Gallstones and inflammed Gall Bladder

[Lovemelillady]

Hey,
Has anyone had this, or had their gall bladder removed? I was admitted to hospital last week and since then I've been so scared to eat and have limited what I do eat to fruit, veg, chicken and a bit of pasta. I'm not having any dairy as that really irritates me, so just drinking juice, water or soya milk if I succumb to a hot drink. I've been put on a waiting list, which is 18 weeks long minimum, how am I meant to survive that long when almost every food group is doubling me over in pain?

I feel so lifeless and tired (obviously the lack of food is doing this) but anything else I tend to eat just makes me have a really painful attack.

[starving smilie!]

Poor you! Yes, I had gallstones for 3 years before finally havng my gall bladder removed about 18 months ago. Dairy, red meat, fatty foods like fish and chips would trigger attacks, but I could eat fish, salads, veg, fruit, sweet stuff that wasn't too fatty, etc. If you have just had an attack then your stomach will feel sensitive for a while after, but you can start eating more normally soon. I bought soya spreads instead of butter/marg, "Glacé" brand ice cream is brilliant - isn't actually ice cream but you can't tell! That's a shame the waiting list is so long, but having it out was one of the best things I did, especially after trying to avoid surgery for so long. Good luck! PS a recipe book like The Food Doctor might be helpful, or a vegan cook book, both of which I used.

Thanks camperfan, yeah I am pretty much vegan at the mo bar the chicken! I don't mind the soya products and I'll continue with those, but I already have a suspected wheat intolerance so eating the carb based foods I need to stay energised is difficult. I'm thinking now this attack is partly due to the pasta I had earlier :(

I shall look for the Glace ice cream tomorrow, anything to stop me feeling so food deprived, is it in supermarkets or will I need specialist food shop?

Hi Loveme, I ended up in hospital 2 years ago with pancreatitis and had to wait 3 months to get my GB removed-I feel your pain. I could not eat anything more than 3% fat, and for the last couple of weeks, everything seemed to cause an attack. I ate lots of baked potatoes with cottage cheese or thin sliced cooked turkey, some cereals, and Turkish delight for a treat! Fastest 2 stone I ever lost!!! If you are getting attacks often, perhaps go back to A and E as pancreatitis is a danger-- wish you luck!

You can definitely get it from waitrose.

Lamb, I had pancreatitis too, although from my symptoms, I now know that I had a it several times before too, I just hadn't gone to hospital, so was really lucky that it was not more serious.

Gall bladder pain is just the worst, so I hope you don't get anymore attacks loveme

I think I've had gallstones for ages, but put the back pain and tummy pain down to diagnosis of constipation and IBS from the docs. Have been taking laxatives, buscapan, colpermil (sp), peppermint, for a number of years thinking I was doing myself a favour and the pain is most definately the same, although worse :(

Lamb - I'm on a majorly fat free diet. I'm going to seek out some treats tomorrow though, starting with some McVities Jaffa Cakes as they're only 1g fat per cake. I'll just have to make it last FOREVER!!

If I have to take codeine once more this week I'll be going back to a&e as it's unbearable when it gets to that stage!

Hi loveme. I had my gallbladder removed 3 years ago. Before that, I used to make myself sick when I had an attack. I've no idea whether that's a good idea or not but it seemed to "dislodge" the stones and ease the pain. I hope the wait for your operation goes quickly for you.

Yeah, I hipe it goes quick too!! I don't fancy being sick much, no good at vomiting and I've already shed 7lb this week :( Not that I mind losing weight, but not through feeling poorly :(