This is getting hard

SarahIluvatariel
SarahIluvatariel Posts: 96 Member
in Motivation and Support
I've had some strong upper-abdominal pain three times in the last month, and I just found out I have some gallstones. (I've heard that sometimes they can be caused by rapid weight loss --don't know how much that factors in, for me). And TMI, but I probably have constipation issues, too.

Mostly, my quandary is that since I haven't been feeling the greatest, I've been really struggling about where to set my calorie goal. Higher? (Have I been losing too fast --and possibly giving myself gallstones?) Lower again? (Did I overreact?) Higher? (Do I need to make sure to eat enough to give my gallbladder something to do so it doesn't get worse?) Lower (If I eat too much and get too bloated, will it cause more abdominal pain?)

And now that I know that I have gallstones (found out this morning), I'm in a quandary about what KINDS of foods to eat. mostly, how much fat? and how much fiber (due to TMI reason listed above)?

My gym routine has been a bit derailed by all of this, too --mostly because it conflicts with doctor visits.

Plus, the Emotional-Eating-Monster keeps trying to attack. Yikes! Gotta stay on my toes about that... But I've had some thoughts: When you're tired, you get emotional. When you're hungry, you get emotional. When you're tired AND hungry, you get even more emotional. So when you're emotional, you think you're tired and/or hungry! I think that's where emotional eating stems from. So it makes me wonder if we need to train ourselves not to get emotional when we're hungry, and that might break the reverse situation, too (thinking we're hungry if we're emotional). I dunno. Just a thought.

But anyways, just in general: this is getting hard!

Replies

  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Hard to be healthy when you arent at tip top shape. I hope you have a surgery scheduled. You will feel so much better when you get that dumb old organ out.

    And it is hard, but as the old saying goes, anything worth having is worth working for. Take a real look at your emotions dont hide it behind food. Leave food when you are feeling down and sit with those feelings. Food is great at numbing our real pain.
  • wozkaa
    wozkaa Posts: 224 Member
    I had a gallstone attack years ago when I started losing weight, and my word having those suckers made me lose more.

    Your Dr or dietician can give you more advice, but mine just said that I needed to eat as little fat as possible and stay away from alcohol (while I waited 3 mths for surgery). Gentle excercise if you feel up to it. If I ate anything in a package, it had to be under 2g fat per serve for me - but I was probably overly strict as I was terrified of another attack. My first big one had me off work for 2 weeks, couldn't keep water down for a day or 2, let alone food. Couldn't stand straight for a week. I had a stone impacted in the biliary duct so NO bile could escape and if it hadn't fallen back in to the gallbladder I would have been in a dire position with jaundice and a likely infection.

    Yes, it sucks the fun out of things... but if you don't do the right thing you will feel the wrath and wish you had behaved (in my experience). I can't really help with the emotional eating guidance, sorry. :-)

    Good luck
  • mvanzante
    mvanzante Posts: 8 Member
    Sorry to hear that, Sarah. I hope you get it sorted out. It looks like there may be some homeopathic and/or nutrition remedies to gallstones, so that might be worth looking into.

    I don't think it's related, but have you been watching your fiber intake as part of your calorie intake? My weight loss coach has us consume a minimum of 25 grams and a max for 40 grams of fiber a day.
  • SarahIluvatariel
    SarahIluvatariel Posts: 96 Member
    Yeah, I've been looking at my fiber intake for a little while, now, but I think I should up it, more.

    The funny thing is that I'm not convinced that is a gallbladder attack, because I didn't have the symptoms directly after eating, exactly. It was a couple of hours later, the first two times. Then the third time was mid afternoon, and I had only just eaten a snack of carrots. (no fat...) So quite bizarre... I'm still really hoping that it was due to constipation, instead of gallstones... (who would have thought anyone would be happy to be plugged up? Lol) Anyways, I was nauseous, but only really felt pressure and a fullness that made me think I needed to burp (but couldn't). (drank pop, burped, felt mostly better). Maybe it's some weird combination of both?) Anyways, is not bad enough that I actually want surgery... I keep hoping I can avoid that.

    Thanks for your input, everyone! I'll try to keep at the diet/exercise thing, and we'll see....

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