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I've been vegan on and off for the last 4 years. I was having gall bladder attacks so they took it out. But I still get the same pains now after I consume fat. So I need to get away from fat completely, but does anyone else experience this or has anyone heard of this? I've told 3 doctors about it and they didn't seem concerned. I've started the Mcdougall plan because it's all I can do without feeling pain. Maybe that's a good thing.

Certainly keeps you on a short leash! Nearly everyone though can eat small amounts of fat (as in a Tbs of ground flax) without a gallbladder and without pain. Sometimes acupuncture can help relieve internal post surgical scarring or "energy blocks" that can cause that sort of problem.

When did you start eating the McDougall way? I also have pains when I eat fat and that is why i decided to eat the McDougall way. I started last Wednesday and so far have been feeling very well. I hope you feel well too.

Thanks. I've been struggling to stay away from fatty foods for years but that's not helping my weight issue. Then a couple of months ago I discovered Dr. McDougall MWL after reading the China Study. I haven't been as good as I could be. Sometimes I had a pizza every now and then. But I'm 56 and its time to stop clowning around. So now I'm down to business. No fat, no oil, hopefully no pain. Did you have your GB taken out?

Hmmm, scarring I hadn't thought of. Thanks.

No, I have not had my gallbladder removed. My mother had her's removed thirty years ago (when she was the same age I am now) and that is one reason for my concern. I must admit I am quite surprised over the quick reconciliation of my pain since following Dr. McDougall's eating plan.

I am 55 - very close to your age. I have no desire to eat pizza, since being pain free is so pleasant.

I'm with you there. As soon as I cut out the fat and oil I am pain free.

I should have posted also that sometimes I get a dull ache in the right side almost immediately after eating fatty foods, but not always. Then I get a sharp pain just below the sternum several hours up to 24 hours after a fatty meal.

Remember that the function of the gall bladder is to break down fat in food. Since you no longer have yours, there is no bile production to do the job. People without gall bladders have to be extra cautious about their fat intake.
Scarring at the surgical site would not respond to fat intake, as far as I can see.
My gall bladder has been gone for decades and I have a rather enlarged surgical scar.

Actually there is no change at all in bile production as it is made in the liver, only stored in the gallbladder. The difference is that instead of there being a big release at one time in response to higher fat content in a "meal", there is a slow, steady trickle. Scarring could easily partially block that release, slowing it even more. That would result in a lower tolerance for fat intake than someone else with no gallbladder but no scarring.

Hi there...I had my gallbladder removed thirty years ago when I was 24 years old. I cannot comfortably consume any type of fat. Over the years some of my relatives have had their gallbladders removed and they were fine, they could eat anything.

My doctor told me years ago that some people will have to restrict their diet forever and others can eat whatever they want. Here's a list of what I've eliminated from my diet...meat, dairy, oil, sugar, coffee, citrus, and wheat. I've been on McDougall's way of eating, mostly MWL, since January 19th of this year and feel fantastic. I can even eat small amounts of tomatoes now, they used to really bother me a lot.

I see my food restrictions as a blessing, my body wants whole, fresh foods, and I'm better off for it. I've done pretty much every type of way of eating you can find, this is the only one that works perfectly for me every time.

I see my food restrictions as a blessing, my body wants whole, fresh foods, and I'm better off for it. I've done pretty much every type of way of eating you can find, this is the only one that works perfectly for me every time.

I feel that way too. Now if I can just convince my APPETITE to get on board. My problem is not hunger, its craving all the wrong foods. Even as a vegan I will gravitate to the pasta and white rice and breads. The only way I'm going to survive long term health wise is the MWL just because of the food restrictions. But thats a different thread! Bottom line is: I eat fats and oil, and I pay with pain. There must be something wrong there but oh well.

I've been vegan on and off for the last 4 years.
Haha. A part time vegan is not a vegan. I should have said I've been on a strict fat reduced diet and limited my meat consumption MOST of the time.

If every once in awhile you have pizza or whatever you crave, your taste buds will not change. I was a potato chip addict. but after not eating ANY for one month I tried some and they were way too greasy for me and I am not temped by them at all now. But you have to give your taste buds 3-4 weeks to adjust.

And after that many many months for the "memory imprints" to fade out. I recently had a small, no cheese pizza and really enjoyed it but the hook was gone. It has been about 4 or 4 1/2 years since I tasted pizza, once my favorite food but I just did not dare. The previous trial after several months without, I had to wrestle with the devil for days after I wanted more so badly. This time, good and enough. Scratched the itch for something very spicy and way too salty.

My challenge has been and will always be I live with people who don't follow what I do, so their food is always in front of me. But there are lots of folks in that boat. I haven't had any fast food or pizza in over a month. Even then, it was more of a treat and not an every day thing. But I told my wife they must put cocain in fast food because it tasted so good and I wanted more. Slowly but surely I've changed my thought process: what food will cure me and what food will kill me. I have a 5 day road trip coming up that we be a challenge.