Experienced a Gall Bladder Attack - Has Anyone Else?

Updated on May 15, 2008
T.K. asks from Columbus, OH
44 answers

If anyone has experienced a Gall Bladder Attack - do you know the types of food that should be avoided or eaten more frequently? I'm willing to change my diet if I get some suggestions that prevent me from experiencing that pain again!

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D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

Get the books PRESCRIPTION FOR NUTRIONAL HEALING AND PRESCRIPTION FOR DIETARY WELLNESS, both by Balch. There are SPECIFIC guidelines in there for gall bladder issues. VERY user friendly. It will tell you what nutrients you need, foods to eat, foods NOT to eat, herbs that help, etc.

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

When your Gall Bladder Attacks it is one of the most painful things I can think of and that includes labor!

The gall bladder processes fats, things you should avoid are all types of fried, greasy, heavy in fat content foods and definitely stay away from nuts and peanut butter, oleo, butter, etc.

If you haven't seen your doctor and had a scan you may want to consider it. Mine finally got so bad I was trying to live on water and popcycles. The very smell of certain foods cooking would trigger an attack.

I wish you the very best.

P. R

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A.M.

answers from Cincinnati on

Fatty and spicy foods need to be avoided. I am in my 3rd pregancy and for the first time I had one a month and half ago. I was told to avoid those foods and drink lots of water if possible. I actually thought I was miscarrying because I was in that much pain. So I know exactly how you feel. Hopefully this will help you.

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L.

answers from Evansville on

I am pretty sure greasy foods can trigger them. Perhaps high fat things. Losing weight fast can do it (me).
Mine went out about 6 weeks after I had my son. I couldn't predict when they would come and they ended up coming more and more often. Took 4 months to diagnosis it and removal was the best thing!
I hope you are able to keep it under control until after your pregnancy. I feel for you!

Hardee's did me in once, and I didn't eat it for about 3 years.
I think I did eat a lot of Ramen Noodles.

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C.W.

answers from Columbus on

I experienced the worst of these. However, I could not link it directly to any specific type of foods. Towards the end everything I ate sparked an attack. I eventually had to have my Gall Bladder removed. If you have this done be careful. I have had such a battle with my weight since then. Your gall Bladder produces bile which breaks down fat. It's been rough to loose weight since the operation.

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H.A.

answers from Cleveland on

12/12/98 after having cesarean from my sons birth 11/18/98 I had my gallbladder removed entirely , I was filled with stones! A pill bottle full++++++
I have to say it was worse than giving birth or c section , the attacks but then come 2003 I started having kidney stones and that is BY FAR THE WORST PAIN EVERRRRRRRRR!

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D.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Fatty foods...stay away! I had them when I was pregnant and the surgeon wouldn't take it while I was pregnant. I cut out just about ALL fat! It was nice lossing the weight and I wasn't in so much pain. The first time I had an attack after the baby I had it out the next week. My life is 100X better after having it out!
Also if you have stones, lifting your arms above your head during attacks will help them pass. If you don't, you won't know until you get a HIDA scan, it won't really help as much. I remember when I discovered that little trick...a good day!

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C.B.

answers from Lafayette on

Hi,
i worked on a surgical floor at the hosptial for 2 yrs & the best thing you can do is pretty much what everyone else has suggested. wheat bread is alot better on you than white, if you crave fried chicken or french fries, things like that, buy it frozen and bake it. anything that has fat on it like chicken, be sure to remove as much as you possibly can before you cook it. all your green leafy veggies like spinach-collards should be avoided if possible, you can take vitamins with extra iron & calcium to make up for it, if you need spices and can't handle bland food use MRS.DASH substitute. you'll also want to get a snug fitting sports bra, as your breasts get bigger the further along you are, they add pressure to your abdomen. when you have an attack sit in a reclining position if possible(like a recliner) and raise both arms above your head and lace your fingers together, take slow small breaths until it passes(DON'T TRY TO HOLD YOUR BREATH), you'll be hurting 100x's more. i hope this helps you.

