gallbladder removal

[Cosmos]

Actually that all does not sound good IMO and I think he should see a doc as fast as possible. When my mother needed to have her stones removed it was an accute case and she only started to get yellow skin and eyes hours before she had to be delivered into the hospital. Actually it was only then that the problem with the stones was even discovered and she finally couldn't take the pain anymore. After the emergency removal of the stones the docs decided that her gallbladder needs to be removed as fast as possible too.

 

[Cleo]

A short update on my nephew's health. I did meet my sister and nephew the day I last posted in this thread, and he received fluids. About a week or so later I believe, he had an endoscopy and the results showed he had an inflamed stomach (which is kinda a given really). It was reassuring that his appendix was not in worse condition. I was told just today that his blood sugar level (not fasting) was 108 mg/dL, which from what I understand is Pre-Diabetes but no longer at the level of Diabetes like it was before.

He has been eating and drinking again without the nausea and is definitely not as weak as he originally was. He still has some issues with digestion, but not as severe-what I believe taking the digestive enzymes will help with. I plan to get the book, Nutrition Therapy for Diabetes by Dr. Heikkilä. Not sure if my nephew would read it actually even though he seems interested in nutrition and open to the information (he's not much of reader). Think I'll buy it out of interest anyway and just pass on the information as I read it. Anyway, thanks again for the help I've received with all of this.

 

[Michal]

Hi nicklebleu,

Recently my close cousins had removed their gallbladders.
From time to time I notice in my stools that they are too white. So I think not enough bile was injected during digestion.
I am feeling also from time to time some sensation in my upper right abdomen just close to the stomach and just underneath the ribs.

I was wondering if there is a stone is it possible to remove it without surgery. For example ultrasonic waves - I heard that this is done with kidneys stones.
I have noticed also some articles about dissolving gallbladder stones by citron juice and/or apple cider vinegar.

When something is going on in my gallbladder what kind of actions would be the best for the beginning:
1. ultrasonography of abdomen?
2. checking enzymes? ... ?
3. other?

What could be the reason for having stones in the gallbladder?

I have checked it with gastroenterologist and:
1. Ultrasonic examination of abdomen: liver, gall bladder, kidneys - all OK, normal size, no blockages, no stones :)
2. Blood test with liver enzymes and kidneys check all OK
3. Stool came back to normal

So I do not know what could that be. Maybe some inflammation?
I have never used anti-fungals but as I see it on my skin some strange spots on my face, some small inflammation inside my ear skin, some small inflammation of my sinuses, recurring eczema around anus - i will try nystatin and other suggested here advises.

 

[Mike]

Looks like my gall bladder is going to have to be removed. I have been experiencing pain off and on from stones for a number of years and had an appointment set for a month from now with a GI doctor to discuss removal. I was leaning toward delaying until it became more of a problem. Yet that time seems to be now. The last 5-7 days the pain and discomfort has noticeably increased and is near constant, so the appointment has been moved up to tomorrow morning. Not sure when the surgery will be, but assume it will be soon. I'm able to eat fine right now, but do notice an increase in the discomfort when I eat just about anything.

If anyone has any pointers or information for the surgery and afterwards that might be helpful besides what has already been mentioned in this thread, it would be appreciated.

edit added: I found this post by Maria Emmerich on her website helpful in terms of gall bladder surgery, good practices for after surgery and staying keto/paleo - http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/pumpkin-bread-and-pudding-with-gall-bladder-facts/

 

[Foxx]

Looks like my gall bladder is going to have to be removed. I have been experiencing pain off and on from stones for a number of years and had an appointment set for a month from now with a GI doctor to discuss removal. I was leaning toward delaying until it became more of a problem. Yet that time seems to be now. The last 5-7 days the pain and discomfort has noticeably increased and is near constant, so the appointment has been moved up to tomorrow morning. Not sure when the surgery will be, but assume it will be soon. I'm able to eat fine right now, but do notice an increase in the discomfort when I eat just about anything.

Have you already gotten a recent diagnosis of having gallstones to be certain that that's the cause?

