Post-Cholecystectomy and Me….A New Journey!

Welcome to my small corner of the internet! I’m Alex— an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Specialist, and Virtual Coach who is, like you or someone you may know, without a gallbladder.

How did I Get Here?

Five months ago, I had come home from dinner on a seemingly “normal” Wednesday evening, as I started to relax for the evening and lie down in my bed, I felt some major abdominal pain in my upper abdomen. Like most people, I chalked it up to not eating the best that day and figured it would pass by morning.

As the evening progressed, the pain intensified. I tried ALL of the things to try to take my mind off of it…

🚿 Taking a warm shower

💧 Drinking Water

🧘‍♀️ Yoga Poses

NOTHING was making the pain go away….

I went to lay back down and any position I tried was uncomfortable. As the pain increased , I got clammy, experienced nausea and was feeling panic and disoriented.

“Is this my first heart attack?”

“Should I call an ambulance?”

I called my significant other to take me to the ER and we waited for a couple of hours before being taken back for a series of tests, ultrasound and a CT scan.

When I described my pain being primarily in the upper right abdomen and around my back, the ER doctor, without hesitation said “It’s probably your gallbladder.”

I thought to myself, “My WHAT? What does a gallbladder even DO?”

They gave me some anti-nausea and pain medication while waiting for my tests to return.

Several hours later, I was admitted as they saw stones in my gallbladder and recommended emergency surgery.

It all happened so fast that I couldn’t really process everything that was happening.

My gallbladder was successfully removed from my body, with four, small scars on my abdomen from the laparoscopic procedure.

I was monitored overnight, given IV antibiotics and sent on my way with the very vague instructions “You are okay to resume your normal diet and don’t lift anything over 10 pounds for 6 weeks.”

The recovery wasn’t the greatest and I experienced pain at my incisions and abdominal discomfort as my body was adjusting to losing an organ.

I would lie in bed and search for articles, resources, ANYTHING pertaining to life after a Cholecystectomy—specifically around diet and exercise.

My searches were not as fruitful as I had hoped and I got the idea to start the resource I would have wanted as a new post-cholecystectomy patient.

I hesitated for a while because, as a CPT and nutrition specialist, I am limited in scope on my ability to recommend specific diets/foods/supplements. I can’t possibly create a resource for others when I’m not an “expert”…..

My First Post-Removal Attack

THEN, 5 months post-removal, I landed myself in the Emergency Room— again. This time with a gallbladder-like attack (but I have NO GALLBLADDER… how did this happen?)

The ER ran bloodwork, gave me antacid and sent me home saying that I “just had gastritis”. My gut (literally and figuratively) told me that this wasn’t correct but I didn’t advocate for myself enough to push for more scans/further testing.

Trust Your Gut

I looked at my liver enzymes and bilirubin and they were elevated (even after my ER physician said everything was normal).

I contacted my Primary Care doctor to follow up and see if he was concerned. That evening, I also developed REALLY ITCHY hands and feet… How odd….

My PCP told me to get a blood draw in a week to check my liver function, gave me a script for an ultrasound to check my bile duct and a referral to a GI. I made my appointments and they were a week away.

A day later, I woke up at 4 AM with severe abdominal pain…. It was back again! I got dressed and drove myself to the ER. Immediately I was taken back, given pain meds, anti-nausea meds and fluid IV.
My urine was dark orange/yellow, I had pale stool and I was in AGONY.

Sure enough, my LFT panel came back with higher numbers and my bilirubin shot up!

Admission and Observation

They admitted me right away and booked me for an MRCP, CAT scan, Ultrasound and to consult with the surgeon and GI docs.

I was in the hospital for two days with very few answers…. It was hypothesized that I had a stone in my bile duct but it most likely passed before the scans picked it up…

The nutritionist on duty and physician said I could “resume normal diet” with no restrictions… Even after all of this?!?

I was reading and searching some more for resources and was still coming up short.

Silver Lining

So, today, I’m getting the courage to start this blog…

Please note that I am NOT a Medical Professional (Doctor,Nurse,Gastroenterologist, Surgeon or Registered Dietician).

Please be sure to consult your team of medical professionals prior to starting any new exercise regimen or nutrition plan.

My mission with this blog is to create a space to expand awareness about life post-Gallbladder removal, specifically through the lens of sharing my own journey through maintaining my own health and fitness as a post-cholecystectomy patient.

If you have had your gallbladder removed, what health/fitness/nutrition articles would YOU look for?

Let me know in the comments!

Be Well,

Alex