Food for a person without a gallbladder

My internist, Dr. Joan Singidas, gave me this list before undergoing 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 the spine and to see if I would experience another gallstone attack in a week’s time. That was on September 15, 2009. But 3 days later, my wife’s friend came from Manila and invited us for lunch. Although I only eat shellfish; fish and shellfish that belong to the foods to include, I was not spared from the attack of gallstones. Then I realized that there is also a food to avoid that gives flavor to one of my favorite baked scallops: butter. And maybe cheese and oil.

And 3 days later I ended up at the clinic of Dr. Don Edward Rosello (General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Surgical Endoscopy, Bariatric Surgery), to ask for his opinion. To which, I was scheduled for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure on October 1, 2009.

Three months later, on December 22, 2009, Dr. Singidas gave me the same food list again after I was hospitalized from December 12 to 15, 2009 for epigastric and back pain. And with a frown and pity on her face because I can’t enjoy the holidays-Christmas and New Years.

Here is the list of 2 food groups, the foods to avoid and the foods to include. Although this list is specifically aimed at “acid related disease patients”, but since I no longer have a gallbladder and bile secretion is continuous without a reservoir, Dr. Singidas strongly advises me to follow the list.

Foods to Avoid:

– Strong-flavored spices and seasonings

– Beverages containing caffeine: coffee (regular or decaffeinated), tea, cocoa, cola

– Tomatoes

– Citrus juices – orange, calamansi, grapefruit

– Fatty foods: fried meats, cold cuts, greasy French fries, French fries or fried pastries such as donuts

– Alcoholic beverages

– Dairy products – whole milk, butter, cheese

– High-fat salad dressings – sour cream, cream cheese

– Gas producing vegetables – broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, garlic, onion, cauliflower, cucumber, green pepper, turnip

Food to include:

– Caffeine-free tonics

– All lean and tender meats

– Birds without skin

– Seafood fish

– Eggs

– Soybeans (including tufu)

– Milk and low-fat and skimmed products

– Whole wheat crackers, graham crackers

– White or brown rice

– Noodles/spaghetti

– All vegetables except tomatoes