Has anyone done a gallbladder flush?

[lilmom]

Background info: I had terrible pain in my gallbladder toward the end of my pregnancy with DS. (he's 3.5 now) It was really awful. It was tender to the touch and so inflamed that the skin over it was actually red. After his birth, I had the HIDA scan done and they informed me there was nothing wrong with it, but that they could send me to an internist and I could have it out if I wanted to. I decided to give it a little time, because it seemed to be alot better post-delivery. After just a couple of weeks, there was no more inflammation or pain. Keep in mind I was eating very, very healthy both during and after the pregnancy. I had GD and even if I wanted to eat fatty, fried foods there was no way I would have. I have had no troubles since I was pregnant..

Until now. The past couple of weeks it has been bad and progressively getting worse. I have cut out sugar, anything remotely unhealthy in my diet, and even meat. Still eating fish..but nevertheless, no matter what I eat, it causes me pain.

I have ordered some Gold Coin Grass hoping it will crush the stones. (I'm sure there are stones. Something is obviously wrong!)

I'm thinking after I take the GCG I will try to do a gallbladder flush.

Has anybody done it? Did it work? Help? Was it an awful experience?

I really don't even care if it is awful, as long as it helps. I really don't want to have surgery if I can possibly avoid it, but I also can't go on letting it be unhealthy like it surely is.

[mombh]

What is Gold coin grass? and is it safe to take while breastfeeding??

I suspect gallbladder stones too, although I have never had pain I have experienced reflux with a twinge inbetween the shoulder blades.....

I have been thinking about the flush too, but I am a bit hesitant, waiting to hear what the other mamas here have to say:)

[lilmom]

It's a Chinese herb that is supposed to crush gallstones and make them easier to pass. You can get them through an herbalist or order online.

I have no idea if they are safe while breastfeeding or not though.

I hope someone else will reply and let us know if they've done the flush.

At any rate, I got the GCG today and I will let you know how it goes! I hope your pain gets resolved too. Mine started off not being very severe and worked it's way up to being absolutely miserable last time, so I'm hoping to stop it before it gets any worse.

[bluets]

I'm skeptical of gallbladder flushes.  your gallbladder empties whenever it needs to though you can stimulate release by pressing on a gallbladder acupressure point between ribs 5 and 6 (I think) on your right side.

gallbladder pain can be tied to gluten intolerance.  have you had liver enzymes done through bloodwork?  if they're elevated, i would definitely suspect gluten intolerance and would suggest a gluten elimination.

you can take lipase enzyme to take some load off your gallbladder. 

you can support gallbladder function by taking bitters (e.g., eating dandelion greens as a salad or a dandelion tincture before a meal) to stimulate digestion and bile release.  THAT would be a much more sound approach than using some herbal encapsulation that contains a bunch of herbs about which you know little.

[lilmom]

Thanks Bluets..I appreciate the input. I did not know gallbladder pain could be tied to gluten intolerance. I did try a gluten free diet about 2 yrs ago and I did not notice any difference in how I felt, however, I wasn't having trouble with my gallbladder at that time. If it was related to gluten though, would it bother me to eat ANYTHING or just food with gluten? I don't eat much with gluten anyway, but I seriously can't eat anything without pain right now.

I also have not had my liver enzymes tested, that I know of? Is that something I would have to request specifically? I have definitely had bloodwork done..but as far as I know no liver enzymes.

I will check into all the things you mentioned. But, I had great success with Chinese herbs (also through an herbalist) relating to my irregular cycles. They straightened me out and I was able to ovulate and get pregnant with my son, when I had struggled for years with that before. So I do have some faith in them. As with anything I take though, I will proceed with caution!

[bluets]

you would have to ask specifically for a liver panel.

my dh had nuclear scintigraphy done, where they injected him with radioactive technium and then visualized his gallbladder as it was functioning for 1.5 hours.  while he lay motionless on the exam table the whole time.  the results came back that his sphincter of Oddi was not functioning properly.  gluten can disrupt cholecystokinin (CCK) which triggers the sphincter to open and close to send out bile to digest fat (his pain peaked after a fatty meal with or without gluten).  it took about 1.5 years on enzymes and a very strict GF-diet before he was able to stop the enzymes and not have pain after a fatty meal.  now, we're just GF.

[lilmom]

Just as an update for anyone who might have been watching this..I decided not to do the flush at this time. The GCG did help significantly for several days, but now the pain is back and I have heard it is not a good idea to flush during an attack...so, my next step is to try cell salts and possibly some other herbs..a friend is about to loan me a book on herbal healing..so we'll see..I just really do not want to have to have it out.