Just do what's best for your overall health. My gallbladder was removed 15 years ago and there was no significant impact on my health. I don't normally take any bile salts/stomach acid supplements and I thrive on high-fat meat. I also handle heavy cream, butter and cheese just fine.

What DOES cause problems is starch--if I eat too many carbs, particularly if I succumb to processed carbs, I suffer acid reflux.

My suggestion would be to find the mix of foods that you personally thrive on, then supplement if/as needed with bile salts or stomach acid.

One tactic that really works for me is to avoid eating solid food after 4 pm. My system needs time to process food and rest before going to bed.

I had my gallbladder out when I was 11 years old after battling problems for three months (mine also was not caused by stones). In the following years (before paleo), I suffered what my doctor referred to as 'spasms' whenever I ate rich/fatty foods. A spasm for me involved several sharp, intense pains originating in the spot under my ribs where the gallbladder used to be. They would only last a minute or two, but they were unpleasant enough to make me avoid trigger foods. In the past couple of years (I'm 24 now), I've experimented with NOW Foods Super Enzymes as well as Ox Bile. I've had great results with both. With the Super Enzymes, I find that taking an extra tablet or two with an especially fatty meal gives greater digestive support while just one ox bile tablet seems to do the job. Because of this, I prefer the ox bile. Either way though, I pretty much have full tolerance of fatty meals without any painful or digestive side effects as long as I remember to take one of these supplements.

I hope this helps! Forgive any typos...I'm typing all of this on my phone.

Cheers!

Stacy of www.paleoparents.com had hers out and has lots to say about how it's affected her. Check out her blog posts.

I had my gallbladder out 9 years ago (stones and pancreatitis from them) and there's been no obvious impact on my health. I've tried supplementing with ox bile and don't notice much difference either way. I can eat 50-60% calories from fat and feel fine.

I eat 60-65% of calories from fat with no gallbladder with no problem. Eggs, avocado, bacon, coconut oil, etc., all go down fine. Like another poster, I get horrible indigestion with carbs now though.

Jamie, don't get your gall bladder out! Seriously, don't! I did it and I regret doing it. My doctor (a former surgeon) told me that that's the only way. I believed him because he was very good. Or at least I thought he was very good at the time. What a lie! If I knew then what I know now, I would nod follow any of his recommendations.

One girl here on Paleohacks recommended some naturopathic remedy. I wrote it down and, unfortunately, lost the name of it. But I am sure there are better ways than surgery to deal with sick gallbladder.

Maybe you can find some cheap naturopath that knows? Your surgery is going to cost much more, plus you do not know what you are getting into - all my problems started with having my gall bladder out (not right away though) so it was hard to make a connection.

There are some integrative doctors as well. Maybe they can help you.

Also, W. Price Foundation has a page on gall bladders. They say that you should up your cholesterol - maybe this has something to do with your cream, not sure. Make sure to read it - it is very informative.

Hope somebody here has an answer for you.

Good luck!

I don't have any experience with this but I have learned that bile is very rythmic and if you time your meals at the same time each day it can be of benefit. This book may be of some help too. Maybe talking to someone like Pam K. or another WAPF practitioner for an outside opinion? That's a real bummer man obviously try to keep it but if your life is threatened then you gotta do what you gotta do.

You might want to read this.........http://jackkruse.com/cpc-3-do-you-need-a-gallbladder/

I had my gallbladder taken out earlier this year, back in May. 2 weeks after the surgery I was pretty much back to my regular diet of high fat. I don't have any problems with fat, I eat all types. Most people seem to have the same experience as myself, but there are also people who don't react so well. You just have to hope for the best and hope your body adjusts, good luck!

Hi sweety I had my gallbladder out two years ago. Infection plus stones. I have a big issues with breads pasta starch carbs n me don't get along. Other then that I'm fine. I dont suppliment I just started back of fatty foods.slowly smaller portions and.built.up from there.

I had mine out when I was 16 (gallstones & pancreatitis). I do not have any problems with fatty meals. I do still end up in pain when I eat certain foods (ripe bananas, hazelnuts, mushrooms, and some crap that is put on some lettuces sold in restaurants), even 20+ years after the gb removal. Green bananas are ok. I know which local restaurants I can have salad at, and which I can't. It is fairly easy to avoid hazelnuts & mushrooms. I get heartburn after eating wheat, and sometimes corn.

If I deliberately choose to eat wheat, or if the pain starts after eating one of the aforementioned foods, I take some of the Now Super Enzymes and that seems to help ease the pain a bit. Oddly enough, I haver gotten the burning sensation with the Super Enzymes (I've never taken more than seven per meal).

I do occasionally get a swelling of my torso in the area of my scar (6" or so long) that also comes with pain. That only happens a couple of times per year, so I deal with it. I have no idea what causes it, but I figure it is some remnant of the surgery (my gut was still extremely distended when they cut me open).

Been without my gallbladder for over 35 years - never seemed to have an issue even when I has eating SAD. After paleo still no issues with fats.

There is a lot of info on gallbladder issues and supplements here: http://www.gallbladderattack.com/index.shtml - I can't vouch for any of it as I've apparently been able to resolve my issues (stones and mild attacks) with some herbal remedies and diet (animal fats = good, seed oil fats = bad). If you in for some digging and reading, though, it may be helpful. I find the line of recommended supplements pretty interesting.