How can I combat post-gallbladder-removal belly fat and weight gain during menopause?

Hi. I had my gall bladder removed on 23Nov2015 in preparation for my bariatric surgery next year. It was a laparoscopic operation and I didn't have any problem with it. Recovery was very fast too. During the first week, I lost 2 kilos, probably because my body is still recovering. However, on the 2nd week post surgery, I noticed that my weight started creeping up, and in just 1 week, I gained almost 3 kilos! I can understand how most people feel here because I felt the same frustration and desperation seeing the weighing scale screaming those added kilos on me. I didn't bother to go to the doctor because I have a feeling I will be told the same thing as that were told by your doctors. So, I started to observe and experiment. What I noticed and assumed is that the weight gain is coming from the bloating. I have this feeling that I want to go to the toilet but when I am there, nothing comes out except air. I started taking BeneFibre (fiber supplement) during breakfast and dinner. I also take Digestive Enzymes every meal, and also take 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar 1st thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) and another 1 tablespoon before I go to bed at night. It has been a week now and I have lost the kilos I gained after the surgery. Please take note that I also decreased my daily calorie intake from 1200 to 1000. It is difficult (everyday is a struggle for me) but keeping a food journal (I use MyFitness Pal) helps a lot in controlling my food intake. There are times that eventhough I am craving for a food, when I try to log it in my food journal before eating it, when I see how much calories it contain, I just lose the appetite to eat it.

We are all struggling with the same problem and I hope sharing my experience will help. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year:)

I thought i was going crazy. In january 2015 i donated 60% of my liver & diring which they had also removed my gallbladder. Now its December & Since the surgery i have gained so much weight so fast & nothing seems to help. It is also all in my abdomen. I can't stand to look at myself so much that i have removed the mirror from my room. I am down to only 2 pairs of jeans & a couple shirts that fit. I am at my wits end :'(

I am 24 and modelled from the age of 16 up until I had my gallbladder removed. I was a size 8 before my surgery and in less than a year have ballooned to a size 14!!! I eat healthy and have been going to the gym since 18 religiously every week! I continued my normal gym healthy lifestyle as soon as I could after my surgery and have still somehow gone up 3 dress sizes ! It's draining and I've just come to terms with the gain and threw all my size 6/8 clothes out now :(

I am glad to read these comments. Not that I'm happy someone else is experiencing what am myself, but just to know that others are gaining weight after gall bladder removal. Mine was removed in January of this year. It is now November. As of this morning, I have gained 17 pounds. I have tried 35 carbs a day which used to work before and not only did not lose, but GAINED. So I went to 1000-1200 calories a day and GAINED. Then I limited both calories and carbs together for a few days and still GAINED. It's one thing not to lose, but to GAIN????. I am 70 years old and used to weight 143. Now it's 160. For a 70 year old, I am active physically and do use a treadmill. While I am overjoyed not to have the pre-surgery gall bladder pain anymore, I hate being overweight.

I am having all of these same issues with weight gain and an inability to rid my stomach of extra flab that was not present before the surgery. Everyone thinks I am crazy when I say that all of this started post-surgery, but it is the truth. What has worked for people to get rid of the belly fat and bloating? I already eat extremely healthy and I am very active; I am desperate and beyond frustrated!

I'm a guy but just wanted to add my comment. I appreciate all the info I have found here and it makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only once that has experienced this. I had my gall bladder out in May 2015 and almost immediately had an enlarged tummy. The docs said this would go down in time. My caloric intake has actually gone down since before my surgery but my weight has increased by over 20 pounds, mostly in my stomach. It's not gas but it is uncomfortable and unsightly to the point that it makes my angry to look at myself in the mirror. Friends have actually started asking my when I am due! I have always heard that people gain so much weight after they have this surgery but never believed it until it actually happened to me. I am going to give some of the suggestions here a try and see what happens. Pre surgery I could cut my calories for a few days and loose as much weight as I wanted, the belly was the first place to go. Now I can drastically lower my intake and I seem to gain. I want the scales to be my friend again. I actually thought someone had rigged mine to add weight but unfortunately its the truth. I'm glad I don't have the stomach pains I had before the surgery but I still have very upset stomach quite often. Sometimes I want my gall bladder back just for a few days so we could get rid of this load I'm carrying around! Hope everyone gets some resolve to their problems. :)

I thought I was loosing my mind. I had my Gallbladder removed in Oct 2012 and went post menopausal a year later. I have gained 20 lbs that I can not get off . I exercise 5 days a week sometimes 2x a day. I am on a very controlled diet and nothing works. I am going to try probiotics and see what happens, but I am at wits end.

Thank God you guys posted. I had my surgery June 26, 2015 and I have gained 15 pounds. Makes me sick. I was wondering why so fast. I never put on weight like this. 85% of my clothes don't fit. You all have given me hope. I am doing to try these supplements right away. Although I will mention that I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago. My body has been out of wack but I controlled weight. I worked out too. Gallbladder gave me many issues and weight gain was unstoppable. I am on hormone creams because I had a complete hysterectomy. I don't want to go through the change 100% yet. Too much for my body now. I am 44 and will wait in a few years. Want to get my weight under control. Has anybody been in the same boat with a complete hysterectomy? Did you go through the change immediately? How did it impact you?

Your comments are appreciated. PJordan Arizona