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K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

I was told to avoid all the fats, alcohol and pops. The gall bladder digest the fat, and is needed to work only when you eat fats. If you don't eat much fat, it doesn't have to work as much and therefore the stones aren't pushed through. Best of luck!

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J.J.

answers from Toledo on

Oh, I am so sorry for you! I am at the end of my third pregnancy and found out about half way through that I have gallstones. Unfortunately, unless it becomes life-threatening, there is nothing to be done until after the baby is born. I have had so many attacks, it is not even funny. I have had 3 severe attacks where I almost went to the ER. The only reason I didn't go, was because I knew what the pain was and how to treat it until it passed. I was given Darvocet to help with the pain, but all that does is knock me out. I can't really eat much of anything these days without getting at least an upset stomach. I go through a whole bottle of Tums about every week and a half. As the baby has grown bigger, she has gravitated toward my gallbladder for some reason, making it even more difficult to deal with. I am so sorry to tell you all of this, but I wish I would have known what I was up against from the begining, if nothing else, so that I could be a little more prepared. It does help to stay away from fried foods and foods with high fat content. Switch to 2% milk. Avoid "stuffing" yourself. If you have to, eat your meals in shifts. Take a few bites, then get up and do something, then come back for more. I'm not sure why, but it seems better if I break up my eating. Almost like if I move around while I'm eating, then it helps to move the food easier. Also, I can not eat ANYTHING that comes from a drive thru. I have tried even like grilled chicken, and that doesn't seem to work well. I know I'm sort of rambling, but I didn't really know what was causing all of my pain prior to my first serious attack, then once I got some more info, I learned real quick to be more in tune with my body and what it was telling me. I am now able to know the early signs of an attack, so I can try to change something around to prevent it from being so bad. My Dr. also told me it was ok to use a heating pad on abdomen for short (10 minutes or so) periods. For some reason, that seems to help.

Good luck, and I am here if you need someone to talk to.

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A.O.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi,
I had to have my gall bladder removed last november. The attacks are horrible and I ended up at the er twice that night and the next morning. Avoid anything greasy. I had eaten a wendy's hamburger right before the trip to the er. Popcorn also made it bad. I pretty much got to the point where anything I ate made me sick and ended up losing like 30lbs. Pretty much just stick to bland things. I don't know if the same things trigger everyones attacks, but I do know greasy food was the culprit with me. Hopefully if you pay attention to what you are eating you can make it through the pregnancy without another attack.
Good luck!

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I.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

T.: Avoid anything greasy or fried foods as this will trigger those attacks. Once the gallstone dislodges from the duct the pain will go away, but you may end up having to have your gallbladder removed. In case this happens (and in case your dr. doesn't tell you), having your gallbladder removed will cause you to become lactose intolerant and also cause you to have bouts of diarrhea as well.

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K.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

I know you should not eat fried foods, nothing spicey,& no
greasy foods.
K.

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S.D.

answers from Indianapolis on

I'm sorry:( It's one of those things that happens quite frequently, especially after giving birth, and no one warns you about it. My friend had hers removed about 6 weeks after having her son.
I hope it's something you can take care of without surgery, but if not, you aren't alone!
Good Luck :)

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D.W.

answers from Columbus on

HI T. k l here l had the same pain as you but l wastn pregnancy. it got so bad that l had to get my gall Bladder taken out. and as for ateing food it may be different for you . for me l had to stay away for awhile from fatty foods, and ate small mounts. T. l hope this helps and l hope you feel better soon. D.

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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

I had the same thing just a little different pain. I was in the ER twice when I was pregnant. They had to give me Morphine to stop the pain it was so bad. You pretty much have to stay away from high fatty foods and spicy things. I did good for the last 3 months of pregnancy and once it was over I forgot about it foe a few weeks. I went back to regular eating and got the pain again. I ended up having my gall bladder out 6 weeks after I gave birth. I am glad I did because that is a crazy pain!! I never wanted that again. Th surgery is really easy and you are in pain in that spot for a good 4-5 days and then is slowly goes away. I took care of a baby after so it is not too bad. Good luck!

