DIET FOR GALL STONES

[mr.lucky66]

I was wondering what suggestion anyone would have on which food are good to eat and which are not good to eat when one has Gallstones? I know about fried food and dairy but how about lower fat red meat, pork and chicken? I want to try to avoid surgery if possible.

[mr.lucky66]

sorry for the multiple postings but it wouldn't post right

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He said it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have similar pain as I even after surgery. what is this I hear about trouble swallowing and heatburn? my girlfriend says I have trouble swallowing and I have heartburn. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He said it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have similar pain as I even after surgery. what is this I hear about trouble swallowing and heatburn? my girlfriend says I have trouble swallowing and I have heartburn. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have siminlar pain as I even after surgery. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have similar pain as I even after surgery. what is this I hear about trouble swallowing and heatburn? my girlfriend says I have trouble swallowing and I have heartburn. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have similar pain as I even after surgery. what is this I hear about trouble swallowing and heatburn? my girlfriend says I have trouble swallowing and I have heartburn. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have siminlar pain as I even after surgery. what is this I hear about trouble swallowing and heatburn? my girlfriend says I have trouble swallowing and I have heartburn. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have siminlar pain as I even after surgery. thanks for your concern and responses.

[mr.lucky66]

I just saw the surgeon and he seemed compedent but doubted that GB surgery was the remedy for my midnight torture. The point where the pain starts(right side halfway down) didn't seem to be the place where GB pain would start and thought it could be something else, muscular? but wasn't convinced GB surgery would fix it. He siad it could still be but reffered me for a colonostiphy in the remote chance it could be colon cancer. It seems like some others here haven't been helped by surgery and have siminlar pain as I even after surgery. thanks for your concern and responses.

[kathryn lee]

I know what your going through. The only difference is that the doctors couldnt find any stones in my gallbladder. I dont know what the ejection percentage on my HIDA scan was. My IM just said it was normal. I guess thats something Im going to have to ask my IM friday. The pain is like nothing i have ever felt. I also had an upper GI. That revealed gastritis. Then my GI's nurse called and said that I had Esophegitis, which doesnt make any sense,cause i dont have any heartburn or trouble swallowing. The stuff that my GI gave me dont help at all. Hope everything goes well with the surgeon.

[Jaybay]

No problem lucky.  :-)  No, I'm not a medical professional of any sort.  Just had more than my share of medical problems that I've had to research over the years because I never could get a full answer from the docs.  As for your HIDA scan report (and any other test results run in the ER) all you need to do is call the hospital records office and ask for a copy of your records.  You'll probably need to go in person to pick them up yourself and sign a release.  There was a time when they would just send them or fax them, but HIPPA laws being what they are, you usually have to prove your identity before records are released.  If you want them to fax a copy of the written report to another doctor (like your surgeon) that should be no problem to handle over the phone.  Matter of fact, your surgeon would probably appreciate you getting the ball rolling on that before your appointment.

I've had a couple friends with gb problems like yours, in which they would have symptoms in the middle of the night.  Who knows why?  Some people get them immediately after eating, or all the time.  Good luck on your appointment tomorrow!

Jen

[mr.lucky66]

Thanks jay, do they have a copy of the HIDA report if I was in the ER? I know they saw the stones and maybe the surgeon I will see towmorrow will know more. You sound like a medical professional. No bad pain lately just some residual soreness. The attacks seem to happen at about 3.oo am. It that unusual?

[Jaybay]

You poor man - you must be miserable!  If you get a copy of your HIDA scan report, it should note the ejection fraction, which is basically a measurement of how effective the gb is at ejecting bile.  If stones are blocking the way, it will probably be very low.  

You're right: some people do have problems after gb surgery, and those are the people you read posts from.  Most people do just fine post op and that's why you never hear from them.  :-)

Aside from dealing with your pain for the forseeable future (if you have stones, it isn't going to get better) I want to tell you about my father.  He was just like you, only worse.  He ignored his symptoms and just sucked it up like the macho man he was and drank Maalox for as long as I can remember.  Then one day he got so sick he couldn't keep anything down and had emergency surgery.  Not only was his gallbladder full of stones, it had been irritated and inflamed for so long that it turned into cancer - very aggressive adenocarcinoma.  He died 6 months later.  PLEASE do not let this go in fear that you may be one of the 10% or less of patients who have post-op problems.  At least you'll still be alive.  :-)

[mr.lucky66]

Thaks for your response but I wasn't told about an "ejection factor" I was told that thet saw stones and am trying to decide to get surgery or not. Most people seem to do ok but others , not so well.

[Jaybay]

Hey mr.lucky.  If I remember correctly, didn't you have a HIDA scan that showed a really low ejection fraction and your doc recommended removal?  Just trying to remember if I have the right person!  

Fats are the lethal weapon for a person with gallstones or a poorly-functioning gallbladder.  When you eat fat, the gb contracts so it can send its stored supply of bile to the small intestine to help break down the fats.  If you have stones blocking the passage of bile, or the gb just functions so poorly that it can't release the amount of bile needed, it keeps on trying, and then you get the pain.  

If the gallbladder gets so full of stones, infected, or just can't function any longer, it won't matter what you eat - it's going to hurt.  I just hope you don't delay surgery so long that you end up suffering through a rupture.  Generally, if you don't have stones and the HIDA scan shows a low ejection fraction, the gb is likely infected.  Just like an appendix, if that infection gets bad enough, it will rupture, and you then run the risk of peritonitis.  I really admire you for wanting to do everything you can to avoid surgery, but please don't wait too long.  :-)