Can You Drink Alcohol Without a Gallbladder?

Well, those who underwent gallbladder removal surgery might not be able to enjoy some of their old habits, including consuming alcohol. As the medical experts suggest, it is one of the beverages that should be avoided. Some people with their gallbladder being removed even report alcohol intolerance after the surgery. So, what is the underlying reason for this condition? Can you drink alcohol without a gallbladder? Explore the effects of gallbladder removal surgery on alcohol intolerance and consumption here.

Alcohol on Bile Metabolism – What’s the Effect?

There is a common belief that the gallbladder has nothing to do with alcohol metabolism. However, a study conducted in 2019 revealed that consuming moderate alcohol could help lower the risk of gallstone formation. Though the mechanism related to alcohol consumption and gallstone formation is not yet completely explained, it has something to do with alcohol decreasing levels of cholesterol. In other words, moderate alcohol consumption might slow down the emptying process of the gallbladder.

However, what is revealed by the study should not be the reason you can drink alcohol on a daily basis. This is simply because alcohol is known to cause many health issues. This is also due to the fact that alcohol can affect the health of your liver. It causes lowered bile acid secretion. Also, keep in mind that the gallbladder and the liver are working together. In this way, if your liver is damaged, the bile acid secretion will also be affected.

Alcohol Consumption of People with Removed Gallbladder

Medical technology today allows doctors to conduct a laparoscopy surgery of the gallbladder, allowing the patients to get released on the same day from the hospital. They can even go back to their normal activities within 2 weeks and get some painkillers prescribed. However, you might need to spend a few days in the hospital bed if you choose to have open surgery. Not only that, but it needs about 2 months before you can fully return to your normal activities.

Some side effects often linked to this gallbladder removal procedure include flatulence, bloating, pain, and diarrhea. However, these conditions are only temporary though you might need the postoperative medications prescribed to overcome the issues.

Once you undergo gallbladder removal surgery, you are not allowed to consume any amount of liquid for three hours, not even water. This is aimed to enable your body to cope with the removed organ smoothly. You need to know that the liver needs to learn to regain the conditions once the gallbladder is removed.

So, can you drink alcohol without a gallbladder? Well, alcohol shouldn’t be consumed alongside painkillers prescribed after the surgery. During the early rehabilitation period, any hard liquor should be avoided. Alcohol and any other hard liquor shouldn’t be consumed for a period that ranges from a month to a year. Furthermore, you need to be very cautious when drinking liquor during the first three years after the surgery. However, most medical experts usually recommend patients with removed gallbladder to avoid alcohol for good alongside a strict diet.