inability to eat oily/fatty foods after gall bladder removal?

[hoodleehoo]

My brother had gall-bladder surgery and now he can't eat any fatty or oily foods, at least he claims he can't without it making him throw up. He believes that the gall-bladder removal keeps him from having the enzymes necessary to digest it. However, the others we talked to with gall-bladder surgery don't have any problem with fatty foods.

But he can eat really really greasy chinese/asian food with no problem which confuses us. Why can he eat some greasy things and not others? No doctors have been able to explain it! Is there ANYTHING we can do? He is allergic to dairy products (not just lactose intolerant, the meds don't help) and tree nuts so he can't eat hardly ANYTHING now. We need some way for him to be able to tolerate greasy foods so we can actually eat something besides salad, grilled chicken, and chinese food!!!!!!

[hoosiermomma]

I had my gall bladder out 10 years ago....greasy foods and roughage (especially lettuce) cause me alot of gas...and early on a lot of pain and diahrea (sp). I do better now than I did in the begining-but different people have different issues with gallbladder removal-I don't know about not having the enzymes or anything like that.

There are other ways to cook those greasy foods-boiling hamburger instead of browning it for spaghetti and meat sauce for example (water and grease drain out together) -grilling and baking or putting things in a crock pot and then in the refrigerator-the grease can be taken off the top before reheating-I know this takes planning and can be a pain but allows then for other options of food that might not be available.

Good luck and God bless

[headhunter6]

I'm having the same problem, only I can't eat chinese food.  Only fruits, veggies and grilled chicken.  Life is truely boring right now.  Anyway, I am using herbs to help with fat digestion.  There are many out there, find an alternative medicine pratitioner or try a good health food store.  I use Natures Sunshine brands - Food Enzymes, Hi Lipase, and Chickweed.  There is also Fat Grabbers and others.  These enable me to keep down beef every once in a while and have a little dressing on my salads.  I truely hope that this will help you.  :)

[hoodleehoo]

The research I did said that it is a common symptom to not be able to eat any animal fat or dairy products. That severly limits what he can eat to only a few things because of his deadly allergies! Is there anything out there that can help him produce the bile or bile substitute so that he can break down fatty foods? From what I read the problem is probably in the bile that the liver produces (which caused the gallstones in the first place). Is he doomed with only being able to eat grilled chicken, caesar salad, and certain chinese food for the rest of his life? Right now that's all he can eat!

Or is there something he can take to help him digest other foods?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Gallbladder surgery is the most common surgical procedure, and the vast majority are able to eat without complications.  There are a few that may have an intolerance to fatty foods - normally eating in moderation or in smaller portions would help with that.  

Obtaining tests to evaluate for fat malabsorption (i.e. via stool tests) or blood tests to look for celiac disease can be done.  Imaging with an endoscopy is also another option to further evaluate the symptoms.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_