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Fasting / 5:2 diet

Is fasting safe with gallstones

6 replies

MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 24/05/2013 20:03

I've been doing the 5:2 / 4:3 for a few weeks now and I love it, it is a woe that really suits me and my lifestyle

I have just got out of hospital after having severe abdominal pain and being diagnosed with gallstones

So I was wondering how safe it is to keep going? I know extreme diets can aggravate gallbladder problems but as this woe is more 'gentle' will it be ok?

I need to keep the pain away and stay out of hospital but I also desperately need to lose weight for my op to remove my gallbladder

Any advise please?

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LEMisdisappointed · 24/05/2013 20:18

I think any diet that involves fasting is a pile of wank - sorry. As far as having gallstones goes, i sympathise, i had it and it was the worse pain i have ever experienced.

I would say that the problem with fasting with gallstones is you will have a completely empty stomach, end up with excess stomach acid, low blood sugar and i can only see this would exacerbate the situation.

The key with gallstones is to cut out all fat - this will also help you lose weight - i lost four stone in eight weeks when i had gallstones because if i ate any fat i was in agony - was hospitalised twice.

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WilmaFingerdoo · 24/05/2013 20:26

Don't fast with gallstones unless you want a world of pain. The excess acid you create will cripple you.

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MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 24/05/2013 20:47

Thanks LEM and wilma, that's really helpful advice that I will take

Sorry you went through this too LEM, you're right the pain is out of this world. Ideally I'd like to forget all about dieting but I have to lose weight for my op. Your losing weight gives me hope though as I'm also having to eliminate fat from my diet it's much harder than I thought

Bloody bastard gallstones Grin

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LEMisdisappointed · 24/05/2013 21:04

they are bastards!!! How much weight do you have to lose?

I had to have a NO fat diet, i didn't think it was possible, but you will be surprised how easy it is to cut it out when eating even the tiniest amount of it causes agonising pain. Honestly, it made childbirth seem like walk in the path and i gave birth with no pain relief! (not through choice!). I ate alot of tomato based foods, pasta was ok (ish). I also found eating little and often was the key for me. Also, don't wait until you are in agony to take medication - I was breast feeding so had to rely on paracetemol and ibruprofen, but insist on being given proper pain relief, tramadol is the best, but its no good if i you have to work as it knocks you sideways.

Also, walking around or rocking back and forth can help when you have an attack. I used to get my DP to rub my back for me - it was fucking awful.

Get skimmed milk if you have tea, if i went anywhere near whole milk i was in all sorts of trouble, skimmed milk is pretty much white water, i can only have that now in tea, whole milk makes me gag.

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MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 24/05/2013 21:26

Thanks LEM that's all really helpful, it's all a bit new to me so I was struggling a bit

I have lots to lose but to be safe for my op I need to lose about 2 1/2 stone

Little and often sounds like a good idea, it's been surprising how high some things are in fat! I'm ok for painkillers, lots of codeine/tramadol/oramorph, still hurts like fuck though Grin

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GiraffesEatPineapples · 28/05/2013 20:37

The length of time is important a short fast of 12 -15 hours would lead to higher acid but it would lower as the fast continues. There is a paper on this linked to in one of the early 5:2 threads. The 5 2 fast diet forum would be a really good place to ask this question. www.52fastdiet.co.uk

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