I am really fed up.
Have gallstone and am waiting to have gallbladder removed (6-8month waiting list)
On a low fat diet. I am trying really hard to stick to that but it seems that everything I have for a main meal causes me a flare up of gallstone whether the meal has any fat in it or not. I have my main meal in the evening and by the time I go to bed I am in pain again.
Is this phsychological and am I expecting to be in pain? I have no idea.
Trouble is I probably look very well.
I have made an appointment with a GP who I like on Friday next week (13th).
In the meantime I have to try and find something to eat that is not going to cause me agony.
I live in Wales where prescriptions are free so any medicine I would not get on prescription and have to buy over the counter is really a no no.
Anyone got any bright ideas. I certainly hope so.
Living in hope.
Sarah
Hi Sarah sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Have you tried any natural remedies? Braggs Apple cider vinegar in water might help the pain. It works for some people and is worth a try. Some people swear by flushes too but don't know much about them. I did try the apple cider vinegar and it did help a little but I ended up getting the gallbladder removed in the end. Would you not go to casualty if it's that bad? Good luck. X
Thanks. Funny you should mention cider. Apparently my grandmother (on my father's side) had very bad gallstones and cider helped her.
Going to casualty here is a complete waste of time. I went to Emergency Department in December becuase a GP suspected it was gallstones.
They did tests and sent me home with antibiotics saying I had a urine infection and it would clear up. I thought that was the end of that.
A couple of days later I got a letter in the post asking me to go for an ultrasound scan, They did not mention this when I was at the hospital.
So I went for scan and it showed gallstone.
When I went to hospital I explained I was there because I thought it might be gallstone but they did not do ultrasound scan thee and then Why?
Sarah . I found low fat made me hurt .. But if I ate cheese pizza or toast I was fine !! Had to give up hot drinks as they hurt a lot !! And could have alcohol or fizzy .
So I mainly had crap junk food and water . That was less painful than say .. Chicken '!!
Could not have alcohol or fizzy x
I also found low fat hurt more. Could eat chocolate nuts curry pizza all ok but eggs were my trigger as I mentioned before. Eggs are high in cholesterol and seemingly gallstones can be made from cholesterol. Also coffee tea and alcohol were a no no for me too. The apple cider vinegar is worth a try and not expensive. X
Hi sarah87162.
Not sure how your medical system works as i am in Aus. But I ended up calling an ambulance going to hospital and even when the pain subsided I didn't tell them. I was kept in hospital and had surgery within 48 hours
Thanks. Medical system here is crap. Read my response to acejohnson.
Unless you are an absolute emergency they just send you home.
No beds.
Did you have your gallbladder removed or what surgery did you have?
Thanks for replying and keep in touch
Sarah
Low fat diet is what I have been advised to keep to.
Eggs seem OK for me which is good as I love them. But no mayonnaise with them.
Coffee Tea anc alcohol are OK for me though I would not have coffee or tea in the evening otherwise I would not sleep.
I may give apple cider vinegar a go. Could I get it from a local grocers or where?
Sarah
Oh you could eat cheese! That is the one thing I love and I really miss it.
It is an absolute no no for me at the moemnt.
I can have alcohol and fizzy though. Can't win them all aye?
Thanks for replying
Sarah
Hi Sarah your local grocer may have the apple cider vinegar or a local health store like Holland and Barrets. I used to put 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water 2 to 3 times a day. It's supposed to help dissolve the stone. I hope it works for you and you feel better. I'll never forget that pain especially at night. I had only 1 stone too and my surgeon said when I lay down it rattled around all night causing the pain.Its hard to believe 1 stone can cause so much pain! X
Hi Sarah, I was diagnosed in August last year and had my gallbladder removed just before Christmas. I found I had to eat completely fat free to avoid the pain, not even eggs! If you google fat free meals there's quite a lot of options. It is horrible waiting to get it sorted but it is worth the wait, I feel so much better now. Hope you get some relief soon.
Hi sarah it is awful to be in pain all the time day in day out. Have you asked to be considered for a cancelation slot for surgery or doesn't it work for you like that where you live, I'm in england. Here is a list of the things I could eat while waiting for surgery.
Beetroot I used to eat a bit from the jar everyday
Fresh apply juice from deli (not from concentrates) everyday, apparently its the malic acid in it that helps
drink lots of water or weak juice
peppermint or ginger tea
when you really feel you can't eat anything I used to have breadsticks and rice cakes. oh and randomly ginger biscuits!!
I also had a list of when im better im eating ..... and I have so hold on in there. Try and rest more and not over do things until you are well.
Hi sarah it is awful to be in pain all the time day in day out. Have you asked to be considered for a cancelation slot for surgery or doesn't it work for you like that where you live, I'm in england. Here is a list of the things I could eat while waiting for surgery.
Beetroot I used to eat a bit from the jar everyday
Fresh apple juice from deli (not from concentrates) everyday, apparently its the malic acid in it that helps
drink lots of water or weak juice
peppermint or ginger tea
when you really feel you can't eat anything I used to have breadsticks and rice cakes. oh and randomly ginger biscuits!!
I also had a list of when im better im eating ..... and I have so hold on in there. Try and rest more and not over do things until you are well.
I'm also awaiting surgery and was having attacks 3-4 times a week. I had to cut out beef, pork, cream based soups/sauces, large amounts of sauces (dressing, mayo, cheez whiz) and i switched to low fat milk products. I tried cutting out all fat and attacks got worse. I usually have chicken, salmon or shrimp for dinner lightly seasoned with brown rice and steamed veggies or salad with fat free dressing. If i want a change i make some pasta with tomato based sauces or spaghetti with extra lean ground chicken and light parmesan. Hope that helps. Also if you are having an attack i found soaking in a tub of hot water really helps me get through the worst of the pain
Hi. I was waiting 6 months. For last two months I was on tramadol. It just wasn't possible to take care of 1 year old being in such pain. GP prescribed me as much as I needed but I took them just when the pain came not every 4 hours. Good luck and take painkillers. Surgery was a success for me and no complications at all. 2 weeks and like nothing had happened.
drink peppermint tea, its not expensive, and lots of water, when I was waiting I read this helped with the pain and it did and get some cider vinegar, also not expensive just put a spoonful in the peppermint tea in the morning, don't eat anything fatty eat plain fish, lots and lots of fruit and veg, beetroot celery, brocoli and lean fish, lean turkey, don;t have gravy on meals, just put either mint sauce and lemon juice, either or, I had mine out in November and lukily in my area it was only a couple of months wait, it has been a long struggle and still don't eat too many fatty things as I have iBS, take care Stella
Hi Sarah,
Look up flaxseed tea. That, and cucumber (minus the seeds and skin) could provide some relief. They worked for me, though I did not have the kind of wait for surgery as you do. I live in the US and they would not make anyone wait that long if they have confirmed gallstones and pain. Especially due to the risk of the stone lodging itself in the bile duct. How in the world do they justify making you suffer for so long!?
Thanks. I have said I would go in if there is a cancellation.
I also drink herb teas quite a lot.
Ginger biscuits, ah I love ginger nuts but have been afraid of the fat content. Maybe I will give them a go.
Yes I will hold on in there, thanks for your support.
Sarah
Yes a soak in the bath does help.
Thanks for replying and supporting.
I am hopefully going out for a meal on Saturday and am having a three bean casserole which my friend Jayne is making. I have had it before and was fine with it. If i am fine again i will ask her for the recipee.
Onwards and upwards
Sarah