The Gallstone-friendly Diet E-Book

Juliet Sullivan

• Herausgeber: Hammersmith Health Books
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In the UK in 2012 an estimated 60,000 people had their gallbladder removed because of gallstones and over 2010-2012 the figure for Ireland was nearly 20,000. This number has been increasing year on year into a virtual epidemic, almost certainly related to contemporary high sugar/fructose diets. But it is fats that bring on gallstone symptoms – 'gallbladder colic', said to be one of the most acutely painful experiences we can have. While seeking treatment for gallstones, the only way to avoid this pain is to follow a no-fat or very low-fat diet so that the gallbladder is not stimulated into action. But how to change the habits of a life time? Juliet Sullivan has been on that journey and shares what she has learned along the way (now in an expanded second edition), including what worked for her and the recipes she developed that saw her through to surgery and beyond. With star ratings for fat levels, her guidance is quick and easy to follow and provides low-fat alternatives of family favourites – from a roast dinner to spag bol – so sufferers can eat with family and friends and not feel excluded on account of their medical problem.

Leseprobe

Praise for the first edition of The Gallstone-friendly diet…

The gallstone-friendly diet is an amusing and informative journey through the typical outpatient experience of problems with gallstones. Whilst ultimately surgery to remove the gallbladder is the only effective treatment for gallstones, the treatment pathway does involve avoiding those foods that trigger the symptoms in the early stages and whilst awaiting an operation. The recipes presented in this book provide useful guidance on how to follow a very low-fat diet – the traditional dietary modification suggested for gallstones.

I was particularly amused by the description of the patient-surgeon interaction and I think this reflects the fact that this is the commonest GI operation performed in the UK and therefore something we surgeons take for granted, not always appreciating that it is the first time for our patients. However, it is important that you and your surgeon together decide whether an operation is right or not for you as, even when the symptoms seem to fit many of the criteria for gallstones, they are such a common finding on scans, we always have to bear in mind that there might be something else going on. Having that understanding with your surgeon is an important part of any shared decision to undergo an operation. However, if the dietary steps mentioned in this book help you ahead of surgery, it is highly likely you will have a good outcome from the operation itself. To the same end, the gallstone-friendly diet may help you in your own personal gallstone journey. Good luck.

James Hopkins FRCS, Upper GI & Bariatric Surgeon Lead for Emergency GI Surgery, North Bristol Centre for Weight Loss, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Bristol, UK

Juliet Sullivan recounts her personal story in a very honest way. She takes you through her surgery and out the other side. Unfortunately for her, she spent five months suffering from her gallstones before having her gallbladder removed. Fortunately for us, as a result of this wait she has produced a wonderful selection of recipes that are less likely to initiate pain than are standard meals. This is a truly helpful read, but if you’ve got gallstones, get an operation soon!

Giles J Toogood, Professor of Hepatobiliary Surgery University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

I had little understanding of the struggles that are associated with the gallbladder before reading this book. Juliet Sullivan does a brilliant job of enlightening her audience with the facts that are necessary for understanding gallstones. Additionally, the recipes contained in this book serve as a really useful guide for anyone struggling with the dietary issues associated with gallstones. Considering that gallstones are a serious illness, Juliet Sullivan uses her humour to address the elements of unease and fear that can be associated with a diagnosis, and to assist those who struggle in navigating the lifestyle changes that will be needed. All in all, I give this book a 5/5. Fantastic job!

Nicole Irvine, Canada

I love Juliet’s humour and wit. As I am dealing with gallbladder issues, this book is perfect timing as I have had no idea what to expect. I have information now to help me understand what I am dealing with. Thank you

Lorelei, Texas, USA

Juliet Sullivan’s The Gallstone-friendly Diet is a humorous tale about her experience with gallbladder disease. You’ll find yourself sympathising, laughing and gaining knowledge. Her personal anecdotes leave you with a sense of causal connection, and an understanding of how one manages with such a disease. The recipes are simple, with easy to follow instructions and tasty! If you are feeling nervous about this condition, look no further than this book to help you through it. This wonderful book leaves readers assuaged, yet hungry for more!

