Recent hospitalisation with cholecystitis

Hi Julie 

I just asked the same question. 

I have found that I can't eat the following food. 

Dairy, all grains, fructose, cauliflower cabbage onions and their families, fat, sugar anything that ferments. I hope that helps. 

I think the answer to this is what is fine for one is real pain for another so you almost have to try a little of something and see how you tolerate it. If you seem ok have a little more. I was ok with most things in smallish amounts except : fizzy drinks, processed mass produced foods and sweet potato(strangely)! Even in a painful attack my go to was cloudy not from concentrates apple juice (from the chiller in shops) . It's supposed to be the malic acid in it softens the liver. Ive no idea if that's true all I know is I drank it everyday while waiting for my operation and still do today but a smaller amount. Hope you find what helps you.

The advice given to me was to eat a low fat diet. Nothing fried. Also avoid all baked goods except wholemeal bread, avoid alcohol, avoid spicy foods, avoid cheese and butter, switch to low fat spread, 0% fat yogurts, skimmed milk and eat small meals often. Baked/mashed potatoes, rice, pears, wholemeal toast, bananas, coffee are all supposed to be good for gallbladder sufferers. Some can eat a poached or boiled egg, others can’t. Otherwise lean meat, fish, chicken and turkey with vegetables and cereal, and porridge or toast at breakfast. You can still eat a varied diet. I’ve been eating like this for 18 months with no ill effects and I’ve dropped three dress sizes!! So not all bad. You can still make ‘chips’ by chipping potatoes, spraying with a little oil and baking in oven- delicious. Basically you have to play it by ear as we’re all different but I hope this helps.

Hi Julie, 

I was told to restrict as much fat intake as possible. I stuck to lean white meat (Chicken & Turkey) and white Fish. I would study food labels and focus mainly on the fat levels but also trying to ensure that I had some fat still in my diet to be healthy as I was losing lots of weight, I ended up dropping to 6.5 stone before my Gallbladder was removed. 

It seemed really daunting cutting out all of the foods I loved especially as a keen baker but it definitely did help somewhat with the attacks and I only had 2 more bought of Cholecystitis after the diet was introduced. I found popcorn and marshmallows to be a great sweet treat every now and again and I swapped things like cream cheese for Quark (similar tasting substitute). Fizzy drinks are a big no no, something to do with the carbonated aspect of it. 

Other things I would eat/snacks:

Egg white omelette 

Homemade Chicken Broth

Boiled potatoes instead of roasted/fried 

Sea Salt Crackers

Breadsticks

Fruit & Vegetables (no onions, broccoli, sprouts) 

Black Earl Grey Tea (with a sugar) this stopped me from wanted a milky English Breakfast

Lastly I would say eat little and often, the bigger your meals are the harder your body needs to work to digest them. 

Good luck! 

E

Thanks everyone your advice is very valuable. Yes I found out the hard way diet fizzy lemonade is a big no no.

I did the slimming world diet abt 2 yrs ago and most of the food I could eat on that applies to me now I think. But like you all say it's trial and error. Thanks a lot really appreciate your input.

Hi I had acute cholecystitis as well I was in hosi for 3 weeks but had my gallbladder drained. Waiting on op. I can eat anything I want now. Although I get some pains I have no issue with any foods??? They didn’t tell me to avoid anything so I haben’t. Had takeaways, burgers, ice cream etc and no problems. Not every day but when out for a meal or as a treat. I am starving all the time and get huge hunger pangs. I guess we are all different. Hope you get your op soon. Claire x