Surgery

[PB30]

Starting next week I am having to do a 2 week pre operation diet. This consists of either 4 pints of semi skimmed a day or up to 1000 calories worth of low fat yogurt. The diet is to shrink my liver before gaul bladder removal surgery. I am anxious: I want to get it right. I am not sure what option to go with, I might do alternate days. Although I have lost over 4 stone, I am still considered obese hence the pre -I'm diet such is to shrink my liver.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Sadly, PB30, a low fat diet has probably caused your gallstones in the first place. The gallbladder needs fat to flush the bile through and that stops the stones from forming.

I had my gallbladder removed, but wish I'd known then, what I know now and would have taken the steps necessary to undo the damage caused by poor dietary advice. You might like to talk to pamela22 who's doing that just now.

You may also find this interesting dietdoctor.com/gallstones-a...

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to moreless]

Thank you 😕

[pamela22]

Hi PB30 So sorry to hear you are needing to go ahead with surgery, as moreless mentioned I'm also on the waiting list for gallbladder removal but I'm hoping I can reverse some of the issues before I am at the top of the waiting list (presently anything up to 12 months wait)

Due to various other conditions i have i was refered to a new hospital and new surgeon.

I saw my surgeon for the first time on Saturday, he examined me thoroughly and inadvertently irritated my gallbladder resulting in an unscheduled trip to my gp then A&E and a stay in hospital to alleviate the pain with IV paracetamol (if you haven't tried this give it a go if your offered it, it's awesome at reducing gallbladder pain)

Ok back to our topic, I've been doing some research after an anethatist mentioned to me that what has probably caused my gallstones is a long term low fat diet and loosing lots of weight (over 4 stone) on the low fat diet. It stands to reason that if your not eating any fat your gallbladder will become underused and the bile will not flow and eventually form gallstones. So in my limited wisdom I decided to ignore the doctors saying only eat low fat because that was what got me into this situation in the first place, I've been introducing fats back into my diet with the LCHF eating plan and enjoying it, a good few painful issues at the beginning resulting in various hospital visits and more different antibiotics than I thought it was possible to have before the infections cleared up but now I've been gallbladder pain free for 7 months (apart from this week after the surgeon examined me)

I don't know if this is of any help to you now as you are so close to surgery, but I do hope all goes well for you and you never again have to experience the dreaded gallbladder pain ever!!!.

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Thank you for your concern.

Because you have been free from pain for seven months are you considering not having the operation?

Two years ago I had an operation to remove thirty, yes thirty! gallstones from my bile duct. I have never been on a low fat diet in my life. I have waited two years for the upcoming operation. Sometimes it's been painful, sometimes it hasn't.

And I also hope you are free from pain, all pain!

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Wow 30 stones !!!! You must have been in agony to have them in the duct ... so why are you having the gallbladder removed now? Have you more stones or is it infected or diseased ?

Yes I'm hoping to get rid of the stones with increasing fats to my diet, ( no idea if this is possible yet) and I'm hoping I don't need the op to take out my gallbladder.

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

I was in a lot of pain, probably not agony but enough pain to keep me awake at night. The consultant who operated on my bile duct said my gallbladder needed to be removed (he did explain why, but I can't remember just now).

On the subject of FAT; I used to eat 3 slices of cheese on toast every other day, Clotted cream, fish and chips, chocolate and many other high fat foods. So in my humble opion my gallstones were not caused by a low fat diet. (I started a weigh loss diet last August).

I appreciate we are all different.

Good luck with your plan, trying to avoid surgery sounds good to me.

xx

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

I'm so sorry to hear that you have been in lots of pain and i understand completely your decision to go ahead with the surgery to relieve the pain, I do hope you find great relief after surgery.

As you say we are all different and I'm trying hard to avoid surgery if at all possible.

It's so interesting that you have never been on a low fat diet and have regularly had fat ... so that scuppers my theory lol

XxX

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to pamela22]

Not really Pamela, I suspect the problem has been a high carb diet. All the fat eaten has been in conjunction with carbs, which we now know is the worse combination. The cheese would have been great without the toast, the fat for the fish and chips was probably highly processed vegetable oils, with batter and chips, chocolate is full of sugar, the clotted cream probably accompanied scones.