Mariam Nagem, Surrey, Canada

Juliet’s style is both humorous and informative. She makes you feel as though you are getting advice from a close friend. Unlike typical medical self-help books, this one will have you laughing, engaged… and making delicious gallbladder-friendly food!

Donna Moore Canada

An excellent and amusing book with all the facts you need.

Veronica McQuade Haywards Heath, UK

the gallstone- friendly diet

Everything you never wanted to know about gallstones

(and how to keep on their good side)

Second Edition

JULIET SULLIVAN

A note from the author

This book is intended to provide a light-hearted account of my own personal experience with gallstones. However, I do realise that this is a serious subject and I do not mean to trivialise the condition. I have tried to find humour in a situation that was not really at all humorous. I hope it makes you laugh, even if you are suffering from this truly horrible and distinctly unfunny illness.

The book also aims to give you ideas for what to eat as well as recipes for low-fat meals that hopefully will be gentle on your gallstones. But, despite my bold claims, I am not an expert. I am merely telling you what worked for me; hopefully it will also work for you too. I would urge you to use this book as a guide; one that might help you navigate the minefield of a gallstone-friendly diet. Good luck. You’re going to need it. I shouldn’t have said that, sorry.

Juliet

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my unofficial editor, Karen, for her unpaid editing and relentless support throughout my various operations and chaotic life; to my husband, ‘Eel’, for supporting every harebrained idea I have ever had, including the one to write this book; to my two amazing children, ‘Irrek’ and ‘Mail’, for reasons too many to mention but mostly because they are who they are; to my friend Mia, for friendship, support and love for the past 25 years; to my ‘nurses’, who are so much more to me, but whose nursing/friendship skills are very welcome in my life – Mum, Tony, Catriona and Veronica. I am lucky enough to have friend/nurses in Canada too; they will get a mention in my next book.

CONTENTS

Title PageA note from the authorAcknowledgementsPart I My gallstone journey and everything I learned on the wayMy gallstone journeyWhy I am now an expert who has written a bookA diet and life in turmoilMy unusual, pity-evoking lifeThe day of surgeryThe other (actual) day of surgeryPost-surgeryOther tips for post-surgeryA rolling (gall)stone gathers no mossAlmost everything you never wanted to know about gallstonesWhat is the gallbladder?What are gallstones?Do many people get gallstones?What is the gallbladder for?Can we live without the gallbladder?Prevention of gallstonesOptions for treating gallstonesWhy do I need a gallstone-friendly diet?Some personal recommendationsA note about exerciseFood!Part II Gallstone-friendly recipesThe fat indexBREAKFASTGood old-fashioned porridge Low-fat pancakes Veggie omelette The good old English fry-up (sort of) Home-made muesli Apple sauce oatmeal muffins Unsweetened apple sauce Berry smoothie Kale and cucumber smoothie Mango and honey smoothie Other low-fat breakfast ideasToast and jam Crumpets PlusLUNCHVeggie skewers Curried sweet potato Tomato salad SandwichesVeggie curry topping SoupsCarrot and coriander (cilantro) Fat-free minestrone Potato and celery soup Curried carrot soup Butternut squash soup Black bean and salsa soup Other low-fat lunch ideasDINNERGrilled fish and greens with capers and lemon salsa Veggie curry Chicken curry Prawn curry Veggie chilli Honey and lime chicken Prawn and courgette barley risotto with white wine Veggie spag bol Veggie shepherd’s pie Ratatouille Penne perfecto Prawn and asparagus pasta Veggie stir fry Sweet potato risotto Fiery fajita bowls Veggie winter stew Low-fat roast dinner (yes, really) Other dinner ideasSIDE DISHESAlmost fat-free roasted vegetables Herby roast potatoesFat-free gravy Cheating cauliflower cheese Crispy oven-baked sweet potato fries Roasted maple sprouts Low-fat dumplings Salad dressings DESSERTSFruit kebabs Baked apple Low-fat custard Nearly no-fat banana bread Chocolate brownies Fruit sorbet Other dessert ideasSNACKSBEVERAGESThe ginger mix Ginger tea Lemon water Raw vegetable juice Water!A note about alcohol and gallstonesSANS-GALLBLADDER: Recipes and tipsBeetroot saladVeggie Buddha bowlSalmon, avocado and lemon saladSalmon bakeChilli chicken wrapFish tacosSweet potato and black bean burgerSpicy chicken, spinach and sweet potato casseroleLettuce wraps with black beans and quinoaAubergine and lentil bakeAPPENDICESGallbladder disease and nutrition Interview with an expertRecommended readingIndexCopyright

