What kinds of foods are likely to produce a gall bladder attack/

from ask the dietician

...high fat or fried foods as well as whole grain breads and cereals, nuts, seeds or gas producing vegetables (baked beans) from the cabbage family (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage or cauliflower). This may include over the counter bulking agents like Metamucil. Spicy food seasoned with red or black pepper may cause some discomfort for persons with gall bladder disease but not necessarily.

Based on a number of sites, fatty foods seem to be the biggest dietary culprits.

I'd say the list above is a bit much. The gallbladder holds some bile, and squeezes it into the intestine periodically, in response to stimulation from the gut. Bile helps to digest fat; so the gallbladder squeezes most intensely in response to fatty foods. So the classic "gallbladder diet" is one that avoids fatty foods. It is true, however, that the gallbladder squeezes to some extent when any food hits the gut, and also squeezes periodically when it feels like it. The classic gallbladder attack occurs after a fatty meal. They can also occur after any meal (thus, the dietician could have listed all foods known to man -- and nearly did) and they can occur in no relation to meals. A common time is 1 or 2 in the am, waking people up from a sound sleep. The usual advice is to avoid high-fat foods. Beyond that, speaking as a surgeon, I'd say lose the gallbladder.

Thanks, m5k and Sid. I believe you confirmed our suspicions. Will take it to the primary care provider for next step.

I had mine after a big plate of nachos. The gall bladder surgery was nothing, but the hallucinations (at least, I think they were hallucinations)were pretty spectacular. I swear I found myself going into a cat scan at one point, and some orderly shot my arm full of what he said was "distilled water." Hurt like the devil! Next, I was resting in my bed the night before I went home and it seemed to me that the nurses must be having a party at the front desk. I distinctly heard trolleys of canned drinks going down the hall, much laughter and carrying on, and at the last, someone on the intercom, asking, "And what do you want with that morphine, orange juice?"

I'm more concerned about surgery than I used to be.

Catty

What would be a symptom of a gall bladder flare up?

I'm asking because lately when I lay in bed at night, I feel a pulsating pain that feels suddenly sharp, then disappears, back and forth on my right side between my rib cage and hip.

I don't eat a fatty diet, but I do eat a lot of vegetables and foods that were mentioned in Methos post. Is there a way that I can anticipate if I'm going to have a gall bladder flare up??

Gall bladder symptoms

You can be sure if you ate a lot of fatty foods, you WOULD have a flareup (if you suffer from this kind of distress).

quote:

A common time is 1 or 2 in the am, waking people up from a sound sleep.

I wonder why this is? Mine are ALWAYS around 1AM.

When patients asked me that, I said I don't know, but maybe it's because when lying down, the stones shift into different positions. The gallbladder squeezes occasionally unrelated to eating. If there's a stone blocking the outlet when it happens, it hurts...

My surgery is scheduled for Thursday! Wish me luck!

I had the surgery yesterday. I went in to register at 7:30 AM and was in recovery getting into the wheel chair to go to my car at 11:30 AM. I am sore and feel like someone punched me in the side, but it doesn't hurt as much as the gallbladder attacks did!

If it is suggested that you do it, go for it!

It's good to hear that you are OK, and that it all went well, and so quickly, too. Thanks for letting us know, and your thread may help others to seek medical help sooner. Welcome back.

Glad it went well. That's another thing I told my patients: it'll be sore after, but nothing like a gallbladder attack!

No kidding - just two days and I already feel better. They glued me shut which I think it kinda cool. I think there are stitches on the inside though. Really was not bad at all - I kinda wish my dentist appointments were that easy!

If you are having the gall bladder attacks - go to your doctor! If they want to "monitor" it - kick them in the ribs and tell them it feels like that but much worse and you have monitored it and want to see a surgeon!