It's just a shame that we learn about these things after the damage is done

[pamela22 in reply to moreless]

I can't agree more... I wish I knew all this many years ago as you say before the dammage is done to our bodies.

😥😖

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

The consultant said high cholesterol was probably the cause. I always eat the correct amount of quality protein👍

What our "experts" recommend now will probably be disproved in years to come👉 So our children will be saying "I wish I knew..."

⌚⌚⌚

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Very true

XxX

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

So back to your pre-op preparations your dilemma between 4 pints of semi skimmed a day or up to 1000 calories worth of low fat yogurt to shrink your liver before gallbladder removal surgery.

Which have you decided to go with?

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Both, a week of each. Would you call that a mono diet or a monotonous diet? Yuck! 👎

#

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Ah yes that's a lot to take in one day 😟 are you trying it with different flavours to help it go down?

Maybe with vanilla extract or coffee for the skimmed milk or some fruit or berries with the yogurt ?

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

I hadn't thought of coffee, I might give it a try, thanks for that. I will be having Sainsburys frozen blueberries (my favourite) raspberries and strawberries with the yogurt.

#

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Oh yes that sounds great 😊😋 XxX

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

I found this

hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/...

And thought you might like to have a wee look it's all about pre surgery diet. They only mention the skimmed milk but tell you lots of other things to eat too.

I hope it helps a bit.

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

It's mainly milk still, but doesn't mention yogurt. Of all the other items, I like the addition of chicken best. I think chicken could help to stop an upset stomach.

Thanks

#

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Great, I'm delighted I've found something to help you a wee bit, remember your not on your own ... I'm here for you now,

XxX

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Hi I've been thinking about you and your pre-op preparations and your gallbladder op.

how are you getting on?

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

I'm not sure if my last post arrived!

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Hi, what was in your last post?

I do hope your op went well and your recovering well.

XxX

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

How are you doing I'm thinking about you and hoping your doing ok xxx

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

I had the operation on Wednesday and had to have an overnight stay, which wasn't scheduled. I am still in an awful lot of pain...

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to PB30]

Glad it’s all over for you but sorry to hear you’re in pain ☹️ Take care and get well soon

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

I'm so sorry you are in so much pain, if your still in the hospital ask for IV paracetamol it's awesome stuff and will give you wonderful relief

I'm thinking about you and hoping you make a speedy recovery.

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Back at home now and reunited with technology. Thank you to all the NHS staff that made my stay a successful one. Now back to my pre, pre operation diet lol.

#

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Great to hear your home and your op went well, the staff in the NHS are fantastic.

Im confused... Are you continuing with the pre op diet of yogurt and milk?

Xxx

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Sorry about the confusing way I worded my reply. I am back on my "old" diet

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Oh that's a relief I was worried that you were back on the low fat stuff again.

How are you doing my friend,?

I'm hoping your doing great and the pain from the surgery is easing gradually every day.

I've never had surgery and I'm very nervous about it so I'm still trying to avoid it but I know my gallbladder is full of stones and distorted with the various gallbladder infections I've had since Dec 2017 when it all started.

I'm hoping it all settles down and I can get healthy and loose some more weight too.

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Don't go worrying about an operation you might not even have! I sure my diet will enable me to be pain free any day now. KIT

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

I do hope Your pain levels decrease very soon, what diet are you following btw?

Are you keeping to a low fat diet now?

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Low fat, low refined carbohydrate.

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

Oh I see so are you still on the low fat yogurt and milk and mostly meat, fish and lots of fruit and veg?

XxX

[PB30 Restart June 2023 in reply to pamela22]

Mostly fish, some canned fish and chicken. Red meat once a month, lots of veg, some fruit. Have cut back on milk and Yogurt!

#

[pamela22 in reply to PB30]

I'm thinking about my dairy intake now too I've cut down on yogurt and don't feel quite so bloated ... it may be coincidence but I think I will cut right back and see what effect it has on my weight loss.

I'm really struggling to loose any weight atm I'm going up and down some days I'm 20 stone 12lbs then a couple of days later I'm 20stone 6lbs, only to be 20stone 10 lbs a couple of days later, I know I'm carrying a lot of water and inflammation but no matter what I do I just can't shift the weight permanently

XxX