Nutrition and healthy eating

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• March 24, 2013 6:39 p.m.

  OK! Now I am nervous after reading all these comments. is it really worth having your gallbladder taken out? Is there a diet that will dissolve the stones. I am scheduled to have mine taken out on the 27th.

  - RETHA

• March 22, 2013 2:17 p.m.

  I had my gallbladder removed approximately 9 years ago. Within the last several years, I can no longer tolerate dairy except for certain cheeses. Milk shakes - OUT Ice Cream - OUT Milk - OUT. I also lately have to watch carefully what I eat. No fried foods or very few. It drives me crazy. I'm getting to where I know which restaurants I can and I can't eat at. Even though I had to have the gallbladder removed, they should really give a 'heads up' to this problem with diarrhea, in my opinion.

  - Debra

• March 22, 2013 1:31 p.m.

  I am an O.R. RN, removed tens of thousands of gallbladders in my 35 year reign in the surgical arena. At 53 and in pretty descent shape, watching a balance of what i have eaten, fasting maybe three times a year...seven days ago, i had mine out. Two years ago my first attack, they could not find anything significant. Now a week ago i thought i was having a heart attack... Called my very good friend, surgeon, whom i have worked with for many years and he told me it was my gallbladder. Sonogram revealed stones were present. He scheduled me for last Friday to be removed. Laparoscopically removed, cholangiogram done...no more stones...no more gallbladder :(. I have never been so uncomforable in ALL my life. I am eating a bland diet of chicken soup, jello, yoguart, toast, chicken broiled i am STILL uncomfortable, my stomach blows up like i am 7 months pregnant!! The other night i thought I was having another heart attack! What, When, how, why????? omg i feel like crying,well i am crying :'(. The pain from the incisions are tolerable maybe the midline upper incision hurts the most. If i sleep on my right side (which I have been doing since childhood!!) is very uncomfortable, i envision my intestines and liver adhesing! It wakes me out of a sound sleep! but, incisional pain will go away, what i am afraid of is that the bloating and pain that i feel from eating or not eating will not go away. For the first time in my life I am miserable and do not know what to do :(

  - cathe

• March 21, 2013 7:04 p.m.

  Right after i had my son 5 months ago i had to get my gal bladder removed a month ladder now i been gaining alotbof weight how can i lose it.

  - jordan

• March 21, 2013 4:56 p.m.

  I am having my surgery tomorrow morning and this Post has helped. I will post back in a few weeks with how well. Thanks, Angela

  - Angela

• March 19, 2013 4:21 p.m.

  I am less 2 weeks after gallbladder removal following a n-ear-septic backup due to a stone blocking the intestinal duct. I have always eaten low-fat, low-sodium, and fresh food we cook ourselves. I am having to watch that I only have small quantities of dairy products at one time and that I eat a very low-fat diet. The best meal that is easy to fix is a can of chicken in broth, a can or box of low-fat chicken broth, and some whole-wheat pasta which I cook in broth instead of water. You may need to add some extra broth after the pasta is cooked [note: do NOT drain the pasta, just add chicken to the cooked pasta in broth. If you feel like adding carrots, mushrooms, or other vegetables, feel free--I just am wanting a very bland diet; and this home-made "chicken noodle soup" is fitting the bill nicely. I eat some fresh fruit or jello made with fruit juice [replaces the water called for in jello directions] to complement the "soup," and I am very filled but have gotten protein, fiber, and fluids in one punch with the vitamins of fruits on the side. It is a good-sized meal, but I make myself eat less and then "snack" on whole-grain crackers, etc. Hope this helps those of you looking for some healthy food that is tolerated, easy to prepare, and causes no weight gain! Good luck!

  - ML

• March 19, 2013 10:43 a.m.

