Your gallbladder is located just underneath your liver and releases fat-digesting bile into the duodenum when you eat.

There are several conditions that can affect your gallbladder, such as gallstones, acute cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, and on rare occasions, gallbladder cancer. These conditions often require gallbladder surgery, which can sometimes present various side effects. Let’s take a look at what you can expect after gallbladder surgery as well as a few helpful dietary tips.

The majority of gallbladder conditions are treated with a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Your gallbladder is not regarded as an essential organ and people typically live a normal life after surgery.

However, there are a few potential side effects that you could experience. According to the Mayo Clinic, some studies show that up to 20% of individuals report experiencing diarrhea after gallbladder surgery. This is because bile flows directly into the intestine after surgery, which can potentially irritate the bowel.

A very common side effect in the first few post-surgery weeks is bloating. This happens because fat digestion is less efficient without a gallbladder, which can result in gas, indigestion, and bloating.