Gall Bladder Diary: minor chest pain

I am keeping a diary of food I consume and any symptoms as a record for other sufferers of gall bladder attacks and those who have had theirs removed. After suffering a very long gallbladder attack which lasted 9 days with continuous pain, I was fortunate enough to have surgery recently. I had laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery which leaves you with 4 incisions in your abdomen and your body has no way of processing fat thereafter. Hence this diary/blog for other sufferers.

This diary goes hand-in-hand with my Food Blog which I will still keep up to date with gall bladder friendly meals. Feel free to check out my Food Blog. Also feel free to comment here and ask any questions you like. Follow me for my gall bladder ride.

Now about wind - well this is a blog about gall bladders and digestion problems, after all! With any digestion problems comes the dreaded subject of flatulence. Let's put it out there: farts, fluffs, trumps, firing off, letting off, ripping off, gas, stinkies and passing wind - we all do it. It's nothing to be ashamed about because it's a natural bodily function just like breathing. Now I admit I've always been a farter. I guess that is because I never burp. That's right - I can't burp! So I guess the gas has no other escape except down. Therefore this blog will need to include this smelly topic. If you're offended I am not going to apologise because it's a natural part of life.

When I've recorded my symptoms I've included flatulence in this manor: Mild flatulence = 1-5 farts; Medium flatulence = 5-10 farts; Excessive flatulence = more than 10 farts. So there you have it. It's out there for the world to see. I'm not ashamed of farting and you shouldn't be either *barf* O

Monday, November 21, 2011

Countdown to surgery : Day 11

Breakfast:

1 and half weetbix with light milk, small sprinkle sugar
2 cups tea with light milk
Vitamins

Symptoms:

Nil

Morning tea:

Skim milk cappuccino
1 apple

Symptoms:

Nil

Lunch:

3/4 cup dried fruit, nuts & seeds
Cup ginger and honey tea

Symptoms:

Mild pain in tummy, like I've eaten something passed it's use-by date. I was going to have a crusket or sandwich, but honestly didn't feel like eating anything else.

Dinner:

Minestrone Soup

Symptoms:
Mild chest pain, back ache and mild flatulence.

Note: Awoke feeling great and energetic with no pain until afternoon. I'm sure the back-ache was due to sitting in an uncomfortable chair at the cinema for 2hrs. There was no reason for the chest pain in my opinion. Minestrone soup is full of veggies and I only had a small bowl so that is a mystery. 2 days until surgery.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Countdown to surgery : Day 2

Breakfast:

1 and a half weet bix
1/4 light milk
1 kiwi fruit
1 cup tea with light milk
My usual daily vitamins: 1 vitamin B, 1 glucosamine and 1 omega oil tablet (herewith simply referred to as vitamins)

Symptoms:

Tummy rumble, slight pain and bowel movement within 30mins which began very firm, but turned into minor diarrhoea. Felt instantly better afterwards. Tomorrow I will have same breakfast but eliminate the kiwi fruit - I think it may have been the suspect!

Morning Tea:

1 measured cup fruit/veg juice

Symptoms:
Nil

Lunch:

1 crusket with ham, mixed lettuce leaves and grated carrot with cracked pepper
1 peppermint tea

Symptoms:

Nil

Afternoon Tea:

1 small tub yoghurt with 1 tsp of dried fruit and nuts
1 apple an hour after the yoghurt

Symptoms:

Minor chest pain and bloating

Dinner:

Red Lentil & Carrot Soup
Cup of tea with light milk going to bed

Symptoms:
Minor flatulence

Note:
I woke up feeling very well today and didn't need any pain relief. I had a slight pain in my back, but it's manageable. This will be day 2 without pain tablets. I did some housework and got a back ache which subsided once I laid down and rested for awhile with the heat pack.