  My husband had his galdbladder removed about 6 years ago. Prior to that surgery he had a triple bypass. He has suffered every digestive sympton under the sun from reflux to bowel problems and he has had every diagnostic test available with no diagnosis for his problems. Some dr's have said it is probably medicine induced others have stated they pretty much think it;s in his head (which I don't think constant diarehea can be in your head). After a recent colonectomy a new doctor sat down and actually looked at his history and had an "AHA" moment when he seen his galdbladder removal. He suggested a diet that consists of mostly fresh veggies and fish, no dairy or hydronated/saturated fats. He basically said if it is in your cupboard or a box in the freezer don't eat it. Has anybody else tried a diet like this? Is it working?

  - Cathy

• March 18, 2013 3:10 p.m.

  I am two weeks post Gall bladder Surgery (full of stones and infected) I really have seen no difference in my digestive processes. I am relieved to have no pain and bloating that was common over the past few years. I am one to eat a low fat, very little dairy diet - rarely fry any food or eat red meats. I use soy products and eat lots of fruit and veggies. I dont know if I am blessed or maybe my body hasnt reacted to my diet yet. The surgery was a breeze I just wish I would have had it done back when I first had my attacks. Good luck to all of you :)

  - Kim

• March 18, 2013 9:47 a.m.

  Hi! I had my Gallbladder removed yesterday march 17,2013 and I am only 21 years old. I have one 15mm stone in my gallbladder and my liver already is infected so they decided to remove my gallbladder. I just want to ask if what food should i eat and any advise that will help me for my fast recovery and heal my wounds. Thanks guys!

  - Jefferson

• March 17, 2013 5:48 p.m.

  Hi, I had my gallbladder and stones removed in Dec and I eat everything to see what I can handle and what I can't and right now I am having so many issues with eating before a specific time. I can't eat anything before 7pm but I am picking up more weight but lots of diarrhea that appears to be mostly yellow bile. I can't handle purified water and my sister who had her gallbladder out years ago is having the same issue with the water. I want to lose weight, eat healthy, and not worry about eating out and running to the bathroom. Thank you.

  - KINNEY

• March 17, 2013 9:52 a.m.

  Mine was removed Jan 20th, 2012 I did not have stones, my gallbladder was not working and was basically rotting in my body. After a while of dealing with it, they preformed emergency surgery because I had developed an infection. I am miserable. I cannot loose any weight, everything I eat tries to kill me my stomach is always bloated and I am not regular at all. I tell my dr's and they put me on Creon to help me digest food and this does not help at all.

  - Casadi

• March 16, 2013 8:29 a.m.

  I had my gallbladder removed in 4/12 as emergency surgery. I too had several gallstones and had no idea that this was what was causing the severe pain attacks until I went to the emergency room. The doctors previously kept telling me it was heartburn. Since last year I have gained weight, have been bloated and constipated. Changing what I eat hasn't been the answer either. I am 42 and my doctor thought it was pre menapause, but the test results came back negative. I have done a lot of research lately and started trying a gluten free diet this week. I have had no bloating and have dropped 2 pounds already. I feel relatively good and have alot of energy. I will continue this gluten free diet and hopefully have found my cure. Amy-maybe you could try it and see how you feel.

  - Jen

• March 14, 2013 8:19 p.m.

  in response to denise i too have that pain it is like a band across the side and in the back.. even after my gallbladder was removed.. they waited 2 yrs because it was confusing as to what the pain was coming from.. it is not as bad as before but it is still there.. they think it may be a pinched nerve that radiates toward the front there in the same area as the gallbladder so hence i may have had 2 thigs going on at the same time which is why it took 2 yrs before getting this gallbladder removed.. it was inflamed and had huge stones, so i am like you so frustrated.. sitting is painful i do not know what pain management will now do i alredy have an appointment for the 1st where they are doing radio active injections into my neck muscles.. i do have bulging and or herniated discs in my back at the lebel that could be causing the nerve pain in my side.. so i suppose have an mri done of your spine maybe that will help.

  - lorraine

• March 14, 2013 8:09 p.m.

  i had surgery 3 weeks ago.. at first everything was ok.. i was constipated but it passed.. but after it passed every time i eat any kind of fat at all i have cramping and a loose bowel. a lot of gas has been building up. i do not eat large ammounts of food at 1 time and no fast food. but any type of dairy also bothers me now. i hope it psses soon.

