Gallstones. What can I eat?!

[needingadvice12]

After 2 attacks over the weekend I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones and referred for surgery.

Ive had issues since March and seems to be triggered by a long period of not eating then binging. They have also referred me to counselling as I flagged up as a risk for eating disorder. I’ve not eaten since Thursday. I am petrified of another attack.

What can I eat?
I’ve got rice crispies, brown bread, salted corn cakes, rich teas, jam and wafer thin sliced chicken

I work long hours so usually take a ready meal. I was looking at the M&S count on us ones. Any advice?

It’s absolutely bizarre. I ate a dominos last Sunday and was fine, a week later I’ve had a Starbucks skinny latte and I’m doubled over with orange pee!

Low fat feta was fine for me. I found a lot it could sometimes be a cumulative effect, ie I'd eat a few rubbish things and the build up would cause an attack, but also sometimes they were the same evening so it was hard to know.

If you have orange wee id get yourself checked out as that was one of my symptoms when I had a stone stuck...

I had my gallbladder out 4 weeks ago. A fish and chip meal started me off!
My GP told me to stick to a very low fat diet and no alcohol! Plus points was I lost 6 lbs and got down to my ideal weight.
Have you had a scan btw? They found 3 stones in my common bile duct so had to have an ERCP before my gallbladder removal.

I had an ultrasound yesterday after an A&E trip Monday!
They thought a stone was stuck based on my bloods and billirubin levels, I passed a LOT of bile yesterday and my wee is normal now. So I’m assuming I’ve passed the stone 🤢

That’s exactly what I’ve been having. I’ll eat too much junk for a few days then there’s an attack.

There was no rhyme or reason to my attacks except for short crust pastry would occasionally trigger them and bananas of all things. Dairy, alcohol, bacon, even cream trifle don't set it off. I've had it after eating salads with no dressing and chickpeas and I've had it after roast beef for Sunday lunch. The low fat diet is often cited as optimal but seems to be a bit of a myth as some people find a low fat diet exacerbates and there's no clear evidence on the effectiveness

Small regular meals are best as it means the gall bladder is emptying regularly. You might not get rid of any stones this way but it could help prevent new ones forming

My attacks were completely random. One day I could eat whatever I wanted but eat the same thing a week later and be in agony. There was no particular trigger for me but the thing that saved me before my gallbladder was removed were voltarol suppositories. Knocked the pain right away and allowed me to continue living.

My worse attacks before diagnosis, were a chippy tea and following a wedding so both times were after eating too much fatty foods. Having said that towards the end anything could set it off. Much better for being out.

I found that I knew before I ate something if it was going to do for me. Like a premonitory (is that a word??) nausea.

I’ve had my gall bladder out, like pp I ate a low fat, high fibre diet whilst waiting for surgery. I still had attacks but like you I didn’t eat regularly. I did have to be admitted after developing cholecystitis (infected gall bladder) so if the pain doesn’t settle after an attack and if you notice any yellowing of eyes, wee or sling get yourself to A&E just to be on the safe side. Also try and get a prescription for some decent painkillers.

Really? Mine was triggered by fat (which seems logical, given what the gallbladder is for). If I ate more than about 10g of fat in one sitting, I had pain. I ate very low fat for months while I waited for surgery and avoided any more full-blown attacks.

Skin not sling!

there is a herbal tea that I discovered helps break up stones - Chanca Piedra. It needs to be drunk every day though alongside whatever other things you do to help. It’s also got lots of other wonderful properties - but do your own research of course.

I found avoiding fat just makes me less able to digest it. It’s a case of balanced meals. Wheat is a huge trigger and I avoid that completely. Fat and diary fine for me. All bodies are different though!

I am terrible if I have too much fire. Puts me into shock!

I don't like fat anyway but can have strawberries and cream, for example, no problem.

Fire????!

FAT!

Exactly the same for me. Sparkling water set it off once. I can eat spicy food, fatty food and be fine.

Before I had mine out, I lived on a diet of toast and marmite (no butter) and pasta with a sauce made from onions and peppers sautéed in water and then simmered with some chopped tomatoes and some basil. No fat at all. It was boring but worth it.

Hi 😊
Different people will tolerate different amounts of fat but the general advice is to keep fat intake moderate and avoid high fat foods (in line with general healthy eating advice) but not to follow a very low fat diet due to the risk of rapid weight loss. We're all different though and will have different triggers or there may be no clear pattern.

OP you might find this link useful but it sounds like you're struggling if you've not eaten since Thurs. I understand it feels scary to eat but not doing so will actually make things worse. Maybe ask your GP or consultant for a referral to the dietitians? They can give you some proper individualised advice x

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/dietary-advice-for-patients-with-gallstones/

Everyone is different! Quebra Peidra tea is brilliant for me. Look it up. Not a substitute for treatment and check with GP if you want but it’s a great herb for helping break stones down a bit. Avoiding fat doesn’t work for me either just moderate food. Chilli however is a shortcut to disaster for me.

I’ve had it out thankfully. Went haywire in June and I had the op in September. No more fat free diet!

The very low fat version of Philadelphia soft cheese makes a good substitute for butter on bread, crackers and potatoes.

I couldn’t even have that!
I ended up with cholecystitis and jaundice in June, put on the urgent list and had it out September 8th