My internist, Dra. Joan Singidas, gave me this list before I underwent a gallbladder removal through lap chole (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) surgery. The list of foods to avoid and foods to include. She told me to just avoid the foods in the foods to avoid column and observe within one week if would experience again another gallstone attack. That was Sept. 15, 2009.
But 3 days later, my wife’s friend arrived from Manila and invited us for lunch. Food is served. Although I only ate seafoods; fish and shellfish that belong to foods to include, I was not spared with gallstone attack. I then realized that there is also one food under foods to avoid that gives flavor to one of my favorite, baked scallops – the butter. And maybe cheese and oil.
And 3 days after, I ended in the clinic of Dr. Don Edward Rosello (General & Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Surgical Endoscopy, Bariatric Surgery), to ask for his opinion. To which, I was scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure last Oct. 1, 2009.
Three months later, on Dec. 22, 2009, Dr. Singidas handed again the same food list after I was hospitalized last Dec. 12 to 15, 2009 for epigastric and back pains. And with a frown and pity on her face because I can’t enjoy the holidays – Christmas and New Year.
Here is the list of 2 food groups, the foods to avoid and the foods to include. Although this list is specifically addressed to “patients with acid-related diseases”, but because I no longer have gallbladder and the secretion of bile is continuous with no reservoir, Dr. Singidas strongly advises me to follow the list.
foods to avoid:
- Strongly flavored spices and condiments
- Caffeine containing beverages – coffee (regular or decaf), tea, cocoa, colas
- Tomatoes
- Citric juices – orange, calamansi, grapefruit
- Fatty foods – fried meats, deli meats, potato chips, french fries, fatty or fried pastries like doughnut
- Alcoholic drinks
- Dairy products – whole milk, butter, cheese
- High fat salad dressings – sour cream, cream cheese
- Gas-forming vegetables – broccoli, brussels, sprouts, cabbage, garlic, onion, cauliflower, cucumber, green pepper, turnips
foods to include:
- Caffeine-free tonics
- All lean, tender meats
- Skinless poultry
- Fish, shellfish
- Eggs
- Soy beans (including tufu)
- Low-fat and skim milk and products
- Whole grain crackers, graham crackers
- White or brown rice
- Noodles/spaghetti
- All vegetables except tomatoes
37 persons responded to this post
So, if you don’t follow the diet, did they say how long you can enjoy life? Mine was removed in 1994 and my surgeon never warned me about this diet. I live in US of A, and I’m pretty sure dr are more advance here than over there. At syempre, opinyon ko ito according to the study that Pilipino doctors can not practice medicine here until they take accredited courses and further their studies in accordance of US standard.
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Thanks for dropping by.
Actually there was no strict rules of diet that my doctors gave to me. My surgeon only said that I should eat low-fat and avoid oily foods for about 2 to 3 months. He also said that I should divide my meal to 2. Example, I should eat twice for breakfast with half of the full meal each.
And the list was given to me by my internist.
But did I follow it? Only on some days.
But after the operation, I ate less for about 2 months and I lost weight. And additional month of eating less after I got admitted again last December. Only this January that I started eating full regular meal and test eating some foods that falls on to be avoided list.
I am test eating on foods because I was supposed to undergo ERCP during my December hospitalization. But due to financial problems, I opted to reschedule it – and supposedly last January.
Moreover, I view the list as a friendly reminder of eating in moderation.
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Hi Ken,
So what’s their finding on your epigastric and back pains?
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My gallbladder was removed when i was 2nd year high school. Nasakin pa ung isa sa mga stones na nakuha. Hindi ko maalala kung ano ung nasabi sakin nung doctor after operation. May narinig ako na maeenjoy ko na daw ung mga taba. Ok lang ba na kumain ulit ng mga fatty foods? Sobrang sakit ng symptom nito upper abdominal pain. Madalas umattack ung pain ng madaling araw mga around 12am onwards.
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Gino,
Ilang years na ba ang lumipas? Kung medyo matagal na, sa tingin ko okey lang na kumain nang fatty foods.
Actually, the doctors advised me to avoid fatty foods.
But I tested eating those foods and there were times that my system would react to the food right away. Like after a few minutes I experienced some stomach pains.
So, eat in small amount then observe how your system reacts to the food.
For me, I can eat lechon, chicharon, and even chicharon bulaklak without having problems.
Only eat in moderation, do not over eat. Coz we no longer have gallbladder that acts as reservoir of bile.
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how long that I still enjoy life now that I have no longer gall blader??
