gall bladder removed

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-02-2003
gall bladder removed
6
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 2:01am
In may I had emergency surgery in which I had to have my gall bladder removed, now eating is so depressing! I'm 27, and I've grown up always thinking, "If it looks good, and tastes good, eat it!" I grew up eating fried food, greasy food, and I was just acquiring a taste for spicy food, but now it seems as though those days are gone forever. My doctor said it would take at least a year for my body to adjust to the change, and that I could eventually start eating the foods I love. So far I'm doing good on watching my diet(for if I don't, I will get sick), and right now I have to "pamper" myself with the good stuff every now and then, instead of just whenever I want to have it.

What my question is, Is I'm wondering if any of you have gone through this, and how long did it take for "you" to be able to eat the foods you wanted to again? I really don't want to be stuck eating ham sandwiches for the rest of my life, but thank god I'm not a vegetarian! (I'm allergic to White Meat).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can eat? The repetitious salad/sandwich/lean cuisine pizzas/grilled meats are starting to get boring, and its only been 3months!

HELP!!

*mystic
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 12:29pm

Hi and Welcome to the board,


I hope Jo will post to you-

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 5:51pm

Hi Mystic - I had thought I posted this morning - but must have lost it.


Everyone does adjust different after surgery - some people eat greasy food the next day w/o any problems and others can never eat fatty foods without experiencing some discomfort or symptoms.


I had my gb removed Feb/04. I'm not able to eat greasy fatty foods. I may have a desert every couple of months - but the side effects are enough to remind me that it is not right for my body. There are 2 things that really motivate me to make healthier food choices:


1. even when the gb is removed I can still develop gallstones. Gallstones that develop when there is no GB for them to live in can cause very serious problems and 'open' surgery to remove them.


2. the fact that things don't feel right after eating certain foods makes me wonder if there is some sort of inflamation going on - or irritation. When the side effect is pain - inflamation is a possible cause - and if the side effect is diahrea then it is likely that inflamation is involved. The reality is that when you have an area that is chronically inflamed that area is at a greater risk for developing cancer. That scares me enough to push away the bucket of chicken and grab a bean salad.


As far as what to do to pamper youself - I look for non-food things as treats - manicures, a good magazine, fancy (low fat) coffee, new book. For food-treats there are a number of Juice bars out there that have quite yummy decadent choices (but you do need to read the ingredients and watch for hidden fat or saturated fat). For my birthday last year instead of a cake I asked for fresh cherries. They were $6 per pound (December) - but the reality is that a birthday cake from our favorite bakery would have been close to $20 - so dh happily bought 3 lbs of cherries that we all enjoyed.


I used to hate to cook - it still isn't one of my favorite things - but it has become a necessity and I've just decided to make the best of it. I use recipes

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sat, 10-02-2004 - 9:29am

Hi Mystic!


Welcome to the board!!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 12:17pm
Hi,

I'm in the same boat. I'm 27 too, my GB was removed last year since then i dont have any problems with digestion. I'm eating the same food what i was having before. But i'm a Vegan. I eat lot of Oily food, some how till now i dont have any problems with that. But after a month after having GB removed I'm feeling a sudden jump near the area where Gall bladder was located. Will be consulting the Gasterologist some time next month. Do any of you feel this???

Thanks

Sandhya
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:57pm
Dear Mystic: I had my gallbladder removed last February. Now I wish I had tried harder to control my diet then. Had just come through Christmas season with a whole bunch of family occasions filled with goodies and I really indulged myself. But what is gone is gone and I have to live with it. After 8 months+ I still can't eat much in the line of fatty foods. This is not so hard for me since I never did eat spicey foods, nor alot of really fatty foods (except at holidays), I enjoy many vegetables. Don't tolerate acid fruits. I have had digestive problems nearly all my life. Am lactose intolerant for sure. At present I am on a celiac diet which eliminates all wheat, rye and barley. Over the past while I have lost my taste for them and for sweet stuff pretty much. ( I hope that isn't sour grapes!, but I don't think so.) I have not been diagnosed with celiac, but felt it was worth a try. Read my post under Wren's How Are You Feeling? post of today, Oct. 8 to see how things are going for me right now. I would encourage you to be patient. easier said than done, and to try some different fruits and vegetables. For me, ham would not work at all, but everyone is different. Cheers, Ruth
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 5:49pm

Sandhya wrote: But after a month after having GB removed I'm feeling a sudden jump near the area where Gall bladder was located. Will be consulting the Gasterologist some time next month. Do any of you feel this???