2 years ago I started getting really bad attacks I didn't no what they were, then I was told I had Gall stones, I was quite frightened because I didn't want to have an op, I've never been put to sleep an this really scares me plus my nan had the op and she still can't eat normal and suffers with her tummy. I changed my diet and lost weight and for 2 years I was free of any pain or attacks, I recently lost my grandad and started slipping with my diet and have just stuffers 3 attack in a month (I forgot how painful they are!) I am now frightened to eat or drink incase it happens again I don't think I could take another one right now. I've been pain free now for 4 days, I have a holiday coming up at the end of sept am in Florida for a month am terrified now incase I suffer over there, can anyone give me any more advice on how to live with them until I gain the courage to get it out.
Sorry typing from my phone and it keeps posting. Also drink as much apple juice as you can. It can help dissolve the stones. Also milk thistle is a herb commonly used for gallbladder problems which are usually associated with high estrogen levels.It works by detoxing the liver which helps the bile flow more freely as gallstones are usually formed when bile becomes thick and sludgy. Are you on birth control pills at all? They can add to the problems. I would recommend getting an ultrasound done to check you have no stones stuck in your ducts prior to travelling anywhere just to be on the safe side. Finally make sure you have travel insurance just in case. X
Thanks very much, I haven't tried apple juice I did try grape juice once but I couldn't drink it, I came off birth control 2 years ago when the attacks started as the doctor said is a trigger. I haven't heard of apple cider vinegar am not sure I like the sound of that lol
I was like you too.I have tried everything but once those attacks start they are going to come back. What I would advise is check up on your travel insurance just in case something happens abroad and you need treatment. Try and avoid fats. I have my op on the 10th september so scared but i know there is no other choice.
Meant to say if your on any ant acids they can also aggravate the gallbladder. Try the apple juice and if you can the apple cider vinegar. You can actually put the apple cider vinegar into the apple juice instead of the water. Good luck x
I have good travel insurance thank you, oh you are very brave I really hope I can do it after u hol, with it being 2 years between attacks I forgot how painful and scary they can be and its got me worried now
Hi Emma, I put my op off for 8 years in the end I just couldnt cope. Attacks were daily. In the beginning All I did was cut out foods I felt were triggers.
The apple juice thing is a myth. I tried everything from apple juice to homeopathy. Diet worked best but unfortunately not forever. I had over 70 stones when I had mine removed so explained the constant pain. On one hand I hear the story's of people who haven't got better after their op and am glad I waited. I had everything under the sun tested first to rule other causes out but then on the other I wish i'd done it 4 years earlier! I did have it booked 3 years ago but fell pregnant and then booked again and got pregnant again so 3rd time lucky.
Am so glad that being scared and trying other things isn't just me!, the diet really did work for me for 2 years but I had a bad time and started bring bits bk I shouldn't an I think it build up and then exploded if I could get another 2 years that would b great! At the moment my holiday is worrying me I never have it a thought when we booked because they had gone! (Well kind of) but with this little bout it's brought all the worry bk, good luck and I hope it's 3rd time lucky for you.
I must say tho my GP isn't trying to push me to bet the op he actually doesn't mention surgery at all
ive just recently been diagnose with gallstones and my doctor said if i can manage she would prefer i dont have op ..ive changed my diet to lactose free milk and cheese ,no dairy and gluten free it seems to be helping ,i have I B S, and divaticular also but at the moment all seem ok , i also have apple cider vinegar which is helping.......hope this helps
That's what my doctor told me, I don't have milk butter or eggs, I don't eat anything fried or any processed meat, i eat extra lean red meats an chicken am Turkey without skin, I've have all diet drinks, don't drink orange Juice as I found that aggravated me but other fruit juices seem to have been ok, I make my meals fresh so I no what's in them and I don't use any oils to cook in only water if needed, I us all non stick pans and a steamer, I have jellys and flumps as treats.
We all understand how you feel, I'm sure i speak for everyone responding that we all slipped up once or twice while waiting for surgery and had another attack that reminded us why we even considered surgery in the first place.
Try to keep a food diary from now until you leave and if you have any more attacks between now and then you will know some of the foods to avoid when on vacation. I found that worked best for me when I went on vacations. Its tough being on vacation and trying to avoid high fat foods as they are every where. Avoid fast food places and try to eat the lowest fat foods you possibly can. Florida is nice from the stand point that their is lots of places that offer fresh healthy low fat foods for very reasonable prices. Just enjoy your vacation. Good luck!
Orange juice, eggs, cheese, milk and towards the end wheat! Also too much salt were my triggers. I thought I had food intolerances rather then gallstones. I did read if it was intolerances then having my gallbladder removed wouldn't help so I put it off.
Funnily I went Florida in 2011 and had a fantastic time! Didn't have any attacks and ate lots! I kept watching videos on YouTube on what to do. My daughter kept looking at rights and I looked at the food videos! Lobster and steak!! Yum!
Try not to worry. Take painkillers and buscopan with you.
You can buy apple cider vinegar on Amazon. buy apple cider with mother, it's supposed to be the best. And you take a teaspoon in a glass of water with honey and sometimes lemon and cinnamon. I hated it. Cause couldn't mask the vinegar.
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I've just ordered some apple juice and apple cider vinigar from my local supermarket I will give it a go an see what happens, I've heard eating grapes everyday can help as well
I'd second everyone's advice to keep a food journal. The sooner you figure out your trigger foods, the sooner you can avoid them. Mine were chocolate, breaded chicken and pork, but everyone is different. I'd possibly look at cutting out your diet soda, they are full of so much stuff that could potentially be causing your flare ups.
I came back from the U.S. because of this problem, their food just didn't agree with me at all. I'd just suggest being very careful. Take it easy with what you're eating until you know what it'll do to your system. Lean, clean meat and food, as low fat as you can get! Be wary of cooking oils and sauces.
Also, talk to your doctor about surgery, and see what he suggests. I had mine out a week ago and have bounced back as strong as ever.
From what I believe, diet soda just replaces the sugars with artificial sweeteners and aspartame. So you still have all the chemicals, caffeine and acidity, just fewer calories because there's no sugars. They aren't really much better for you than full fat soda. Then again, you may find that soda doesn't aggravate you. I drink a lot of full fat Pepsi and it didn't really make much difference, it all just depends on your body.
As for timings, again it would depend. If I ate pork, it would be pretty immediate, but if it was (for example) a sauce, it could come on anytime really. If I ate chocolate past 5pm, I'd be awake at 3am in agony. I tried not to eat anything past 5pm because I knew that unless it was super safe I'd have an attack. The majority of my attacks happened in the early hours of the morning, a good couple of hours after eating whatever trigger food. I also had a few that began first thing when I woke up in a morning.
i don't think there's really a rhyme or reason to attacks, everybody is different. I had left and central upper pain, my attacks were sporadic but frequent, a lot of my trigger foods would affect me one day but not the next but it was 110% my gallbladder.