November 14, 2014 – the day my gallbladder left the building. While It happened quite suddenly, I can’t say that I was all that surprised. I had been having difficulties for over a year; trips to the GI doctor, herbal treatments, GERD. So when the day finally came and my gallbladder decided to leave with great fanfare in the form of an attack, it was almost a relief, well, not during the attack. The attack itself was painful – the most pain I have ever felt – uncontrollable pain, loud pain, pain that took a lot of morphine before I felt like I could breathe again.
According to my doctor, my gallbladder had grown twice its size and was sick. Two gallstones had escaped from the nest and were stuck to my insides like barnacles – everything needed to come out. Four days and two surgeries later, I was finally eating ice chips and feeling somewhat human. But eating as I had always known it had changed forever.
By nature, I’m curious. During my stay in the hospital, I did a lot of reading about the job of the gallbladder and the effects its absence would have on my body. All of my research made me take notice. Since the gallbladder is responsible for producing the bile necessary to digest fats and sugars, I knew changing my diet to low fat and eliminating added sugars was something I had to do immediately. Farewell cupcakes with buttercream frosting, so long greasy burgers – you will be missed.
During my recovery, I read everything I could about clean eating, and how to eliminate added sugar from my diet. I learned how to nourish my body with fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. I trolled the Internet for new, clean recipes and began experimenting with my new way of eating.
Knowing that my body can no longer properly process the fats and sugars that I used to pollute it with, I’m much more conscious of the foods I eat. My new way of eating is an exciting journey that I take quite seriously. And with that, I say, let the journey begin!