PART I

My gallstone journey and everything I learned on the way

My gallstone journey

Referring to my experience with gallstones as a ‘journey’ may be slightly misleading. It might suggest that I spent the six months waiting for my cholecystectomy enjoying a carefree, exotic existence, during which I encountered nothing less than a frivolous whirlwind of joyful fun and frolics. It may surprise you to learn that those six months were, in fact, less full of joy and more full of shit.

It was the kind of journey you might liken to driving 5000 miles alone on a twisting, pothole-littered, empty road, encountering blood-thirsty bandits around every corner.

I hope I have conveyed to you how I feel about my gallstone journey.

I won’t bore you with the details. Actually, I lie. That’s exactly what I’ll do! We all love chatting about our own ailments, don’t we? This is my story, so if I want to bore you with the details I will. But I’ll be brief, because I feel like you’re already quite bored.

I had always been an advocate of healthy eating. That doesn’t necessarily mean I always ate healthily; it just means I advocated it. I love food. I have always loved food. And I’m English, so, let’s face it, my diet had consisted of many things that didn’t necessarily fit with my healthy-eating obsession. When I say obsession, I mean that in a very loose and general sense. It was more like a hobby; a part-time hobby; one that I would indulge every few weeks, perhaps. I’m rambling, like an out-of-control walking enthusiast who has lost their way on the moors.

To clarify: I was very good at knowing what I should be eating, and occasionally I did eat it. But mostly I ate things I knew I shouldn’t. So that’s got that little confession out of the way. It won’t surprise you to know that I had spent most of my adult life being ever so slightly chubby.

I’d actually put on around five kilos every 10 years since I’d hit my twenties. Before all this gallstone crap happened to me, I was on track to weigh around 250 kilos by the time I was 100. That may not be strictly accurate; I’m not great at maths. Plus it’s completely irrelevant as I probably won’t make it to that ripe old age anyway.

Anyway, on a warm August afternoon nearly two years ago, I was busy indulging my part-time healthy-eating hobby. I was at a beach picnic with my sister and her family, and I was munching my way through a chicken salad. The salad had an oily dressing, but it was olive oil. So, healthy! I may or may not have had some chocolate afterwards.

Around 20 minutes later, suddenly and without warning, a sharp pain ripped through my chest, rendering me speechless. I was gasping for breath. It didn’t last long, but it was scary, and it left a kind of lingering cramp in my chest that remained for the rest of the day. I put it down to indigestion, mainly because I wanted to swim in the sea and having a serious medical condition probably would have meant I couldn’t do that.

That night, I was awoken from a deep slumber by another stabbing chest pain, and this time I was terrified. I was sure it was a heart attack; it was that painful. And in the middle of the night, with nothing to distract me, it seemed a bit more serious than it had before. It lasted for eight hours.

That was my first visit to A&E.

After hours of scans, blood tests, probing, prodding and back-passage-administered pain relief, I was sent home with a note for my GP that read: ‘This woman is a pathetic wimp and/or a delusional hypochondriac.’ Or at least that’s what I deduced, as at a hastily arranged appointment with said GP, she concluded there was nothing wrong with me and sent me scurrying away without any suggestions as to what might have caused the eight-hour explosion of agony in my abdomen. Like it was normal. Or that I had imagined it.

Two weeks later, I went out for a lovely little lunch with my other sister. Once again, I chose a healthy option: tuna salad! How much healthier can you get? (Quite a lot, it turns out, if you have gallstones.) The salad was laden with good, healthy fats: olive oil dressing, almonds, walnuts and avocado. In retrospect, I was asking for it. I just didn’t know what I was asking for.

Full disclosure: I also had a Diet Cola. Look, I know this is bad; it’s actually akin to downing a litre and a half of cyanide, or so I read somewhere, but I was trying my best not to drink wine at 2:00 pm on a Friday afternoon. In my warped, uninformed little mind, Diet Cola was a healthy alternative.