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C.J.

answers from Columbus on

Hi T.,

I had my gall bladder out 6 months after my son was born. I am guessing I had attacks while pregnant, but wasn't diagnosed until after he was born. They are horribly painful so I can sympathize with what you're going thru!! My understanding is everyone is different, but for me if I avoided fatty foods I felt better. And I also think ground beef triggered them for me while I was pregnant, but not 100% sure on that one. My advice would be to have your GB removed after your child is here before you get pregnant again. Let me know if you have any other questions.

C.

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A.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi T.,
My Sophomore year of collage I had many gall bladder attacks! NO FUN!!! I ended up having surgery and getting it removed. I would recommend staying away from anything greasy or extra fatty. That is what did it for me. I also had trouble if my stomach was too empty....not sure why. Try eating 5-6 small meals a day. I did a lot of soups and also a lot of crackers. I am not sure if that is true for everyone, but it helped me I do hope you do not have to experience that pain again; it is awful! Good luck to you!
A.

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M.B.

answers from Cleveland on

Go see a doctor that specializes in internal medicine and get your labwork done. My husband was misdiagnosed for over a year with "heartburn" when he was really having severe gallbladder attacks. They came on every time he drank wine, ate too much, had any dairy product and so on and so forth. Upon yet another trip to the ER, he was finally referred to an internist and was diagnosed with gallbladder disease. He had surgery to get it removed during November of 2007 and has been attack free ever since. He can eat what he wants and enjoy a normal lifestyle. Good luck to you with this!

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C.T.

answers from Cleveland on

Oh, I really feel for you - I had gall bladder attacks 2 weeks after my 2nd son was born. I thought I was in labor again because the pain was so intense. I went in for a lot of testing and each dr said the same inital thing to me - "You either just had a baby, or you're on birth control..." Aparently, fluxuating hormones are a key factor to the gall bladder. Anyway, among other tests, I had an ultrasound done, and I had about 200 gall stone floating through the bile ducts. I was told to avoid the greasy, fatty, fried, foods to reduce the attacks, or consider having it taken out. I tried for a month to live with it, but other foods would trigger it too, and I never knew which new food would do it. The pain is horrible, some attacks would last 3 hours, and the emergency room gave me morphine to take when an attack came on. In the end, I had it removed. I've never had a problem since, and it's been 13 years...
But you should do a lot of reading if you are considering having it out. Not everyone who has it removed is problem-free afterwards, plus the gall bladder has an important function and although you can live without it, you shouldn't be so quick to discard it's importance. I did the reading after the fact, and I question whether I should have had it out. I take a multi-enzyme supplement now with each meal to help with digestion since I don't have my gall bladder.

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M.B.

answers from Steubenville on

mine was so bad that i had to have my gall bladder removed. you need to avoid spicy, greasy foods, they say caffiene and chocolate can trigger an attack also. hope this helps

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B.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

I actually had my gall bladder removed when I was 20. It indeed does hurt. All you can do is avoid any really greasy or oily foods. My doc told me to avoid anything that would be likely to give you intestinal cramps, such as greasy foods or foods high in oil. No beef, no chips, stay bland and you should be OK. No, fun, I know!

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J.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

