...did you feel better? I have been having ongoing problems with my gallbladder since 2006. My first major attack occurred while I was pg was ds. I had a second attack during the pregnancy too. After ds was born, I was fine for a while, then had another major attack last Christmas. I was sick for weeks after that one. I recently had another flare-up. I am annoyed, because every attack (with the exception of the most recent one) has landed me in the ER. I've had 2 ultrasounds, a HIDA scan, and an ulcer test (just to be sure). They could not find gallstones in the ultrasounds. The HIDA scan found that my gall bladder was not function correctly, but again, no stones. My doctor referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon told me that in cases where there are no stones, it is unlikely that having my gallbladder removed will solve the problem. WTF??! So here I am, still in pain, still not able to eat, and still feeling weak and tired, because they don't want to remove it.
My DH and I have always had a good, low fat diet. But I have noticed that even the slightest bit of caffeine will set it off..so I avoid it. I do have a strong family history for gall bladder issues...all of the women in my family have had theirs removed at some point in their life due to stones or disfuction.
If you had your gall bladder removed, did it improve your health? I am just at the end of my rope. I don't want to go through yet another attack, but the doctors just aren't any help at all. What should I do?
I'm in the same boat. Extremely low HIDA score, but no stones, apparently. The surgeon I consulted told me the same thing......that I'm not as likely to find relief from surgery as someone who has stones. (And, BTW, all the "flushes" people talk about don't work for those of us with low HIDA scores but no stones.)
So, that really convinced me to keep my gallbladder. Taking out the gallbladder is like removing a smoke alarm from your house just because it is going off. It's alerting you to bigger problems!!
You already know that caffeine is a trigger for you. So just avoid it. Completely. For me, rice is a huge trigger, especially brown rice. It will put me doubled-over in pain. So, I just don't eat it anymore.
Also, I have found huge relief in going to an acupuncturist. (But I had to find a good one--the first one I went to was terrible.) You'll have more luck if you find someone who actually trained in Asia.
Next, gallbladder problems are often a sign of Vitamin E deficiency. But you have to get Vit. E with "mixed tocopherols".
I'll post this and be back with more (sometimes I "lose" long posts.)
Ok. One more post from me. Since you said that you have a family history of gallbladder problems, it sounds like something genetic. The fact that you don't have stones, just dysfunction, makes me think your genetic problem could be this:
(Note: You may have to register to read the article, but it's free)
From the article:
"In someone with factor V Leiden, clots can arise in veins anywhere. The abnormality can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, miscarriage, gallbladder dysfunction, and toxemia of pregnancy."
And yes, I have that genetic problem. What do you do about it? Take a baby aspirin a day--which reminds me, I need to go take my aspirin! (You can get a blood test for Factor V Leiden if you want to. It's pronounced "Factor Five." It's a Roman numeral.)
So, that's all my wisdom from about three years of dealing with this. I do pretty well most days.....I feel a little pain now and then, but it's nothing like it used to be. You have to manage it like a chronic condition; it may never be totally healed, but it can get a lot better.
A&A, thanks for all the information. Reading that article was like a bomb going off...my father died suddenly last year from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 57. My mother cannot take birth control or estrogen, also because of a risk of clots. To my knowledge, no one in my family has been tested for this. I've got to get it check out! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Off to do some research...
A heating pad helps. Massage helps. Exercise helps. Losing weight if you are overweight helps (but I'm not really overweight.)
I do take Vit E...I'm actually kinda neurotic when it comes to supplements. When the pain is really bad, I use a warm compress soaked with caster oil - it's amazing how well it helps. I'm actually under-weight right now because I can't eat a whole lot. I've never been overweight, so that isn't my problem either.
I, too, have had attacks off and on for many years- lasting several days. No doctors could discover what the problem was. Multiple ultrasounds revealed nothing, an endoscopy showed nothing, finally a HIDA scan indicated that my gallbladder was not functioning properly. Unlike your medical practioner, mine immediately recommended surgery. I consulted some people that had theirs removed and it seems that most still had attacks off and on despite the removal. Plus, the diet you have to be on post surgery is ridiculous and we already have a really low fat, vegetarian diet. So I opted out of surgery.
Instead, I went to a really good homeopath. I was given a remedy, which I took that day. I had an attack the next day (this common with remedies as it is clearing your system) and ever since I've been attack free!! I was really worried about pregnancy exacerbating it, but I had no trouble whatsoever. It's just gone. This turned me into a believer in homeopathy! Since then we have also had success with a remedy for dd's eczema. I highly recommend giving it a try. It's not cheap: maybe around $200, but surgery would probably cost you more, not to mention an organ!