  - lorraine

• March 14, 2013 10:34 a.m.

  I had my gallbladder removed 8 years ago this comimg May. I was able to eat most foods a week after having it removed. I found that over the years I have had more trips to the bathroom as cramps and bloating occurred. and diareaha as well. After eating fatty foods I feel fine. So food is not that big of a problem. I only have the bloating and cramping every now and again and that has not been a big problem.

  - Juanita

• March 14, 2013 12:07 a.m.

  I had my gall bladder removed 27/03/2013 my gall bladder was full of stones and was infected and necrosis had set in I found out last week when seeing my surgeon. I must say I have been taking it very easy with food and eating little and often avoiding fried, dairy and caffeine. I feel loads better now and visiting my surgeon again tomorrow for another check up. Last week he told me to start eating normal foods and not to stick to a light diet which I have done and it would clear up the loose bowels I was suffering, and now I am bowels are back to a normal. All in all I feel 90% better already just after a short period of time. Hope this helps someone else.

  - Carol

• March 13, 2013 5:59 p.m.

  I am only 4 weeks post gallbladder removal so perhaps my insides haven't yet settled down properly. However, I get pain which IS very similar to the pre-surgery pains, except less severe, i.e. a nagging ache on my right side (where the gallbladder used to be) and occasionally the "tightening band" sensation around my midriff which I'm sure most gallstone sufferers will recognise. I think I have identified that the discomfort I get IS related to what and how much I eat but I am still very much in the "trial & error" stage with food so I'm certainly no expert yet. Mostly 'though, I've noticed if I avoid obvious fats i.e. fat on meat or anything which contains a high ratio of fat e.g. pastry or shortbread, also cooking oil, cheese, cream, butter, whole milk - and if I keep my meals small, & eat fairly slowly then generally speaking, I feel ok. I think I feel better when I eat "little & often" because when I've allowed myself to get too hungry and then overeat & "wolf" it down, I suffer for a while afterwards. This has been my experience but, as I said, I am only 4 weeks into recovery so maybe it isn't very relevant to those of you who had surgery some time ago & are still suffering, but I hope sharing my expereience helps a bit.

  - Jean

• March 13, 2013 11:33 a.m.

  I had gallbladder removed 10 days ago after it became infected. I have gone back to eating a balanced diet, including a little bit of cake, pastry, red meat, poultry, veg, fruit, in fact I have eaten food I've not been able to eat in years! I feel amazing! Don't avoid food from fear, your body knows what it needs, just eat little and often. Good luck

  - Karen

• March 13, 2013 10:29 a.m.

  Have a scan done to see if what you are experiencing isn't an obstructed bowel! My wife was experiencing similar pain thought to be kidney stones but scan showed an obstruction. We were told it's a very common occurrence after any abdominal surgery. Hers was a single "violin string" of an adhesion and one snip and everything fell into place. Her gallbladder was removed 9/13/11, as first part of colon cancer procedure. Colon surgery was in April of 2012. Who knows which was the culprit? I suspect the latter.

  - Joe

• March 13, 2013 9:33 a.m.

  I have just recently found this article/site after a google search for diet after gallbladder surgery, but what I am really searching for is answers to the most intense pain on my left side where my gallbladder was removed. I had my gallbladder removed 8/14/12, as an emergency surgery. I had no idea this was going on. I had gallstones and my gallbladder was infected. A few days later I was back in the hospital for an abseses by my belly button. Four days later, with two different IV antibotices I was discharged with more antibotics. I have been experienced the stomach cramp and diahhara as well. For the most part, I know it's due to what I eat, so I try to advoid those high fat foods. The problem I am now having is EXTREME pain right where my gallbladder used to be. The pain is either sharp/stabbing or aching which goes around to my back. I've had every test, ultra sound, CAT scan & MRI all negative!! GI Dr. thought it might be gallstones in my bile duc, but none were found. I'm at a total loss and feel like I'm crazy. GI DR recommended that I go to primary care DR. Does ANYONE know what this pain could be? Is it just from my diet, as I'm not keeping up with the low fat diet or could it be something else? This pain feels just like when I had my gallbladder attack that led me to emergency surgery. Please! Any ideas anyone??

