Ouch Gallstones! Diet advise required please

Rach_W71

Hi,
I’ve recently been diagnosed with Gallstones and would like advise on what foods to avoid as I’m getting conflicting information from people & the internet...whereas my Dr has told me to basically “suck it & see what i can eat!” #confused!

tinkerbellang83

Why would you want to believe random folk on the internet over your doctor? Can you ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician?

fredith7

Avoid fat, I've been in hospital with a gall bladder infection and gall stones. Fat kicks it off more than anything. Any doctor should be able to tell you that.

mortuseon_

I recommend looking on the NHS Choices site to see if there is any advice there, if your doctor is really so unhelpful (they should be your first port of call, though)! Great public health resource.

MrsPinterest34

Assuming your doctor did not educate you about Gallstones and how to prevent them especially with dietary changes, then you should fire your doctor and start looking for a new one. Check out Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic's online patient education materials.

kiwiroz

For me I had to eat the minimum amount of fat possible otherwise I would be in agony. Unfortunately it progressed really quickly over a couple of weeks to not being able to eat anything without being in unbearable pain. I imagine everyone is different though.

1houndgal

Rachellw71 wrote: »

Hi,
I’ve recently been diagnosed with Gallstones and would like advise on what foods to avoid as I’m getting conflicting information from people & the internet...whereas my Dr has told me to basically “suck it & see what i can eat!” #confused!

My suggestions:

1. Get a new dr. Then ask for a referral to a surgeon from the new Dr.

2. Ask the surgeon about getting a laparoscopic removal of your gallbladder.

3. To lesson chances of attacks before you have a surgery, eat very little fat as fat causes the body to release a hormone that causes the gallbladder to contract and release bile from the gallbladder. That contraction is painful.

My bkg: In my 20s I lost over a hundred pounds. That loss was very fast, and led to my gallbladder disease.

Only 5% of the bile in my gallbladder could get into my gi tract. I got pretty sick then with horrible 24/7 pain.

The gallbladder removal was the best thing to finally end my pain. Without it, I would have died. I don't know why your dr is dismissing your gallbladder disease so easily.

But I sense that you need to advocate for yourself NOW so you can feel better. And also find a new Dr. A doctor that won't discount how ill you are feeling and will guide you better. Good luck. I hope you are feeling better soon.

1houndgal

fredith7 wrote: »

Avoid fat, I've been in hospital with a gall bladder infection and gall stones. Fat kicks it off more than anything. Any doctor should be able to tell you that.

Agree.

apullum

Have you been scheduled for removal of your gallbladder? Gallstones do not just go away, and there are very few treatments other than surgery. If your doctor hasn’t at least discussed surgery with you, then I think it’s time for a second opinion. You shouldn’t be asked to just suffer through it.

RaeBeeBaby

I've had issues with my gall bladder for the past 20 years, several times with excruciating pain. I've had a couple HIDA scans and have basically been told I have a "sick" gall bladder. The doctor told me removing it was a 50/50 chance of feeling better. What?? (Never could figure that one out.)

Being fairly afraid of surgery, I opted to keep it and see if I could make myself feel better with dietary changes. I eat a ton of fresh vegetables and fruit, lots of whole grains, low fat proteins and try to get as much fiber as possible. I also drink a lot of water. Not sure whether I've healed myself, but I only seem to have a flare-up if I eat a super fatty meal.

A lot of people would recommend just taking it out, but that comes with it's own long term effects. You can't put it back in once it's gone. Yes, you can live without it but it does serve an important function in the body. I've know several people who had chronic diarrhea after gall bladder removal and could very rarely eat anything fatty without triggering a fast run to the bathroom.

I'd see what you can do on your own before choosing surgery.

katebowen37

Fiance was in the ER last April for his gallbladder. The gallstones settled in the neck and cut off bile movement. Finally gave up and got the surgery in November after 7 months of attempting to manage through diet (and his diet was pretty good!). He feels better and is so much happier after getting it removed. Our normal diet is really carb heavy with not a lot of fat, so there wasn't a big change. Stay away from fat. You always have to have SOME in your diet, but not a lot, and you'll also want to stay away from big meals. Better to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. He eats hard boiled eggs and banana/apple for breakfast, baked chicken, steamed veggies, and more fruit for lunch. Crackers or a granola bar mid-afternoon, and chicken/fish, baked potato and veggies for dinner. He also drinks a ton of water which seems to help.

Good luck! Hope you feel better!

Sunshine_And_Sand

A low fat diet is typically recommended for people with gallstones. However, even strictly avoiding fats isn't enough for most. Most people eventually get sick of eat low fat foods all the time (while still having gall bladder pain sometimes anyway) and end up just getting it removed.
Also, as others have said, listen to your doctor.

CowboySar

Same issue with me and I manage it by not eating certain foods. So far for me it is nuts, eggs, and cauliflower of all things. My MD told me to keep going in to ER and eventually they will remove. I have never gone to the ER yet, just curl up in a ball and suffer for 4-5hrs..... I know its wrong but that's what I do.

MissyCHF

My gallbladder was removed over 30 years ago and I've never looked back. It was a pretty major op' then, it's a doddle now. Don't delay, get your life back.