Teach nutrition after gall bladder removal surgery

[deemarys]

I have to do a paper on how I would teach nutrition after gallbladder removal surgery. Tell me if I am missing anything.

Thanks

D

Before discharge I will teach and emphasize to the client that a proper diet must be maintained after gall bladder removal. I will than explain the client the function of the gallbladder since now they don't have one. They will need to know that certain measures will have to be taken to avoid certain foods because after gallbladder removal bile and the fat digestion cannot be controlled properly by the body. If the patient/client still doesn't understand I will explain by using an example.

For example, consuming a cheeseburger with French fries is high in fat so your stomach can't handle it because there isn't enough bile to digest it all, and it eliminates it quickly through diarrhea.

As a nurse I will highlight importance of maintaining low-fat diet by handing client a visual guide with foods to avoid (high in fat) along with foods that are (low in fat). I will also provide them with pictures of foods that will best promote digestion and wellness.

I will emphasize to the client that eating frequent small meals, and then later on client may begin to gradually reintroduce foods/fluids containing fats over a 4 to 6 month period. During the initial 6 month after surgery, low-fat diet limits need for bile and reduces discomfort associated with inadequate digestion of fats. I will advise patient to avoid foods that seem to aggravate the diarrhea, and although essential dietary changes are not usually necessary, certain restrictions may be helpful for example, fats in small amounts are usually tolerated after a period of adjustment, patient usually will not have problems with most foods. Visual aide on information in regards to proper nutrition and foods to avoid will be given to client. As a nurse it's also important to teach the client that following these guidelines will also promote wellness if followed long term.

This is a very rough first draft. Just so everyone knows :) :typing

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

actually, once the gallbladder has been removed, there usually is not need to modify the diet at all. dietary modification is only needed if surgery is not done. after cholecystectomy most patients do not require any dietary modification and can eat anything. do some reading on this.

start your paper by addressing what the gallbladder is and does. point out what function the gallbladder plays in the digestion of fats. point out the discomforts of what happens to the digestions of fats when the gallbladder malfunctions or is obstructed. list those discomforts and then the nursing/nutritional interventions to do something about them. in some cases the patient may be advised to watch their cholesterol intake to avoid their body making more stones.

see

• http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gallstones/article_em.htm - gallstones
  
• http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/gallstones-topic-overview - gallstones
  

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

Heh...I might be losing mine soon, so this is interesting. After surgery, I don't necessarily need to modify my diet anymore?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Read the websites. Diet modification is not necessary unless disease is still a concern.

[lesliemadren]

I'm not a nurse yet but Diet does need to be modified after surgery. I had my gall bladder removed and my symptoms have been so severe that the Dr. wrote a prescription. I wish someone had given me some post surgery diet education. I know where every bathroom is in my town and have frequented them all. And you are right that high fat foods trigger it. The Dr. told me that this was very normal after gall bladder surgery. He even said that it was abnormal for people not to have these side affects from the surgery.

The Dr told me that bile is a natural laxative and now that I do not have the gall bladder to filter it that the bile just dumps right in and that is why the urge is so sudden and severe. Your rough draft sounds good to me and like I said before I wish i had had some diet education after my surgery. It would have saved me a lot of uncomfortable situations. Also I know many people who have had their gall bladder removed who have the same symptoms

[deemarys]

I'm not a nurse yet but Diet does need to be modified after surgery. I had my gall bladder removed and my symptoms have been so severe that the Dr. wrote a prescription. I wish someone had given me some post surgery diet education. I know where every bathroom is in my town and have frequented them all. And you are right that high fat foods trigger it. The Dr. told me that this was very normal after gall bladder surgery. He even said that it was abnormal for people not to have these side affects from the surgery.

The Dr told me that bile is a natural laxative and now that I do not have the gall bladder to filter it that the bile just dumps right in and that is why the urge is so sudden and severe. Your rough draft sounds good to me and like I said before I wish i had had some diet education after my surgery. It would have saved me a lot of uncomfortable situations. Also I know many people who have had their gall bladder removed who have the same symptoms

I also had my gall bladder removed. I was told by my doctor after my surgery that I would have to change what I eat because of the possible onset of diahhrea. I actually tested this theory by eating certain foods like "fried rice and even at a small amount I had to rush to the bathroom" I don't have any of these problems when I eat no fat or low fat foods but once in awhile I crave french fries, and it happens. I have another friend who had the same problem. I guess it depends on the person.

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

I still have mine, and I have a relatively low fat diet, but I still get attacks. urgh

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

ok, what i am saying is that this is a paper for school. do the reading. . .write the paper based on your research. don't depend on anecdotal evidence. people do get gallstones again even after their gallbladders have been removed. they can form and get caught in the common ducts. that is why i am telling you to look up the pathophysiology of how gallstones form in the first place. some dietary restrictions can prevent future formation of them later on after their removal.

i had my gallbladder removed over 30 years ago. before surgery if i didn't follow a low fat diet i suffered terribly, but it was because the stones were blocking the bile from getting out of the gallbladder causing muscle spasm which led to the gallbladder attacks. some people, however, have cholecystitis with or without gallstones. symptoms may or may not be different. after surgery, i was told to eat whatever i want. i worked on surgical units and the surgeons told most of the chole patients the same thing. i have since had bypass and colectomy surgeries. the only time diarrhea comes knocking on my door is if i don't eat enough fiber and my intestinal track is at least 1/4 shorter than yours and i am a chronic acid maker and have to be on an h2 inhibitor. [i really have a messed up gi system.]

[HyperSaurus, RN, BSN]

I'm on a ppi too...but I'm just following this out of curiosity. Daytonite is right about doing your paper according to solid research.