  - Denise

• March 12, 2013 8:16 p.m.

  I can't eat pork anymore.

  - kathie

• March 11, 2013 Noon

  I had my gallbladder removed three years ago I totally changed my diet after op. I don't eat processed foods I eat very little dairy infact my diet consists of chicken or fish fresh veg or salad and occasional fruit and nuts. I have gained a lot of weight in the last three years and struggled to bring it back down. I exercise and eat healthily in the hope to lose 54lb I am overweight but seem to stick at the same weight regardless. I also take digestive enzymes. I need to get my weight off in order to have a corrective procedure on my stomach but so far have been unsuccessful am I doing something wrong?

  - Jacki

• March 10, 2013 2:09 p.m.

  I am on the intranet desperate to find answers. I am a registered nurse who once felt as though I was the most fit, health nut there could be! I exercised almost daily at least 5 days or more per week for 45 to 2 hours at each session, ate a vegetarian diet and rarely ate convenience foods or fast food. At age 39, 5 foot 6 inches tall and 125 pounds I have a chole. I had gallbladder packed full of stones. I was symptomatic, however I was working fulltime, exercising and eating healthy. I really thought I of all people would be immune to surgery and any and all health issues due to my healthy lifestyle. The surgery took place in 2010. I am now approaching 42 years, and very depressed over my GI condition. I am "miserable"!! I am at my end, I would very much love to find a solution. I will make any necessary lifestyle changes I need to stop feeling so miserable. I have acid reflux, constipation that sometimes last for 3 days, diarrhea, pain and severe bloating. My stomache sometimes looks as though I am 9 months pregnant and I can not fit into my clothes. I can not longer eat frozen meals, italian meals with tomato sauce, etc. I have pin pointed some foods that I fully understand the consequences and avoid at all costs. I have gained wieght and feel as though my health is no longer in control. I again am desperate for help and answers. I have considered going to a nutritionist.

  - Amy

• March 10, 2013 10:02 a.m.

  For Melissa - just like you I didn't have a clue what to eat immediately following surgery and for the first week I was all over the place about food and most of the time, ate hardly anything for fear of upsetting my system. I too stumbled upon this site. However, 4 weeks into recovery & it's getting better every day. I am now eating a fairly wide range of foods (although I haven't eaten red meat yet). Fish,chic ken, veg, salads & boiled rice have been fine with no adverse effects. I avoid anything which is high in fat which means I don't eat cheese or cream or sausages etc, but in the past 2 weeks have introduced a scraping of butter on my toast (no problems). Eggs are ok too. I haven't had the courage yet to eat cakes pastries or pies, but a few biscuits have been fine. I don't fry anything & restrict my portion size to little more than a child-size meal (although I eat every 3 or 4 hrs) and have pretty much got used to eating a lot less than I used to before I had gallbladder problems. However, since that first week of worry, my food intake has dramatically improved and I'm sure as time goes on, I will return to relatively normal eating. I am in my late 60's so most of my friends are of the older generation & I've discovered that loads of them (& many neighbours) have had gallbladder removal many years ago and they are all managing well, living and eating normally so I've been encouraged by their stories. Good luck with your recovery

  - Jean

• March 10, 2013 8:19 a.m.

  I am very concerned. I have diabetis and I keep my numbers under control with a high protein diet. (eggs/meat/cheese) Been losing weight as well. The pains I had with my gallbladder earlier WENT AWAY when I eliminated sugars & starches. Was pain free going on 6 months - yet my doc insisted on taking the gallbladder out. It's gone (3 days ago) and I'm looking at a list of food that is going to make my sugar numbers go UP. Plus-the diet I enjoyed that kept me full between readings seems like it will cause bloating/gas/discomfort NOW. I can't eat the stuff on the list I want and I can't eat the stuff on the list it recommends. I'm afraid my diabetis will get worse and they'll put me on insulin- which causes weight gain. I regret having my gallbladder removed. I was doing so well. Makes me angry.

  - Arla