Hi there T.. I was 22 when my gall bladder decided to puke on me. I have never heard of an attack. But what happend to me was I kept getting massive heart burns that caused me to seriously get sick, but nothing really happend until I drank a lot of orange juice. Later that night about 4 am I woke up with killer pains, and I mean KILLER!! I went to get up out of bed, hit the floor, crawled to the bathroom and started vomiting, and I vomited blood and bile. Than I had to use the bathroom, so I kept the trash can near me just in case, due to the fact that I thought maybe it was the flu. I was bleeding every where. I went to lay back down, and more pains, I just couldn't get comfortable. I was in tears, barely can talk. My bf at the time woke up and asked me what my problem was. I choked down everything and said, call 911. He asked why...I've never wanted to go to the hospital a day in my life for any reason other than to have my kids. And he knew than it was very serious. So he called and they told him to get me to the hospital ASAP. I got there and they did all sorts of tests on me and found GOLF BALL Sized stones and one was blocking an area to my kidneys. So they put me on pain killers and that worked for a bit. They scheduled me a day for surgery and it wasn't suppose to happen for atleast a month or two. I went home, feeling okay. A week later, I went to the bathroom and noticed EVERYTHING was yellow. My skin, My urine (Extremely orange more so), my nails, my feet, my eyes. And I started vomiting again, blood all blood. And thick. My bf again called the doctor and they called the surgeon and they scheduled me to be seen sooner. Found out that I had yellow jaundice and it was killing me. The surgeon told me if I waited as long as they told me to. I probably would've ended up dead. It was scary. Before I went into surgery I asked the doctor what causes gall stones. He says A lot of minerals and salts. He said if I was to eat tons of ramen noodles, spaghetti, spicey foods, or spices, salty foods, acidy foods, anything that would upset my stomach would pretty much do it. I just know that I had to stay away from fast food, salts and acidy foods before and after. And I remember salads after surgery was not a good idea. I now even have a hard time eating salads, due to the fact that I don't have my gall stone and its harder for my body to digest certain foods. And salad is very leafy and the leafs are thin and can't break down as easy. I would never even wish my worse enemy to go through all that ever!! I know how scary it was after surgery, it was my very first MAJOR surgery other than having a c-section. You can also talk to a dietician for some advice on foods you should stay away from and make sure you let them know about your attack and your pregnancy. Good Luck.

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L.G.

answers from Indianapolis on

Having a gall bladder attack hurts! I would have constant heart burn and there was pain in my upper to middle back. I didn't know what it was until I went to the ER and had to have emergency surgery since I had stones that were blocking the opening of my gall bladder, which is an organ that is useless! If you had an ultrasound to see if you have gallstones then try to follow a low-carbohydrate diet, but include plenty of fibre from fresh green vegetables and salads.

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C.V.

answers from Cleveland on

T., I have had my gallbladder out due to the same problem however, I was not pregnant. I think they have you wait until your second trimester to have it out if it is really bothering you! It is hard to say what to eat. Doctors say to stick to a bland, low fat diet. It definitely should help but it can be hard to do-especially when pregnant! I know for me, sometimes dairy products would set it off too. However, when it comes time for you to do the surgery don't sweat it to much. It was alot easier than I thought it would be! In and out the same day. Some soreness after (incisions can be sore) and that was it! Back to normal life pretty quickly! Good Luck, C.

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J.T.

answers from Columbus on

Usually it's the fat content in foods and sometimes dairy. I had my gallbladder taken out a few months ago after almost a year of pain. It started out small enough and only lasted a short while, as time went on though the attacks got worse and lasted hours (I would be up 7 hours at night with one). You should get tested to see how much of your gallbladder is funtioning, the tests are painless, and then decide what you should do. I was back to work 3 days later and have not had any issues since then. Just keep an eye on it so you don't end up in more pain more often. Good luck!

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K.V.

answers from Columbus on

I thought I was having a heart attack...at 18! The food thing didn't seem to really be an obvious trigger for me. I did find it usually happened when lying down (sleeping, relaxing...)rather than right after eating. None of the little tricks worked for me. Mine kept getting more frequent and severe. No one could figure it out because of my age until I had like 4 or 5 attacks in less than 6 months. I went to the ER one of the times. The only thing that helped me was some type of muscle relaxer/pain killer. I had mine removed. It was very simple and quick. I would've done it right away if I had known (I know that's not an option right now). I have never had the problem with lactose since the removal. I don't drink animal milk but am fine with ice cream, cheese, etc. Just as a side, it does seem to have a hereditary component. My mom and brother had theirs removed after I did. It was easier for them to recognize the signs. My grandma had almost died of a burst gallbladder in the "old days". Good luck! I hope that attack was the one and only for you!

