Gallbladder Info

This post is mainly for myself - I needed a place to put information about gallbladder pain and guidelines that I've found for future reference. Due to dealing with gallbladder pain through two pregnancies now, and in-between those pregnancies, I want to remember how I dealt with the pain and have, so far, avoided gallbladder removal surgery.

First of all, there are many different culprits that cause gallbladder attacks or flare-ups and each person is different.

My main culprits for gallbladder pain:

• greasy and oily foods - mainly fried foods and fattier meats
• carbonated drinks - any and all, including sparkling water
• dairy in larger amounts - cheesy pizzas/dishes, creamy/cheesy/buttery pastas, ice cream
• sitting for prolonged periods of time
• eating quickly and too much
• eating while stressed

Pain relief:

• Laying down, slightly propped on the couch
• Drinking 8 oz. apple juice, mixed with 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• Eating a 'clean' diet

The 'clean' diet I follow (rigidly if in pain, that will not go away):

• drink LOTS of water!
• beets
• cucumbers
• broccoli
• green beans
• spinach
• okra
• sweet potatoes
• avocados (healthy fat)
• tomatoes
• shallots
• raw garlic
• grapes and organic grape juice
• apples
• berries
• papaya
• pears
• lemon
• flax and hemp oil (healthy fats)
• vinegars - all types
• rice
• quinoa
• oats
• plain tofu

Veggie juices: beets, cucumbers, greens (avoid all cabbage), celery, carrots, ginger, turmeric, apples

Favorite 'clean' breakfast:

Oatmeal + blueberries (or other frozen berries) + 1 Tbsp. flax oil

Hot 8 oz water with fresh lemon juice

Favorite veggie juice: 

• 1 beet (with greens)
• 2 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cucumber
• 1 lime (or lemon)
• 1 piece ginger

Favorite 'clean' meal:

Sautéed broccoli, green beans, and spinach (in water for 5 min. max) over brown rice or quinoa. Add plain tofu and add a little soy sauce. Or use one of these sauces:

• Lemon Tahini sauce: 2 Tbsp. tahini, 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, add water for desired consistency
• Avocado Pesto sauce: 1 avocado mashed well, 1-2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. dried basil, pinch of salt, pinch of garlic powder, 1/2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

My latest gallbladder attack (23 weeks into my third pregnancy) was due to eating rich seafood, along with carbonated fruit drinks mixed with sparkling water. I was in almost constant pain for about a week and a half afterward and then began a 3-day 'detox' by eating only foods mentioned above in the 'clean' diet. Even while eating only 'clean' foods, I was in pain eating any and all foods until day 4. I continued eating 'clean' foods, slowly adding in more caloric foods (specifically due to pregnancy and needing more nutrients). I've noticed that I can eat one kind of fatty or 'unclean' food without it causing me pain. However, if I eat too much of it, more than one kind, or eat it back-to-back (one day and then again the next day), I will have pain. The pain lasts all day, from the point it begins. If it begins in the morning, then I'm in pain the remainder of the day. If it begins at night, I can go to bed and wake up feeling fine.

So far, by following these 'guidelines', I have been able manage my gallbladder pain and avoid surgery. I've had to relearn: I eat to live, not live to eat.