Two and a half years without a gallbladder

A personal account of emergency gallbladder removal after years of puzzling digestive symptoms describes the diagnosis, surgery, and two-and-a-half-year recovery. Initial misdirection - tests for H. pylori, low-FODMAP diets, proton pump inhibitors and long delays before gastroenterology referral - gave way to an ultrasound diagnosis of gallbladder sludge and laparoscopic removal in early 2024. Recovery included a loosening sternum scar with a small numb patch and occasional phantom pain; some back pain resolved, and previously labeled IBS symptoms largely improved, suggesting gallbladder issues were the root cause.

Daily life without a gallbladder centers on managing continuous bile flow with digestive enzymes (an ox-bile formula works best), timing pills before or up to 15 minutes after eating, and changing meal patterns to three meals plus snacks. Problem foods that cause prolonged burping include leafy salads, large amounts of raw vegetables, cooked broccoli, peanuts/peanut butter, very spicy Indian dishes, rich buttery pastries, whole milk and pure dark chocolate; surprisingly tolerated foods include ice cream, milkshakes, full-fat Greek yogurt, beans, oats, raw apples and carrots, and most nuts. Fatty items like quiche, fried foods and heavy-cheese dishes reliably require enzymes. Possible contributors to stone formation noted are long-term birth control use and rapid weight loss from appetite-suppressing medication.