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S.O.

answers from Cincinnati on

I had this same problem a few years ago, but I was not pregnant at the time. What helped me was cutting way back on fat intake, especially greasy or buttery foods. My body handled fat in dairy products better than lite popcorn, for example. You will know you've eaten something that aggravates it when you get pain in that area about a half hour after eating. Being pregnant, you can't cut out fat entirely, but I know that fat is what causes the gall bladder to constrict, so less of this may make you hurt less. Also, I had the pain all the way across to my left side as well, and the doctor said that was pancreatitis from the gall bladder attack. That pain eventually got better, but it was definitely worse than the centrally located gall bladder pain. I hope you feel better soon. I did have my gall bladder removed, and I felt much better. Hopefully you won't need this though. Good luck!

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A.B.

answers from Cleveland on

When I was 12 weeks pregnant, I woke up in the middle of the night with a bad back pain on one side. As I got up I fell to the floor it hurt so bad. I hadn't heard my baby's heart beat yet and this was my first pregnancy so I was very scared. I made it up and to the bathroom where I began to vomit violently. I woke up my boyfriend and asked him to rush me to the E.R. I was there a long time while many tests were done. Finally after doing an ultrasound of my organs they saw that I had sludge in my gall bladder. I was told this was actually common in pregnant women. They recommended that I stay away from foods high in fat and alcohol (which I obviously already was doing). The day before I had some icecream and a chk sandwich from DQ. I think that is what finally sent it over board. They said you can't get your gall bladder removed while pregnant so stay away from foods high in fat. I have not had a gall bladder attack since then, but they did tell me the sludge will never go away! Hope this helps.

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T.S.

answers from Columbus on

I would avoid foods with a lot of fat. Like deep fried foods. I would start reading the labels of food to find out how much fat is in what you are eating. By the time my was removed i had lost 13 lbs in one week. I would say if you have this pain every time you eat and or throw up with every meal. It is time for it to come out for sure. But that is up to your doctor.

Hope this helps
T.

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L.S.

answers from Evansville on

Good Luck finding something. I have heard it is from eating fatty foods, but who knows. I had gallbladder attacks for about 7 years in and out of the ER. They always told me it was acid reflux, indegestion. etc.... but I had to research it on my own and find out it was my gallbladder. I went in to my doctor and told him I wanted to check my gallbladder function (hyda scan) and sure enough it was dysfunctional! I had it removed and it was the best thing that has happened!!! I don't want to discourage you but if you continue to have these talk about surgery with your doctor. Good luck, I hope you never have anymore problems!!!!!

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T.N.

answers from Cleveland on

Avoid any fatty foods,thats the worst. I had two attacks and then had to have my gallbladder removed.My last attack was from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was told to just eat vegies and fruit untill I was able to have the surgery.
My first attack came two months after I had my son. The doctors said it is very common when someone gains or loses alot of weight,and especialy after having a child. Im not sure how much help this is,I hope alittle.. Just stay away from fatty foods.

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T.W.

answers from Dayton on

Hello T.,

I definately agree with the others! Stay away from fatty, greasy and spicy foods. Avoid surgery while your pregnant unless it is absolutely needed.

My gall bladder was removed years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest child (daughter). The did the first surgery then realized they forgot a stone in the bowel duct and had to cut me open again. Starting with the 1st surgery I was 3 1/2 months PG. I was in the hospital for a total of 6 weeks, it was horrible. But my daughter is just wonderful!!

The removed mine pregnant or not because the poisons were backing up through my system, it was NOT good for me or my baby, so they HAD to take it. I lost 35 pounds too. I couldn't even hold water down right before the surgery, and my last GB attack lasted for 10 hours. Ugggghhh

I pray yours never gets that bad! Hopefully by watching what you eat, you can avoid all the problems til after the baby arrives.

I wish you the best!
T.

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K.H.

answers from Mansfield on

Yes, I do I had to have emergency surgery to have it out. Tomatoes and coffee I know are two my physican told me to steer clear of, but to make you feel better there is no rhyme or reason when and why you'll have attacks. Keep it monitored and if you start vomitting, or have a fever with the pains call your doctor or go to the ER. You may have a more serious condition.

K. H.
I am a 29 year old mom with 1 son, married to a physican. I have had my gall bladder removed for 7 years now.

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L.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

I'm no expert, but I'm suspecting you'll need to have it removed at some point. I had one tremendous attack & the pain simply would not go away no matter what I did. The gall bladder was removed the next day. Some foods are still difficult (go 'right through' me, as they say). Good luck.

