Gallstones. food and weight loss dos and donts!?

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Bekarington
Bekarington Posts: 85 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've suffered from (what I now know to be bilary colic) attacks for a few years. A recent attack set me off in a healthy eating kick and to the docs.

I've lost 18lbs in just over a month and today I had an ultrasound that showed 2 large gallstones.

I'm making an appointment to see my GP next week, but in the mean time, what should or shouldn't eat and is exercising safe?
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Replies

  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
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    Unless there is by coincidence a gallbladder specialist among those who read this thread, I don't think it is a good idea to ask here for medical advise. Did your MD not tell you anything about specific dietary restrictions ( like avoiding fat and alcohol ) or give you a geneal diet that applies to your specific problem ? If not, I would probably call and find out. IMO a general fitness and weight loss forum is not the place for medical advise.
    Good luck to you !
  • Bekarington
    Bekarington Posts: 85 Member
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    I was more looking for advice/experience of anyone else who has suffered until I get an appointment with my doctor.

    The internet is awash with different advice for what you can and cant eat. Just wondered if anyone could advise until I get professional advice.
  • Crohns2013
    Crohns2013 Posts: 57 Member
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    I have never heard of exercise being unsafe just because you have gallstones, I think you're safe there. Obviously if exercising seems to set off attacks, you should stop.

    The most common foods to avoid are greasy/oily/fatty foods, but you might have other things that affect you, since everyone is different.
  • stacyhaddenham
    stacyhaddenham Posts: 211 Member
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    When you input your food for the day make a note of whether or not you had an attack, after a few days to a week you will have a good idea of what sets you off. Mine were nuts, fats especially deep fried foods and spicy foods.
  • Bekarington
    Bekarington Posts: 85 Member
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    I've heard you should avoid the likes of eggs and onions??
  • morticia16
    morticia16 Posts: 230 Member
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    Hi, I had gallstone problems for years which led to having my gallbladder removed a few years ago. I never had any problems with exercise, what caused pain was "wrong" food. Attacks were caused by too heavy foods, greasy foods, fatty foods, fried foods, heavy starchy foods. I still have to take care and avoid heavily fatty foods etc, even after the removal. I hope this helps.
  • rio2sweden2012
    rio2sweden2012 Posts: 1 Member
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    hi i'm a doctor. the best foods to avoid the formation/increase in size of gall stones are the deep fried, fat and cholesterol filled food.
    avoid lying down immediately after meals and give about 2-4 hours of break from food before heading off to bed.
    light exercise in the form of walking is great.
    also weight reduction before surgery is advised.
  • running_free_1984
    running_free_1984 Posts: 115 Member
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    If you have two large gallstones they wont pass through the bile duct so you will have to have the gall bladder out. In terms of food the best thing to do is try to limit fats as they stimulate bile production. Exercise is fine but i would recommend it to be quite low impact. I think i got pancreatitis as i went for a run with bilal colic and it must have caused the stone to block my pancreatic duct instead. The main priority is to get rid of the gall bladder, best thing i ever did.
  • Bekarington
    Bekarington Posts: 85 Member
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    I've heard you can continue to have the attacks after they remove the gallbladder, is that true?

    Also, how many grams of fat would you limit yourself too? (as its virtually impossible to avoid it completely)
  • running_free_1984
    running_free_1984 Posts: 115 Member
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    Some people can have digestive issues if they eat fatty foods after removal. Ive not experienced any bad effects at all and honestly I'm a changed person for having it done!
  • Serafimangel
    Serafimangel Posts: 174 Member
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    After having my gallbladder removed my digestion has never really been the same, I am never regular, though I get enough fiber =/water etc.

    On the diet thing, I was told to avoid fat. Especially eggs! For some reason eggs set gallbladder problems off alot if you have gallstones.
    Rosemary Connely has a few diet books out, I would try them, she started writing books because she had gallstones, so her diet books have great tip in them to avoid attacks.
  • Gw3nJa
    Gw3nJa Posts: 40 Member
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    Avoid high fat foods. I've also had my gallbladder removed as was told to go on a low fat no fat diet until I had my surgery. The gallbladder pushes in extra acid (or whatever it is) when you eat a lot of fat to help break it down better. Since you have stones in it, they will try to pass causing that awful pain in your gut.

    I did the diet for about a month a lost ten pounds. I missed cheese to much to stick with it though.
  • Gw3nJa
    Gw3nJa Posts: 40 Member
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    I've heard you can continue to have the attacks after they remove the gallbladder, is that true?

    Also, how many grams of fat would you limit yourself too? (as its virtually impossible to avoid it completely)

    I researched it once and heard that in time if you ate all the bad foods that caused you to get gallstones that it could effect your liver the same way. Not 100% about that however.
  • ironmaidenchick
    ironmaidenchick Posts: 213 Member
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    I've heard you can continue to have the attacks after they remove the gallbladder, is that true?

    Also, how many grams of fat would you limit yourself too? (as its virtually impossible to avoid it completely)

    Just depends on the person and how your body re-acts after surgery
  • kalika47
    kalika47 Posts: 23 Member
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    I too had my gall bladder removed, and the ONLY foods that play havoc with my digestion are KFC and bacon. I LOVE BACON!!, so I plan to eat it only on days when I can stay at home...lol.I gave up KFC completely.
  • Bekarington
    Bekarington Posts: 85 Member
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    Spoke to my doctor, she seemed surprising unconcerned. She's referring me to a surgeon to weigh up the pros and cons of having them removed.

    But her only advice was cut out fat completly, she said as my gallstones were large they weren't likely to go anywhere so just had to know what my triggers were and if I do have an attack, to go to a&e.
  • connie_messina
    connie_messina Posts: 495 Member
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    I have Gallstones also i watch everything i eat to avoid attacks, i lost 30lbs so far in the last three months! i watch my fat , i don't eat any meat whatsoever, just chicken breast grilled, i eat low fat dairy and low fat sweet treats like rice krispy squares and low fat frozen yogurt and angel food cake! you can add me if u want and see my diary! i have to see my doctor October 28th to see what my options are, i think i need to remove my gallbladder i cant continue living in fear but i don't mind it for now cause i have 50 more lbs to lose!
  • cmacphee3
    cmacphee3 Posts: 278 Member
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    I don't have an answer for that per se, though fatty foods and caffeine will activate your gallbladder and may induce an attach. I had mine removed a few years back, best move ever!

    One thing I wanted to mention is that losing weight can CAUSE gallstones, as your gallbladder contracts less because of less food and less fat, and so it just sits there and can form stones.
  • bethanylaugh
    bethanylaugh Posts: 237
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    This is a quote from Paul Jaminet of ThePerfectHealthDiet:
    "You definitely want to deal with any infections, as infections can be a big factor in gallbladder disease. I know of someone who was going to have surgery to have her gallbladder removed, but happened to go on antibiotics a few days before surgery. In three days her gallbladder was healed.
    "Anything that promotes a good gut ecology is likely to help. Stomach acid support (eg betaine hydrochloride, salt consumption), eating fermented vegetables and yogurt.
    "Then nourishment for bile flow (vitamin C, taurine, glycine, glutathione, cholesterol) and liver function."

    And limiting your gluten might help, too:
    http://www.gallbladderattack.com/glutenintolerance.shtml
  • connie_messina
    connie_messina Posts: 495 Member
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    I've heard you should avoid the likes of eggs and onions??
    yup no eggs or onions or peas or corn or spicy foods or fried foods or butter no oranges no grapefruit etc..i google everything before i eat it

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