To ask what can I eat that won’t kill me?

[Shirtella]

I have been so ill for the last three weeks, diagnosed with a gall stone blocking a duct in my liver. I have been in hospital for 5 days, diagnosed with hepatitis, on antibiotics and waiting for an emergency procedure to remove the stone.

I have hardly eaten as when I do, I end up in pain for hours and vomiting bile. My pee turns orangey brown and it’s just not worth it.

I last ate on Wednesday morning, a boiled egg which I thought would be bland and fat free. It really wasn’t. It was probably my worst day of pain and throwing up.
The day before I had a few spoonfuls of porridge made with fat free milk. That made me I’ll too.

What can I eat that won’t kill me? I might be waiting weeks for this procedure? Can I last that long on only water?

Can you eat toast or crackers with minimal spread ? Apple slices

I could only really manage fruits, veg and some lighter soups while i waited for my op. No fats at all (no dairy, no meat except prawns) and only tiny amounts of bread or starches.

Something like complan meal replacements?

If you are struggling to eat anything I'd consult your doctor.

My friend is having similar issues. She eats a lot of miso soup, fruit, veg and small amounts of things like rice and quinoa.

I'd speak to your GP

No to complan, it contains fats. It's not about the bulk / solidity of the meal it's about needing additional bile for the meal (fats, some meats).

"Soup" based on water (not proper stock and definitely not stock cube), carrot/celery/onion, bit of small vermicelli type pasta or rice in it. Steamed/boiled chicken breast (skin off).

Oh gosh. Eggs are reasonably high in fat I think? Well, the yolk is.

An egg white omelette with capsicum, tomato, spinach?

How do you tolerate fluids? Can GP not prescribe protein shakes?

Can you not get the hospital to put a NG / NJ tube in?

If there's a stone blocking your duct, I doubt there's anything you can't eat without pain. When I was waiting for a gallbladder OP I lived on half a tin of chicken noodle soup and a crusty bun twice a day. Look for stuff that is totally fat free. Even raw veg might not set it off. The skinny range have a variety of stuff that might help.

Look at meal replacements for now so you're getting some vitamins even. Protein shakes type of thing.

Would some sugary sweets help that you can suck
to give a bit of energy without eating much

Thanks guys. I’ll try some homemade veg soup. Maybe a dry cracker.

I had the exact same problem about 18 years ago. It was awful. I have a vague memory of drinking very clear soups and eating dry crackers, slices of pear and plain boiled rice. Could you manage any of those?

This! Poor, poor you! Please get advice on this. It sounds absolutely vile!

In order to avoid pain you need to reduce the need for your gallbladder to produce bile. I think you need to eat little and often and reduce the amount of fat you eat (e.g. fried foods, high fat dairy, fatty meat etc)

I’ve had periods like this and just didn’t eat at all , switched to meal replacements or milk shakes but they will be high in fat . Have you tried very bland things like toast , rice ?

I ate porridge made with water and a dash of honey. The longer you cook it for the creamier it gets, which mitigates it being fat free.

Really sorry to hear your unwell OP. I was the in the same boat as you a couple of months ago very suddenly unwell, in a lot of pain, unable to eat or even swallow water without being ill and vomiting due to my gallbladder, I had liver, pancreas involvement also and was becoming jaundiced. I fell ill on the Monday, was admitted to hospital on the Wednesday evening and had emergency surgery on the Friday morning. I had not really had gallbladder issues prior to this. I don't really know why they are making you wait for your gallbladder surgery when you are so unwell. I did have a bad bacterial infection in my gallbladder and was at risk of sepsis and it bursting but still if you can't eat at all it must be awful.

I really think you need to speak to your doctor again about how this is affecting you, also are you monitoring your temperature? I was very lucky to be admitted to hospital and start treatment when I did as if I had waited another day I probably would had Sepsis by that point.

Thin well blended soups only. Get better soon it sounds awful. I had gall bladder stones a few years ago and it was the worst pain in my life ever. Worse than labour.

Ask your GP/consultant to prescribe you some Fortijuce/Ensure Juce/Fresubin Jucy. They're fat free nutritional supplements so you might tolerate them better. At the same time ask for a referral to your dietitians asap.

The Gallbladder & Gallstone Support Group on Facebook is brilliant, for support, facts and ideas.

Dry toast, plain crackers, maybe a banana.

Do not eat any meat, cheese, eggs, avocados, or anything else containing fats.

Keep drinking water.

Call the hospital every single day to ask if there's a cancelation for the following day.

Are you still in hospital? Surely you have a drip up and they can provide some salts/sugars through that. Ask to speak to the surgeon or dietician before you are discharged for advice.

IF you are already home, did they not provide any dietary advice before discharge? This info might be useful too:

I ate rice cooked in stock for some flavour and had it as a kind of bland miserable soup.
One morning I ate an apple and that set off an attack!
I feel for you OP and hope you can get your surgery done asap.