I have just been diagnosed with multiple gallstones after an ultrasound and months of pain and upset stomachs. I am waiting on an appointment to see a consultant,and I expect I will be having my gallbladder removed.In the meantime I have been told to avoid fat and spicy foods,and am living on small pieces of boiled chicken,boiled fish,and boiled potatoes Some days I can only manage dry toast as I feel so ill.I have a low fat cookery book but there is always some fat and oil in the recipes and I daren't risk eating anything that would bring on another attack.I am really looking for some ideas,as I just dont know what to eat apart from the  above. Oh for a curry!! I take hours in the supermarket now ,reading all the fat content and have been shocked at the amount of fat in some so called "healthy" things like cereal bars.Has anyone had  gallstones and can give me some tips .I would be most grateful.
Jean

Hi Jean

I had my gallbladder removed a few years ago after months of unbearable agony and was eventually taken in as an emergency because of severe infection.  I can't help much on the food advice front as things that set off the pain were not always easily identified (as you mention, many foods have hidden fats).

I just wanted to say that miserable though this is, when you have it removed the relief is amazing and I hope you don't have too long to wait.

Best wishes, Teri

hi jean
i know how you feel i had then about 17 years ago
i couldnt eat anything contain fat which is very hard
fresh bread i.e warm bread made it worse
i hope they sort this for you quickly and you feel better soon

Hi Jean

Can't offer much advice but sending best wishes for a recovery and resolution.
I've got a thing with potatoes - can't seem to digest them properly (and other starchy foods).
Curry is one of my favourite foods so you have my sympathy, I don't know how I could give them up.
I know of several people who have had their gallbladders removed so it seems like gallstones are proving rather common these days.

I had ten months of agony several years ago.  I know how miserable it is.  To be honest, I could eat something one day that would trigger it then eat it another and I'd be fine.

I hope you get it resolved soon.  After about nine months of going from this waiting list to that waiting list on the NHS system, my company put me on their private health.  Within a month I'd had an endoscopy and my gallbladder removed.  What a relief!

Try this site:

http://homecooking.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=homecooking&cdn=food&tm=26&gps=167_572_966_848&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=0&st=23&zu=http%3A//euler.ecs.umass.edu/pass-veg/

One of my favourites: Fat free Tuscan Bean Soup.

Finely chop an onion, roughly chop a leek, (I normally fry these off but you could) put in tinfoil or dish with couple spoons water or steam.
Once soft put into pot with tin chopped tomatoes and few italian herbs, cook 5 mins, add tin mixed beans and cup water, cook another 5 mins.

Fat free Tuscan Bean Soup.

Try Gillian McKeiths website or books as she does a lot of really low fat recipes (the tiny bit of fat in there usually comes from frying off the onions etc. but you could grill, microwave or steam them)

Ahh you poor thing!  Gallstones is awful!

I used to almost live on Knorr Spring Vegetable soup, you can make a lovely dish with that and some skinned chicken breast, mushrooms and extra veg/noodles.  

Also steamed white fish with herbs and vegetable rice is lovely, add some curry leaves and fresh coriander for a 'curry flavour' ;)

At work I had lean ham sandwiches with tomato sauce and no butter - Heinz are doing a lovely Special blend Tomato Sauce at the moment, just like I remember it from when I was  kid ;)

One thing I found very helpful was to only eat very small portions.

Hope this helps and hope they get you sorted soon.

Thanks for all your replies Bostontea,I have saved that site and will read it in depth later Thanks.Lillymum,the only bread I can eat at the moment is the danish light bread. I have always had to take the middle out of fresh crusty bread which I love,but have avoided it lately,as the attacks have been coming every week or even a couple of days apart,varying in intensity and sickness.Dill Thats interesting about the Knorr spring veg soup and the curry leaves too .I had a bit of chicken with some ratatouille from marks and I was really sick the next day,as it had a lot of chillies in it.I just want it taken out now,as even the bland boiled stuff I am eating is not stopping the attacks,although they don't seem as bad with the no fat diet.Hope I get my appointment soon Thanks again for all your helpful replies. Cheers
Jean

I have gallstones too, though mine aren't too bad...well i didn't even know i had them until a MRI i had last year pick them up.
Is it quite a routine op?

I think mine are being left as they aren't causing any problems at the moment.

Hope your app comes though soon , you will fell so much better  , i did but i asked the dr if i could eat normally after the op and he said oh yes no problem, yes i can eat but if it is high in fat  it has and adverse effect (wont go into detail) but anything is better than the pain. the op is quite routine keyhole is best , mine had to be whole thing , apparently they may break a rib to do it  took 9 weeks for me to back to normal activity but i didnt follow the advice (re housework and lifting ) so it was my own fault it took so long .

Avoid acidic/citrus fruits too Jean - I ate mainly very watery fruits like melon and strawberry but lots of others made things worse.

regards, Teri

Jean

I had my Gallbladder removed a couple of years ago and I remember that the pain was awful before the op.  I think that I ate a lot of fish, chicken and rice.  You might find you will be ok with really plain foods and things like steamed veg, boiled and baked spuds but with no butter.  Even toast with butter or jam used to start the pain off.  You can steam Salmon fillets and they taste lovely and if you have a grilling machine (George Foreman or similar) do the chicken or fish on there too.  we bought an electric steamer from argos for around £10 its great.

Good Luck

Once again thanks everyone It's good to hear from other people who know what its like to have gallstones. Dexter,my husband has them too and they were only discovered in an ultrasound for something else. So far they haven't given him any bother,so they are not doing anything  .NEWFIENOOK, I know the adverse effects you are talking about!! For years I have had a "sensitive" stomach especially after a chinese meal Have to rush to the loo,but maybe it's been these blighters after all  .LUBYMUM,I think you are right with the bland food.TERI, Interesting about the citrus fruits. I have been putting a slice of lemon on top of chicken fillets to give them a bit more flavour,so I will cut that out now. I sometimes have tinned fruit ,mainly peaches,and touch wood,have been ok  with them Also I have a George Foreman grill but will look at Argos for a steamer.I havent eaten any form of spread for the last couple of months.I will see how long I have to wait as I worked in the Post office all my life,and am paying monthly for their Benenden health care. I have never had to use it in all the years I have had it,but if I have to wait  months to get this done,I might give them a call.
Can't complain about the NHS though ,as my husband had a heart attack last year,and he has had 1st class attention since then.Also,I only waited about 4 weeks for the ultrasound.
Thanks for all the advice Much appreciated.
Jean

Jean,

I can recommend a simple 'stack' steamer. I use a set of these every day and cook just about everything in them.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8612050/c_1/1%7Ccat_12108409%7CCookware%7C12108524/Trail/searchtext%3ESTEAMER.htm

Here's an electric one too http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4219536/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C12108409/c_2/2%7Ccat_12108409%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C12108488/c_3/3%7Ccat_12108488%7CSteamers%7C12108509.htm

I like the electric ones for the simple reason that you just switch it on and leave it and don't have to worry about it boiling over or boiling dry, they are located in the small kitchen appliances section on argos' website

I had mine removed in September and before that I lived on cereal and jelly babies but found I lost 3 stone but I was very ill went on holiday abroad and ate fruit, and rich tea biscuits.

Linda

>You can steam Salmon fillets and they taste lovely

Remember Salmon is an oily fish - you may not be able to cope with it - I know I couldn't ;)