Gallbladder Gone & A Healthier Me?

The Gall of My Gall Bladder

I had to have an organ removed. Not one that I can’t live without it, mind you, but an organ nevertheless. In our house, there are three people but now only one gallbladder.

Of course, I couldn’t do anything in a typical manner. I didn’t have the inflammation attacks that most people have with their gallbladder. I had a dull pain that would only happen in certain situations, mostly in bed. The pain could have been the gallbladder being full of stones and causing discomfort, but I never had sharp pains.

I also didn’t have constant gi issues. I had some major ones that lasted days, but they were few and spread out. In other words, they could have been easily stomach viruses that teachers are bound to catch.

Thankfully, I had doctors who listened and knew when they were not the ones who should be making the calls.

Hating the Liver-Shrinking Diet

The worst part of the surgery occurred before. I have struggled with weight issues since 2019. I reached my highest during our Ida relocation.

This excessive weight gain was probably a significant cause of my gallbladder issue. Furthermore, I also developed fatty liver disease. Since the liver needs to be moved to the gallbladder, my surgeon instructed me to do a two-week 800-calorie liquid liver shrinking diet. I couldn’t have more than 5 grams of carbs per serving. So no smoothies from Smoothie King!

Let me start with the good news; I lost 17 lbs in the two weeks.

Now for the bad news: It was miserable. Because I was in a constant state of ketosis, I had the worse keto breath. Nothing would get rid of it. Others say that you get used to it about four days in. I never did. I would feel dizzy and hungry constantly.

Plus, for the premade shakes, they only sell them in one flavor and not in variety packs. None of them tasted terrible, but it was death by tastebud boredom after a while. It reached the point that I would buy vanilla and mix it with sugar-free juices to break the monotony. My favorite, surprisingly, was the Diet Cranberry mixed juices.

Broths were acceptable, and this was the best part. I would do ramen without the noodles or enhance over-the-counter broths with vegetables and every type of seasoning I had in stock. They were a much-needed break from the sweetness of smoothies.

Yes, I did lose weight, but I would never do this again unless under a doctor’s orders.

Start of a Change?

The surgery itself was excellent. The only excruciating pain I had was right when I came too. Once those meds kicked in, I would have pain but not the kind that ever got higher than five on the pain chart doctors ask about.

I did, and still have, three weeks later, some severe fatigue. Plus, I had insomnia along with fatigue. I’m just getting to the point where I can sleep more than 4 to 5 hours.

Foodwise, I have been okay with everything. Well, nothing I didn’t have problems with before.

Thankfully, I have only gained 5 lbs after returning to real food and a sensible amount of daily calories. I’m ready to start doing exercise and continuing the weight loss journey.

I’m ready to be healthy again.

That’s why I’m writing this post while looking at Facebook pictures of friends running the Crescent City Classic (read one of our friend’s experience with a previous CCC here). Maybe, we will start walk/run again.

Maybe, if I FINALLY listen to what my body, my daughter, my friends, and the universe is telling me, I can may be in that number next year.

So while you were hurting me toward the end, dear gallbladder, your gift of stones my turn out to be a gift I really needed.