Question:
What can I eat to avoid a gall bladder attack?
Based on what I've read in the library, I believe I'm suffering from gall bladder attacks. My pouch feels like it hurts and it goes straight through to my back. I can't sit still or get in a comfortable position and it usually lasts at least 1 hour. With the last 2 attacks, I threw up 3 times each. I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow to see for sure what's wrong but I'm scared to death to eat. I don't know what's triggering them (the first one I know was probably hot sauce) and last night it started right before bed and I hadn't eaten anything in several hours. Is there anything I can eat that's safe or that won't trigger it? Can I just drink juice or will the sugar hurt? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I never knew there was this kind of pain! I'd rather have a baby!!! Thanks all — Amy E. (posted on February 27, 2002)
February 27, 2002
I had my gallbladder out 2 years before I had WLS. After having several
attacks (I was pregnant so they wouldn't take it out right away) I was told
to eat low or zero FATS.
I lived like that successfully for a year before I had it taken out.
Good Luck
— Missy M.
February 27, 2002
Well, I don't know if the 'no fats' plan is going to work. When my
gallbladder first started attacking me, I had been on a practically NO fat
diet for the previous year. Unfortunately, you may just have to live with
it until you get it taken out. I found the best position to get
comfortable in (AFTER taking my pain killers, that is) was to get on the
bed, get on your hands and knees and grab a pillow an push it up into your
ribs in the middle where you gallbladder is and keep it pushed up in there
until the pain passes, you know, butt kinda up in the air, hug that pillow
to you middle, and just put your face down on the bed or pillow. It looks
silly, but for some reason during an attack this was the only comfortable
position. I even had to do that at work, in the middle of the board
room... Good thing no customers came in <geesh!> Good luck... and
don't forget the pain killers :)
— KelBurt
February 27, 2002
Hello Amy... I feel your pain!! I am a little over 2 years post op Open
RNY... I had the same sort of attacks that got really bad just a few months
prior to surgery... at the ultrasound they found gall stones and determined
that my gall bladder would be removed during surgery... Thank Goodness! I
remember that anything that had the slightest bit of spice in it triggered
a pain right below my center bra line and radiated around the right side to
my back... ohhh weeee... it would be hours before I felt 'right' again...
and I understand you are scared to eat... I drank protein shakes... and
foods that were bland... rice... grits... bananas.. basically ate like a
baby to avoid that feeling... just take your time... eat slower... and try
not to eat too close to bedtime... when you lay down everything will go
right to the bra line area and you risk going through it all over again...
I wish you the best of luck...
— California J.
February 27, 2002
I had my GB out at age 23, 20 years before my WLS. The things that
triggered it were milk, bacon & lettuce. I don't remember that cheese
or other dairy, other fats or other fiber did it, just those. My attacks
were almost identical to yours. But I'd just seen both of my parents go
through it, about 6 months apart, just a few years before me. Sigh. In
those days, no lap. 9" scar. (gone now with TT, though! yippee!)
— vitalady
February 28, 2002
Hi, Amy. I am SO SORRY about the gallbladder attacks! Yikes, they hurt like
anything. I had my gallbladder out pre-WLS, back in 1987, before they
started doing the gallbladder surgeries lap (I have a reeeeally attractive
six-inch scar across my abdomen!) I also recommend no-fat, low-fat stuff. I
lived on rice and fat-free chicken breast. (I cannot to this day eat rice
and chicken in the same meal.) Good luck!
— Mary Ellen W.
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