Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery

Have been a bit delayed in responding.....When climbing stairs, the moderate out of breath and the moderate weakness in my legs I am now assuming it is the PVD and decreased circulation, some numbness after my 2nd TKR. I can play a racquet sport pretty well, but stairs are a bit tiring. With COVID, I cannot do my gym exercises (treadmills, elliiptical, bike); am doing more walking (basically boring). But think the more I do, the easier it gets (?)

@tennisgolf - since you have PVD and atherosclerosis, it would be a good idea to have your internist evaluate your shortness of breath with stairs with cardiac testing.

Genetics plays such a big role in our health. Like you, I have been physically active all my life. However, I am getting same problems as my father did! High cholesterol, atherosclerosis, diabetes. I’m 75. Have to admit I got mad when I realized I have the same issues after years of healthy living and taking necessary meds!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Somehow I think the "moderate'" shortness of breath climbing stairs is due to the poor circulation in my legs (??) I have never had high cholesterol (although it is higher than it used to be). When I do elliptical trainer I do not get out of breath at all (20-25 minutes at moderate effort). In other words, I do not push hard enough I assume, but I do feel my muscles benefit overall. Will try to push harder. I do treadmill 25 minutes - never out of breath - again moderate speed - must push harder. Same with stationery bike - do not work hard enough but am still benefitting somewhat from these. I play Pickleball for 1.5 hours and I do push and IT FEELS GREAT! (AND IS SO MUCH FUN). I walk the golf course (9 holes) and that can be work on smaller hills - so I do push there.
Must get with the program when we can return to the gym!

@tennisgolf I'm with you, the exercises I am doing at home, walking and some exercise videos, are so much more boring than going to the gym. I miss all of that and have considered buying either a treadmill or elliptical because I think it's going to be a very long time before I will be able to resume going to the gym. I also want to buy some smaller dumbbells. I have one set of 8 pounds each but some exercises use lighter ones but they are sold out everywhere.

I have mentioned this before, but those of you who have not seen it, I am using one of two different exercise videos most days. They are both pretty good and there are numerous videos for each of them.

They are:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHufaoaq1VqjHvnv8zvg9pQ and
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=schellea+fowler+exercises

Silver Sneakers also has videos out there but I have not generally enjoyed them as much. Shellea Fowler's videos are in the "fabulous50s" group and Jenny McClendon also caters to over 50. I did a routine of hers last night, her HIIT routine, and she suggests ways to modify if you can't do some exercises. Due to my TKRs I cannot do the "lunge" where one knee goes almost down to the floor but she tells you what to do instead. Shellea Fowler is the same with suggestions for alternative ways to do exercises. I try to vary what I do so I hit more muscles than just one set of exercises.
JK

I had gallbladder surgery a year ago (it was a big surprise). I have not had any real difficulty except endless, excessive "gas". There seems to be a lot of pressure pushing the gas around. Sorry, sounds a bit gross. I feel good and am having a "normal" life but this issue is weird. Thanks.

@tennisgolf, My gall bladder was removed when I had a liver transplant, and my husband's was removed several years ago. My husband was advised to limit the amount of fat in his diet. My surgery was 11 years ago and I don't remember what I was told specifically about a gall bladder diet, but I do try to avoid fatty foods and fried foods as recommended as part of my post transplant healthy eating focus.

I found this short article from Mayo that does mention fat and fiber could cause gas and bloating.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholecystectomy/expert-answers/gallbladder-removal-diet/faq-20057813
Have you asked your doctor what could be the cause? Could it be related to what you eat?

@rosemarya @tennisgolf My mother had her golf bladder removed many years ago, it must have been 1970! What I remember was that before the surgery she couldn't digest fats at all, she was extremely careful. After the surgery, she could eat anything so it always surprises me when I hear of post-gall bladder removal restrictions.

I do not recall if she had gas issues.
JK

Thank you Rosemary! Yes, am sure it could be connected to diet. My surgeon never said much about it. Guess I will look up diets.
I do not eat fried food. But I do eat fatty foods. I am supposed to eat fiber for "regularity".
Best -

Hello @tennisgolf

Many members on Connect have posted about digestive issues post-gall bladder surgery. Here is one of those discussion groups that you might find interesting and/or helpful.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-cholesectomy-gallbladder-removal-chronic-back-pain/

While many feel that after gall bladder removal they can eat whatever they want, most often that is not the case. It might be helpful to keep a food diary and see if there are any foods in particular that trigger the symptoms you are having.

I'm just wondering, was your gall bladder surgery an open surgery or was it done laparoscopically?

Here is a YouTube video by a Mayo Clinic doctor regarding pain after gall bladder surgery,

Hi. I had my gallbladder and a small part of my colon removed about three weeks ago. First the removed three stones. Two days later they went back in to remove the gallbladder but found that it was fused to my colon. I had some internal bleed from them trying to remove the gallbladder so I had to be rushed in for emergency surgery where they removed the gallbladder and the piece of the colon it was fused to. After they released me, besides the normal pain from healing, I was ok for the first week. Then I just started vomiting up everything I ate after that. I’ve been taking nausea pills twice daily now just to keep the minimal amount of food I can eat down. I’ve lost about 25 pounds and can’t afford to lose more. Does anyone have any ideas how to help? Thank you.