Why I Chose Not to Remove My Gallbladder — And What I Did Instead

**This post has been adapted from a patient who experienced this**

Let me start by saying I get it — when you're in pain, desperate for answers, and a doctor tells you that surgery is the "only option," it's easy to say yes. That was me not long ago, curled up on the couch after another painful gallbladder attack, staring at a surgery date circled on my calendar.

But something about it didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that removing my gallbladder was just treating the symptom, not the cause. That’s when I found The Wellness Way — and everything changed.

The Gallbladder Isn’t Useless

I was shocked to learn that the gallbladder isn’t some throwaway organ like we’ve been led to believe. It plays a key role in digestion, especially fat digestion. Your liver produces bile, but your gallbladder stores and concentrates it — releasing it when needed to break down fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Removing it doesn’t solve the problem; it just reroutes bile in a less efficient way.

So why was mine so inflamed? Why the stones? The traditional answer was vague: “It just happens.” But The Wellness Way asks a better question: Why is the body doing this? That’s the philosophy I started following.

Digging Into the "Why"

With the help of a Wellness Way doctor, I started running tests — real tests, not the five-minute "labs are normal" routine. We found imbalances in my hormones, food allergies I had no idea about, and inflammation markers off the charts. Turns out, my gallbladder was responding to deeper problems — it wasn’t the enemy.

I learned that high estrogen can slow down bile flow, certain foods can trigger inflammation, and chronic stress messes with your liver and digestive function. My body wasn’t broken. It was trying to adapt.

What I Did Instead of Surgery

Here’s what I focused on:

• Anti-inflammatory nutrition – I cut out foods I was sensitive to (found through testing), reduced sugar, and focused on whole, nutrient-dense meals.

• Liver and gallbladder support – I started targeted supplements that helped thin and move bile, reduce inflammation, and support liver detox pathways.

• Stress management – No surprise, but years of chronic stress had taken a toll. I incorporated deep breathing, better sleep habits, and yes, actually saying “no” to things. Some supplements the Wellness Way also helped me mitigate the effects of stress.

• Spinal and nervous system care – I also started chiropractic care to support the connection between my brain and digestive system, along with the many other benefits it has!

  
  

The Results? No Surgery — and No More Attacks

It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen. No more gallbladder attacks. No more bloating after meals. And most importantly, I kept my organ.

I’m not here to shame anyone who’s had their gallbladder removed — I know sometimes things feel urgent.

But I am here to say: You have options. Don’t settle for removing a part of your body without first understanding why it's struggling in the first place.

That’s what The Wellness Way teaches — don’t guess, test. Don’t chase symptoms, find the cause. And above all, don’t accept “normal” if your body is screaming that something’s wrong.

If you’re where I was — scared, confused, and being told to “just take it out” — pause.

Ask questions. Dig deeper. Your body deserves it. And so do you.