Eating after gallbladder removal

The NHS recovery page for gallbladder removal says to "eat a normal, healthy diet" and that "you may find it easier to eat small meals for the first few days"; it puts return to work at "1 to 2 weeks after having your gallbladder removed, depending on the type of work you do and the type of surgery you've had" and says not to drive "until you're able to do an emergency stop without any pain or discomfort". Macmillan's page on surgery for gallbladder cancer lists "bloating, wind, diarrhoea" after the operation and says "these problems usually improve within a few weeks"; after a radical cholecystectomy it expects "1 to 2 days" in intensive care and "about 7 to 10 days" in hospital.

Cancer Research UK explains the mechanism: without a gallbladder "bile is no longer stored in the gallbladder and flows directly from the liver into your small bowel", so stools "tend to stay in your bowel for less time" and diarrhoea can be a problem; small frequent meals and a dietitian's advice are its answers. If weight is falling or stools are pale and oily, see the weight loss and fat digestion record. This is orientation from public patient pages, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.