Eating a low fat diet due to illness
By frankiecesca
@frankiecesca (2489)
October 5, 2011 10:00am CST
I've not been around much lately because unfortunately I got ill a little while back. I was diagnosed with having gallstones which are hugely painful when I have an attack as it is known. Generally speaking my body has an 'attack' when I eat fatty foods or foods that have a little bit too much so because of this I am now on a strict low fat and bland diet.
It is really quite a boring diet and I am not enjoying it at all although on the plus side I have already lost a fair bit of weight. I am finding though that I have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner very set as otherwise I start to feel quesy which I susupect is because my body is not getting very much anyway!
I am now waiting on my surgery to have my gall bladder removed but, I have no idea how long it will be and it is starting to get to me as I just want to be back to normal! : (
Has anyone else experienced this condition and had surgery for it?
4 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
6 Oct 11
Yep!
Took me over 2 years to get my gallbladder out. Not for any reason other than I kept putting it off. I was busy with kids and all that. I found out I had gall stones while I was pregnant with baby #4. Tried to get surgery right then and there, but they had a few emergencies come in and pushed me off and told me to make an appointment since mine wasn't life threatening.
I didn't follow any kind of strict diet, and at first my gall bladder only acted up occasionally. I could eat a greasy fast food burger one day and be fine, but the next day I eat baked fish sticks and it would go berzerk!
While pregnant with baby #5 it got worse. It got the point where I was feeling the pain all day, everyday. I forced myself to eat things that were less fatty, but it still acted up.
So after that baby was born I made the appointment and got my gall bladder out.
Having it out has been great. The only minor issues I ever have is sometimes I feel some fantom pains, but they're never as bad as the real pains were, just sort of like a cramp or something right under my rib cage. Also, things that are overly fatty or greasy make me need to use the bathroom almost immediately (sorry for TMI, but you'll need to prepare yourself for that! I believe it's common amongst people who've had their gall bladder removed because my ex- brother in law said the same thing).
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
6 Oct 11
Not to change the subject.. but that's exactly why it irritates me when people think a National Health Plan would work so well here in the U.S. Sure, you guys don't have to pay for your health care, but look at the level of care you're getting!! 2 years to have your gall bladder removed? Where as when I decided to have it done I might have waited a couple weeks from the time I set my first appointment to see the surgeon until the surgery was completed.
Okay, sorry, just had to rant about that for a moment.. that just blows my mind, really it does. And I wish all the people who are for a national health care plan here in the states reads this and sees this is why the rest of us are against the idea!!
1 person likes this
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
12 Oct 11
I can guees it is something that appeals to some because of money? Some areas of the NHS are good and very quick - others aren't so sometimes I think it is catch 22! x
@frankiecesca (2489)
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6 Oct 11
See over here we can't make the appointment for it unless we pay for private care which is expensive and we just have to go on a waiting list. I believe the list is 18 weeks long and I am just over 4 weeks into it although sometimes we cn get lucky and get it earlier - on the downside it may be longer if people with more severe pains need seeing to first!
However I have found out I have IBS too anyway so already coping with a bit of 'tummy trouble' unfortunately!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
5 Oct 11
I've heard of others who have had the condition,but nobody so close to Me that I could ask about it..Being on a medical diet can't be much fun,unable to eat favourite foods that would be bad for you.Isn't ultrasound treatment an option with Gallstones,where they don't require surgery,or is that just for kidney stones? Good Luck with the Surgery!
@frankiecesca (2489)
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6 Oct 11
I think there is something like that which can be done but, apparently it is better to have out as once you have them they will always come back and so it is better to just get rid of the gall bladder to prevent that!
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
5 Oct 11
I sympathise with you!
I had my gall bladder removed 12 years ago after years of dreadful pain caused by the gall stones. Like you fat triggered off really bad attacks - I ended up in hospital and on morphine several times after eating foods with 'hidden' fat in. My 22 year old daughter had her gall bladder out a couple of months ago, I though that this was young to have gall stones but it seems that the condition was brought on after having her daughter 6 months earlier. She was able to have her operation done through her tummy button, I needed the full operation because it had gone so bad.
I hope that you get your operation date soon and get it over and done with! Do take care!
I had my gall bladder removed 12 years ago after years of dreadful pain caused by the gall stones. Like you fat triggered off really bad attacks - I ended up in hospital and on morphine several times after eating foods with 'hidden' fat in. My 22 year old daughter had her gall bladder out a couple of months ago, I though that this was young to have gall stones but it seems that the condition was brought on after having her daughter 6 months earlier. She was able to have her operation done through her tummy button, I needed the full operation because it had gone so bad.
I hope that you get your operation date soon and get it over and done with! Do take care!@frankiecesca (2489)
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6 Oct 11
Yes it does seem a lot of people have commented how normally young people should not suffer or rarely do yet I have come across a lot of younger people with them! I am having it removed by keyhole and I also had to have morphine when I was first in hospital until the medication kicked in! I am 4 weeks into the waiting list and apparently it can be up to 18 weeks long so I am hoping it doesn't actually take that long to get seen to!
