 4 hours of the procedure, etc.

It is recommended that patients should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages during the entire duration when they are taking prescribed medicines. The reaction between alcohol and the medicines can result in complications that can prove to be fatal and hamper the recovery period. Therefore, patients should resume consuming alcohol only after proper consultation with the doctor.

Within a day or two of the recovery, patients can take bath. There is no particular instruction the patient needs to take while showering or taking a bath. As the wound may not have completely healed after the procedure, make sure it doesn’t get wet. Otherwise, there can be a high chance of an infection occuring. Within a week, your wound will be completely healed and you are allowed to bathe or shower without any restrictions.

A patient who has undergone laparoscopic gallstone removal surgery usually recovers within 2-3 days, provided the procedure was completed without any complications. In case the patient underwent an open gallstone removal surgery, the recovery completes within 4-6 weeks.This duration can vary depending on several factors such as patient’s physique, size of gallstones, any other chronic medical condition that the patient has been suffering from, etc.

It is quite possible. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the treatment options that is effective and safe to consider for removing gallstones, it is possible that some of the gallstones may remain in the bile duct. These gallstones can enlarge and restrict the bile duct from draining properly. Delaying the treatment can lead to cholecystitis which can hamper the digestive system negatively.

Although very rare, the chances of complications occuring after gallstone removal surgery increases when patients fail to follow proper post-operative instructions. One such complication is post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Patients with this syndorme experiences symptoms such as indigestion, stomach ache and diarrhea, yellowing of the eyes and skin, increased body temperature, etc. The syndrome can hamper the patient for months if not addressed properly.There is a possibility of side effects such as swelling, pain, infections, etc. developing if patient don’t pay heed to proper aftercare tips suggested by the surgeon.