OMG I am a new person without my gallbladder. The HIDA scan found that my gallbladder was functioning at only 15%. I also had no stones, but I was vomiting 4-5 times a day, had excruciating back pain and I had nooooo energy. I got my gall bladder removed and it all went away the second i woke up from surgery. Flushes DO NOT work for people with no stones- there is no way to get functioning back in a gallbladder once it is gone and it will eventually create an environment that will create stones if you leave it in there because the bile that it is attempting to excrete will remain in the gall bladder and form a thick sludge. My gallbladder had been non-functioning for so long that it had become diseased and IF i HAD NOT have had it out, I could have died. What your surgeon told you is the exact opposite of what mine told me- My surgeon explained that mine was essentially rotting in my body, and that having it out was the only option to become healthy again. Have you had blood tests run? Is your white blood count high? Mine was 3X the normal level and it was because of my gallbladder.
Once again I am like a new person since it's been removed.
PM me if you have anymore questions and I can get into more specifics.
Originally Posted by KylieLove06
My gallbladder had been non-functioning for so long that it had become diseased and IF i HAD NOT have had it out, it was going to become gangrenous and I could have become very very very ill.
This happened to one of my aunts, which is why I am leaning towards surgery, although the doctors are not.
I had my gallbladder removed at the age of 23 - wish I'd had it done @ 19 when I first started having problems. Unfortunately for me I wasn't able to find anyone in the medical system that would listen to me, consider it might be more than a digestive upset.
After collapsing on the floor & having my then 3 year old have to call her daddy to come home & help us, I was finally able to get someone to pay attention.
Had the surgery a week later & 24 years later, don't miss it at all and never have. The pain was worse than anything I'd ever dealt with, including labor & delivery of 2 children. Pain free is so nice.
Originally Posted by KylieLove06
OMG I am a new person without my gallbladder. The HIDA scan found that my gallbladder was functioning at only 15%. I also had no stones, but I was vomiting 4-5 times a day, had excruciating back pain and I had nooooo energy. I got my gall bladder removed and it all went away the second i woke up from surgery. Flushes DO NOT work for people with no stones- there is no way to get functioning back in a gallbladder once it is gone and it will eventually create an environment that will create stones if you leave it in there because the bile that it is attempting to excrete will remain in the gall bladder and form a thick sludge. My gallbladder had been non-functioning for so long that it had become diseased and IF i HAD NOT have had it out, it was going to become gangrenous and I could have become very very very ill. What your surgeon told you is the exact opposite of what mine told me- My surgeon explained that mine was essentially rotting in my body, and that having it out was the only option to become healthy again. Have you had blood tests run? Is your white blood count high? Mine was 3X the normal level and it was because of my gallbladder.
Once again I am like a new person since it's been removed.
PM me if you have anymore questions and I can get into more specifics.
I know you didn't ask me specifically, but I thought I would respond anyway. My HIDA scan was NEGATIVE 15% (yes, -15%) three years ago. (Meaning that my gallbladder was actually expanding when it was supposed to contract.)
My white blood count was/is fine.
I AM BETTER. Not completely healed, but better. I'm living, breathing proof that you CAN make it better and not everyone with a low HIDA has to have surgery.
(But no, I don't know what my HIDA is now because I haven't had it retested.)
Originally Posted by slsurface
A&A, thanks for all the information. Reading that article was like a bomb going off...my father died suddenly last year from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 57. My mother cannot take birth control or estrogen, also because of a risk of clots. To my knowledge, no one in my family has been tested for this. I've got to get it check out! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Off to do some research...
So sorry about your dad.
It's important to know, but just realize that you CAN be denied life insurance if you find out you have this genetic problem.
If you don't want to get tested, but just want to protect yourself, you can take a baby aspirin a day (which thins the blood).
Originally Posted by slsurface
I do take Vit E...I'm actually kinda neurotic when it comes to supplements.
Does it contain "mixed tocopherols"? That's important.
And I'm going to recommend acupuncture again. I was really a skeptic, I have to admit. But my acupuncturist (well, the 2nd one) saved me from surgery, I'm convinced. He really helped lighten my pain load.
PS. If you do get tested for Factor V Leiden, perhaps you could PM me with your results, if you don't mind. I'd be really curious to figure out if there really is a huge link between Factor V and people with gallbladder dysfunction w/o stones. (Although both of my sisters have Factor V as well, and neither of them have problems with their gallbladders. Just "luck," I guess.) My cousin also has it. She was having miscarriages until she got on blood thinners. Thank god I never had pregnancy problems.
Originally Posted by Jaimee
I, too, have had attacks off and on for many years- lasting several days. No doctors could discover what the problem was. Multiple ultrasounds revealed nothing, an endoscopy showed nothing, finally a HIDA scan indicated that my gallbladder was not functioning properly. Unlike your medical practioner, mine immediately recommended surgery. I consulted some people that had theirs removed and it seems that most still had attacks off and on despite the removal. Plus, the diet you have to be on post surgery is ridiculous and we already have a really low fat, vegetarian diet. So I opted out of surgery.