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L.T.

answers from Atlanta on

T.,
Good luck with your gall bladder, it can be VERY painful so I'm sorry you have to deal with it. I think gall bladder problems during pregnancy are more common than a lot of people realize. I never had any problems with mine until I was pregnant, and had severe attacks starting at 7 weeks. I think meat (& poultry), greasy food, cheese and, oddly enough, avocado, were the worst for me. Mexican food gave me the worst attack of all. I think some people are able to avoid attacks by eating differently but I was having attacks all the time. Eventually I was just eating juice and saltines and losing too much weight so I had surgery to remove the gall bladder at 15 weeks pregnant. Both me and baby were fine, and laproscopic cholycystectomies are EASY as surgeries go. I did a lot of reading on gall bladder diets and found that many people recommend drinking olive oil to flush out the stones (I was too chicken to try this), and others recommend apple cider vinegar (but then, some recommend this as a cure for everything). I found that juice never gave me an attack, and since some recommend grapefruit juice and I needed to get calories, I drank a lot. Also, a lifesaver during attacks was Dramamine, which my mom recommended. It's for motion sickness, is safe in pregnancy, and my grandma used to say it "settled" her gall bladder. At the least it might help you sleep. Finally, it is relatively safe to take narcotics like Lortabs during pregnancy if you really need them, so ask your OB. Heat on the right side of the abdomen helps, too.

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M.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

stay away from fatty foods, but get it taken out. they are worse then having a baby when they get to the end. i had the attacks when i was pregnant and had it removed after wards about six months afterwards. they could not figure it out because everytime i had a sonagram no stones showed. but i happen to go to the hospital when i was in one attack and the blood work showed that is what it was. ( or could be ) more testing showed it was. but it was the best thing i did. my pains started out not that bad but they got to the point that they would last hours. and nothing would take them away. you are luck they figured it out early. my symptoms when on for 3 years and i have heard that pregnacy can bring them out. so the worst was while i was pregnant and could not take anything. good luck. i feel for you.

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C.M.

answers from Cleveland on

Did you have an ultrasound done to see if you have gall stones?

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S.C.

answers from Elkhart on

Been there done that - it is no fun!!!
It is best to avoid anything fatty/greasy as those foods seem to need whatever the gall bladder produces.
Depending on the severity of your case - I know by the end of my pregnancy it didn't take much - I had to avoid lettuce and other similar forms of roughage.

Also - My doc told me when the attacks happen to take some liquid Mylanta and tylenol right away. If necessary, it also helps to get in a warm shower with hot water going down your right side. The heat will help calm the spasms of the gall bladder.

Hope this helps!! I know it got me through my pregnancy. I had my gall bladder out 1 month after my son was born.

S. C

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A.S.

answers from Dayton on

I ended up with gallstones during my first pregnancy. I know how you feel..they are sooooo painful! You feel like you're having a heart attack. I've heard greasy foods can bring on an attack but I didn't really have any pattern to my attacks so I just had my gall bladder taken out. I was able to get it done as an arthroscopic procedure, meaning they don't have to cut you open. I have 4 tiny, tiny scars that are barely noticeable now...one right at the top of my belly button, 2 on my right side and then one at about the location of the gallbladder. I read online about natural ways to possibly break down and pass the gall stones but they didn't really appeal to me. I just wanted a sure way that I would NOT experience the attacks anymore!!

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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

I had my gall bladder taken out about 2 yrs after our first child was born. Those attacks HURT!! I found that it did hurt more after eating too. The best thing is to avoid greasy, acidic foods and stick to things that are blander. Your doc. should be able to give you a list of things that will help. It isn't a very exciting diet, but it should help keep the pain down until you can have surgery to remove it - which I assume is in the works after your baby is born. I remember that whenever I had an attack I would get into a hot shower (usually on my hands and knees because I was doubled over in pain) and it helped ease it a bit.
Sorry that you are going through this! Good luck!