I am eating foods to avoid now it is about 2 months that a had my operation but the reaction my stomach is still ok..
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@Ken
8 years ago na nung na remove ung gall bladder ko. Yeah nung medyo fresh pa ko from operation umiiwas ako sa mga fatty food. Pero now kumakain na ko. Pumapapak din ng taba paminsan minsan. Nakakamiss din ung sarap nung taba sa mga balat ng lechon hehe. Pinakaiiwasan ko ung uminom ng alak. Although hindi naman ako madalas uminom before ma infect ung gall bladder ko. Ung softdrinks nga pla nakaka cause ba ng gall stones un? By the way open ung operation ko. Laki nung scar na hiniwa sa chan ko. Pano ung operation sau?
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@Gino,
Tama ka, nakaka-miss yung mga masasarap at ipinagbabawal na pagkain tulad nga mga taba at mga laman-loob.
Not sure if softdrinks can cause gallstones. Ang alam ko nakaka-cause ng kidney stones.
Lap chole (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) operation sa akin. 3 small incisions lang.
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Any idea why tomatoes is on the banned list? I would have thought it would be quite soft on the stomach.
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Hi Ken, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences, the truth of life without a gallbladder I should say. Same as you are, I had mine removed last May 7, 2009 (ERCP + Open Chole). I agree with you, hinay-hinay lang.
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It’s good thing that I stumbled this post. Nice info on life after gallbladder surgery.
Thanks for sharing. Keep posting.
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Dear ken
i look at you now,nice to meet me you,you are batter business. i hope that you will batter successsully in the future.i will go to there.
best wish
Harry
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Thanks, Harry for dropping by…
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Hi my name is Maria just got my gallbladder removed last Monday.I’m doing pretty good I been eating soup chicken,turkey or fish with veggies lots of water and been drinking Apple juice as well I just haven’t had a BM I don’t know why maybe because of what I’m eating or what ,I feel like I wana go but when I go the bathroom I can’t go.but now I’m starting to eat some noodles,beans ,eggs I don’t know if thats good for me,I feel ok when I’m done eating hopefully I can get better soon my pain is not as bad so I’m goin like 10 hrs without my pain killers I’m doing good so far.my question is so I can never fat food again?? Cuz like pizza, chicken,ribs,Chicken wing and burgers… My mom got her gallbladder removed 17 yrs ago and she eats whatever she wants and no problem what so ever.my aunt and cousin got theirs done last year and they’re fine they eat whatever even fat greasy good they said they are good hopefully I can be like that..just having lots of faith in god..:)
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I just had mine out too, on the 5th. I’ve heard most people do go back to basically being able to eat whatever they want, not 100% of people are so lucky though so we’ll see what happens. I’m feeling good about it right now though XD I’m certainly a lot better off now than I was before surgery.
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Nice info!
Bookmarked your site.
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Does anyone try the gallstones removal using the natural way (combination of apple juice, epsom salt, and olive oil) before the operation? What happen? Thanks!
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I haven’t. Though I tried. But every time I drank the apple juice, I felt bloated then few minutes later I felt the pain in my upper abdomen and the pain in my back.
Maybe this will work for those small and floating gallbladder stones. But for those big, embedded stones, and those that sticks on wall of the gallbladder, I doubt if this will work.
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Great Informative blog inspiration for people without gallbladder, i had mine removed just 3weeks ago, a gallstone dropped inside my bile duct.
My mother had hers removed when she was in her 50s.
i still got a t-tube attached on my belly until this week and a cholangiogram test coming. Im having oatmeal,wheatbread for breakfast most of the time, for lunch few spoons of rice with non-grease marinated with soy sauce breastfillet chicken, sometimes vegetables,boiled egg or adobo fish
one time on my 2nd week had pork omelette once and my BM is ok.
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thank’s to this website, dami ko nalaman lahat ng tan0ng ko nasag0t… my gallbladder was rem0ve 6m0nth ag0 here in bahrain, iniyakan ko yun di kase ako makapaniwala…e’ until n0w minsan npapaisip aq tungkol s gallbladder ko tapos iiyak uli aq.. hay…
natatakot talaga aq.
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Tnx 4 ds article..
At least my worries were a bit allevaited upon reading this..
I’m gonna have my gallbladder removed 2mrw..
The thought of it is killing me since its my 1st tym 2b hospitalized..
Plus d fact that I only eat pork & chicken nd I’m afraid d dctor might forbid me to eat it..
Guess I’ll jz settle with oatmeals fir ’bout 2 months..
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