Instead, I went to a really good homeopath. I was given a remedy, which I took that day. I had an attack the next day (this common with remedies as it is clearing your system) and ever since I've been attack free!! I was really worried about pregnancy exacerbating it, but I had no trouble whatsoever. It's just gone. This turned me into a believer in homeopathy! Since then we have also had success with a remedy for dd's eczema. I highly recommend giving it a try. It's not cheap: maybe around $200, but surgery would probably cost you more, not to mention an organ!
Good luck!
Jaimee, I was just curious as to which remedy you were given. Plesase let me know. Thanks
Originally Posted by Taysha
Jaimee, I was just curious as to which remedy you were given. Plesase let me know. Thanks
My homeopath and her supervisor (I went to Bastyr's teaching clinic in Seattle) deliberated for a while between two remedies and settled on Lycopodium. But keep in mind that this is a constitutional remedy specific to me. Yes, it is commonly prescribed for digestive issues, but it was also chosen because of my personality, so it may not be the right one for someone else suffering from gallbladder issues. I can't stress enough the need to go to a good homeopath.
I see you are in Texas. Are you near Austin? I have a good homeopath here in town.
No, I live close to Dallas. I see a homeopath. It's been some time since I've seen her, but i have a pretty good pharmacy of my own of homeopathic remedies.
I often forget to use them.
After I read your message I went & read a bit of my info. I used NUX Vomica, the nausea actually subsided.
I do not take a constitutional remedy, I really need to be re-evaluated.
Anyway, I'm not really having pain, although a couple of weeks ago I was.
It's just nausea, every time I eat.
I have been taking a Daily Detox, I decided to stop & see if it went away.
Yesterday was the last day though, so we'll see if that's it.
Anyway, I appreciate you talking to me.
I had my gallbladder out 7 years ago, no regrets at all. I absolutely feel better. Prior to surgery in between attacks I had a nagging soreness in my abdomen. I did not know what would cause an attack, by the time i had it out WATER would cause one. I was not on any special diet after surgery & have had no problems since then.
Since yours may be genetic I'd find out if the women in your family felt better after getting it taken out.
Originally Posted by Taysha
I used NUX Vomica, the nausea actually subsided.
I do not take a constitutional remedy, I really need to be re-evaluated.
Anyway, I'm not really having pain, although a couple of weeks ago I was.
It's just nausea, every time I eat.
I also was taking Nux vomica for a long time. I used the liquid version and would put several drops in my water bottle so that I was dosing all day long. I found this to really help the nausea as well- it at least kept it managable. I'm so grateful to be done with chronic treatments.
Once you have your own remedies, you can easily make your own. I don't know if your homeopath informed you on how or not, but mine is a lady who was being threatened by the FDA to be shut down. So she wanted as many of her patients to have a wide variety of remedies to keep them going.
Anyway, since taking the Nux last night I have not had nausea thus far. I'm trying not to, but I keep anticipating it will come. Like I said I often forget to use these, or sometimes when I have used them I didn't get the right one & it became frustrating. I am against surgery, & I don't care much for doctors, for the most part, they are helpless! I know if I go to the doctor, it will be alot of $, & no answers, or answers that I don't want to be part of. How old are you? Have you ever heard of the program, "women to women"?
Just to update about my condition. I am nearly to the point where anything at all in my digestive system makes me terribly sick. I just had another attack tonight uke and I am feeling really queasy as I write this. I have tried a lot of natural remedies for the past 2 1/2 years, but I think I am beyond that at this point - I realize that this may not be a popular opinion at MDC, but I am truly very sick and I think I need to have it removed. I am the sort of person who avoids doctors and medical procedures at all costs, so I am not taking the decision for surgery lightly. I'm going to go lay down now...
Originally Posted by slsurface
Just to update about my condition. I am nearly to the point where anything at all in my digestive system makes me terribly sick. I just had another attack tonight uke and I am feeling really queasy as I write this. I have tried a lot of natural remedies for the past 2 1/2 years, but I think I am beyond that at this point - I realize that this may not be a popular opinion at MDC, but I am truly very sick and I think I need to have it removed. I am the sort of person who avoids doctors and medical procedures at all costs, so I am not taking the decision for surgery lightly. I'm going to go lay down now...
I'm sorry you don't feel well.
I don't blame you if you have surgery. I just wanted you to know what had worked for me. Give us an update later on how you are doing (whether or not you have surgery.)
I had my gallbladder out in Sept. 2006. Absolutely no regrets at all.
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