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C.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

I have and it is very painful,I actually had to have surgery. You want to stay away from greasy foods and
spicy foods. And limit your dairy products.

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V.E.

answers from Indianapolis on

I can tell you having a G.B attack is one of the most painful experiences of my life. After finally figuring out what the problem was, I chose to go the altenative route and it worked wonders for me. You can check out Relfe.com or look for her site by putting gallbladder cleanse in the search. I researched a lot of different options and hers was the one that worked for me. I dont think it would hurt you or your baby either(so.... relief now!!!!) All it is is olive oil and fresh lemon juice and lots of (pure)apple juice. It takes less than 24 hours and you WILL pass stones and feel like you have been awakened. I dont feel that removing the gallbladder is a good move because the G.B stores bile and when you eat fatty foods(like you will NEVER eat fatty food again in you life?) or even a large meal you need a lot of bile to break down you food, if the G.B is gone you have no such supply therefor you will experience nausea & diareha. From what I have read , the G.B does not make the stones,they come from toxins on the liver and with the cholesterol in the G.B form stones. Most people I have talked to say they continued to have issue even after the removal of the G.B.( plus where does the bile that you dohave go? it drips continually into the gut? sounds grose to me!!!) I had my attack in early Feb. did the cleanse a few weeks later and passed about 50 stones . I do watch what I eat, but I will never give up chocolate?? another of the no-nos on the G.B food list. along with choc. it said to a aviod fried food., alchol, spicy food and several other depending on what you read. I found 1 that said go vegetatian and anothe that said eat limited veggies?? I say go with the cleanse...best thing I ever did and I will do it again in another month. Good luck!!

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S.L.

answers from Columbus on

Dear T.,

I wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy! I'm so sorry you are havug thos trouble, especially during a pregnancy.

I recently began seeing a Homeopathic M.D. At my first visit, we suspected gall stones, and she adjusted my diet accordingly. My problem turned ot to be a very large kidney stone that required surgical removal. Ouch!

Anyway, here is the information my M.D. gave me when we suspected gall stones. I have continued to eat this diet, and I have more energy than ever, and I've lost about 20 - 30 pounds in the last 2 months.

Never underestimate oatmeal or coconut milk! They're both delicious, and great for you and your family. I buy my coconut milk at Trader Joe's, the low fat version. If you want to find some great recipes using coconut milk, look for the book The Coconut Oil Miracle, by Bruce Fife, C.N., N.D.

Coconut oil and coconut milk are great tasting. They are not the least bit sweet or overpowering unless they have been sweetened, so you can use the unsweetened versions to substitute for less healthy oils and milks in recipes.

Note: Coconut Oil (organic) is fantastic for preventing stretch marks, healing cuts and scrapes, diaper rash, and almost any skin condition. Just apply it driectly to the skin. You don't need to over do it, just a light coating will work wonders. I get mine at Giant Eagel in the natural foods section, next to the organic cooking oils. It's less than $6 for a 14 oz jar, and the jar sort of looks like a mayonnaise jar.

Here you go:

FOR THE GALLBLADDER:

· Egg, onion, beans, and pork are most irritating to gall
bladder. Avoid all three.
· Increase dietary fiber.
· Avoid consumption of carbs (no wheat, rye, potatoes,
or other starchy carbs. Oats only for now).
Avoiding wheat keeps yeast undercontrol.
· Avoid sugar. Use honey or stevia (in the green packet)
· Eat vegetables (but avoid all beans)
· Eat a regular breakfast. Oats with coconut milk with
soaked walnuts w/ cinnamon and a little stevia or honey
(for sweetness, if desired). This can also serve as
an evening snack.
· Avoid all animal fat, including dairy. Dairy feeds
yeast (and is not appropriate for humans anyway).
· Vitamins C & E,
· Lecithin (in the form of soy lecithin granules.
(1 teaspoon daily)
· EFA (Essential Fatty Acids) are very beneficial.
I find Cod Liver Oil to be the least expensive source
of EFAs, and the capsules usually contain Vitamin D too.

I hope this will serve as a good guideline for you, and I hope you'll be able to keep those painful attacks under control. Good luck!

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