Diet suggestions for avoiding gallstone problems

[gmoney]

Hope this doesn't violate the "soliciting medical advice" TOS, and if it does, I apologize.

Been diagnosed with gallstones and am awaiting surgery probably in 2-3 weeks unless I opt to go through the ER, which I hope to avoid. The doctors have recommended "bland, low fat" diet, but are worthless at suggesting anything specific. I know a high fat or greasy meal will possibly trigger an attack, but I guess I need some help with "how low is low fat" and any other specifics. For instance, most low fat diets I've found online say that soda pop is OK, but a guy I know who had the attacks told me that soda can trigger gallbladder activity and should be avoided.

I've done OK with saltines, ramen, baked potato with a dab of lowfat sour cream, and gatorade, but I'm already tiring of them. Also, fresh fruit seems OK, although I'm going to avoid skins and seeds to be on the safe side. Ideally, foods that involve a minimum of preparation time, too, would be great.

So, I'm NOT asking for medical advice and AM seeking professional treatment from qualified medical types. Here, I'm just hoping for some suggestions for simple foods that can make the next few weeks a bit more palatable without upsetting the balance. Any suggestions would be welcome, especially from those who've been in my situation. Thanks in advance!

[yourout]

1. Avoid real buttery popcorn......

My wife had hers out after the birth of our first son. Buttery popcorn would set it off big time.

[MADem]

2. How about soyburgers? I love the things. And other soy products also

You can buy them in "your grocer's freezer" --soy chicken, soy burgers, soy crumbles, soy sausage...the stuff is really (no shit, I swear) delicious and it's very low in fat. Also, the cooking is as easy as not overdoing it in the microwave--totally idiot-proof.

There's also veggie burgers made with mushrooms and so forth that have a different taste, but are also very good.

[Warpy]

9. Soy can be quite high in fat

better check those labels.

[woodsprite]

3. Sorry to hear about your gallstone problem.

I know the misery they cause. Before I had my gallbladder out a few years ago, my gastro guy said to try little bits of food that fell into the low fat/low roughage category. I found that I could handle bits of boiled skinless boiled chicken or baked turkey, even some lowfat creamed cottage cheese, green beans, carrots, boiled potatoes, saltines, dry cheerios, pop-tarts, and graham crackers. Things that REALLY bothered me - anything chocolate, anything cooked in oil, ham or any kind of pork, pancakes, anything with strong spices, and large meals. I went to eating 6 very small meals a day.

I would boil a pack of chicken breasts with nothing but salt and pepper. Sometimes I'd slice it down and have some on bread, other times I'd moisten it a bit with the creamed cottage cheese to make a spread or paste. Kinda tasted like babyfood. For the veggies, I used canned green beans and steamed fresh carrots and potatoes.

That was about it for 10 months until I could get my gallbladder out (had just had a baby so surgery was delayed). I lost 35 lbs in that 10 months - I called it my gallbladder diet. He said that I'd probably feel better if I took 2 Gas-X about 20-30 min. after I ate, so that was always my "dessert". It did help but got so that eventually it was getting less and less variety that I could eat without causing an attack. Apparently I had a two-fold problem. I had the gallbladder issue plus an umbilical hernia that would really hurt when gas passed thru the intestine.

Getting the gallbladder out was a breeze. I'm on the heavy side and they were able to still do it laproscopically. One Monday I had hernia surgery, the following Monday I had my gall bladder removed. All in all with both surgeries, I was laid up about 2 wks.

Wishing you the best, and I'll be saying my prayers for ya'

[Systematic Chaos]

4. Whole grains and your favorite frozen veggies, steamed.

And Mrs. Dash in the flavor of your choice for seasoning. Or, broccoli with fresh lemon juice. All you care to eat.

Fresh green salads with some good quality olive oil and a bit of your choice of balsamic or red wine vinegar.

Drink lots of organic apple juice if you can find it, of the non-sweetened variety. The malic acid will soften the stones and make them passable without undue pain. Gout is a similar problem to gall stones, in that crystals form in the lower ball joints of the foot. I know from personal experience that REAL apple cider vinegar - not the colored crap sold in grocery stores - will break up a gout attack in 2-3 days, at just 3 teaspoons a day.

[tabatha]

5. would suggest Soy too

Soy milk with oatmeal and fruit is great for breakfast.
For splurging, there is Soy Chocolate icecream and Chocolate Soy milk at Trader Joes.
Beans are good - and bean/vegetable burritos are also great and easy to heat in microwave.
Curried tofu where available.
Home suggestions - Heat plain tomato or other soup with frozen veges, mushrooms, etc.
Drinks better than soda pop - add concentrated Cherry or other juices to plain water, just to flavor the water.

[gmoney]

6. Thanks for the input...

Amazing how many people have had this procedure... appreciate all the input, but anyone else is welcome to chime in.

[Justitia]

7. My attacks weren't set off w/food, but good luck on your surgery!

Those attacks were the most god-awful thing I've ever experienced in my whole life!

Felt like a heart attack and lasted for HOURS. It was soooo good to get the thing out of me.
The docs said I had HUNDREDS of stones (they saved some for me to see) and my gallbladder was partially gangrene - ick.
In fact, I had so many stones that they were backing up and entering my bile duct, which meant addt'l surgery 6 wks later. No one should ever let their gallbladder / gallstones get that bad.

You'll be so relieved after your surgery, all the best to you!

[Warpy]

8. The low fat diet is essential

because fat causes the gallbladder to contract, forcing bile into the digestive tract to emulsify the fat so it can be broken down into fatty acids and absorbed. The danger is that the gallbladder will shoot out one of those stones which will then block the common bile duct, the one that branches off from both the liver and gallbladder. If that happens, you need emergency surgery, no choice, or you'll die as bile backs up into the liver and that organ eventually fails. You'll want the surgery, though because it HURTS.

You can eat those apple skins. They're not fatty and they don't enter the bile duct. I'd avoid that low fat sour cream and use NO fat yogurt instead. No, it's not the same, but it'll dress up a plain baked potato until your surgery is done. You're going to have to eat stuff you wouldn't ordinarily consider (canned fruit in sugar syrup comes to mind) and forgo stuff you would, like anything cooked with cheese, olive oil, or full milkfat dairy products, or even soy milk. Check those labels, you want as little fat as possible. Make sure canned tomato sauce you use with pasta is not loaded with cheese or olive oil. If there's any oil in it, use it sparingly. You can throw all sorts of veggies in it and simmer it for a while, just don't sautee those veggies in oil. Low fat deli meats like turkey are generally OK, and you'll get used to turkey and lettuce and tomato between two slices of bread, no mayo.

Remember, you're just eating to give yourself energy so you can stay alive until that surgery. Your usual nutrition is going to have to fly out the window for now.

Gallstones usually don't look all that impressive when they're removed, sort of like yellow gravel swimming in greenish black bile. They can cause horrible trouble until they are, though.

Here is everything you ever wanted to know about gallstones, at great length: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/gallstones/article_em.htm

[beam me up scottie]

10. Thanks, Warpy.

I don't know about the op, but this link is just what I was looking for.

Now if I can just get some health insurance ...