If it were me, I personally would do everything I could to avoid surgery and keep the gallbladder. It sounds like your problems aren't critical at the moment, so there may be some time to explore alternatives. As I've mentioned before, I've had really amazing results from Applied Kinesiology and would suggest trying that route to see if there were a way to repair the gallbladder and eliminate the stones before having it removed. I'd say it's at least worth the cost of seeing one and getting a second opinion before surgery. Here are some that look like they've been practicing for a while in your area (they're part of the ICAK network):

http://www.olneychiropracticcenter.com
http://www.rosellecare.com
http://www.ozellochiropractic.com/ reviews here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-a-ozello-dc-rockville
http://www.muscletestingdoctor.com/ reviews here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/robert-ciprian-dc-dibak-washington

If you want a bit of a longer trek, here's the guy I saw (and who I recommend highly):
https://www.google.com/maps/place/David+E.+Brents,+DC/@38.0315592,-78.4690995,18z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x2451e840dddf8fb

He let his website domain expire for some reason, but he's definitely still practicing.

 

[RedFox]

I second Foxx, I'd do everything I could to keep it - and fix it.

6 Body Parts Doctors Think Are Useless: How Little Do They Know

3. GALL BLADDER

Medical Claim: Just another part of the body that needs to be surgically removed especially when it produces gall stones.

Reality: The gallbladder serves an important digestive function. It is required to emulsify fats. The gallbladder stores bile and bile acids, which emulsify the fat one eats so it can be properly transported through the intestine into the blood stream.

Anyone who has their gallbladder removed needs to take some form of bile salts with every meal for the rest of their life, if they wish to prevent a good percentage of the good fats they eat from being flushed down the toilet. Since most people who remove their gall bladder ignore this advice, this is exactly what happens and they have little absorption of good fats. If one does not have enough fats in the diet, their entire physiology will be disrupted, especially the ability to make hormones and prostaglandins.

Instead of removing your gallbladder, lifestyle changes including changing dietary habits and exercise will prevent any non-life threatening problems that exist with your gallbladder, especially stones.

If you can't absorb fat, then you also won't be absorbing important fat soluble vitamins either.

University of Illinois study: exercise to avoid gallstones!
Turmeric repairs damaged liver tissues, promotes overall liver health

My general understanding is that gallbladder problems are to do with inflammation and lack of the right kinds of fat in the diet.
Incidentally, I know two people who had gallbladders removed - the pain didn't go away entirely, but did lesson.

 

[Gaby]

I would also see if I could keep it. Perhaps doing something simpler in terms of diet, i.e. the elimination diet, will help out during this period of time. At least you can postpone the surgery and see if this can be resolved.

 

[Mike]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

It sounds like your problems aren't critical at the moment, so there may be some time to explore alternatives.

The last day or two it has been a step or two below going to the emergency room and I called the urgent care help line for my medical provider to get the appointment tomorrow.

I called one of the Applied Kinesiologist from the links provided by Foxx and was able to talk to one of the doctors there since he was in between patients.

He said that given that I have a large stone and having significant discomfort that it may be too late to consider alternative treatments. He said that he does help people get rid of stones, but it takes a time frame of months to improve. So he suggested I see what the doctor says tomorrow about his opinion on waiting for surgery. If the doctor thinks the surgery is not necessary immediately as in an emergency, then I should call back and try the AK doctors help.

The AK doctor also said even if I go ahead with the surgery that there are things he could help me with in terms of after surgery and ensuring stones don't form in the bile duct, etc.

I'll see what the doctor says tomorrow.

 

[Foxx]

I'll see what the doctor says tomorrow.

Good luck Bear! I'm sorry to hear that you're in so much pain. The only other thing I wonder is have you asked them about that ultrasonic method of breaking up stones? I'm not sure if that doesn't work on stones beyond a certain size, but if that were an option, maybe that'd be worth looking into.

 

[Mike]

Thanks Foxx. I will bring that up again tomorrow, but since the doctor didn't see it as an option last time I saw him I assume the stone(s) are too large for it, since from what I have read they have to be under a certain size. I don't remember the exact size I have, yet they are supposed to be pretty large.

 

[Voyageur]

Was doing some reading after reading your post, and even Iodine was discussed in treatments, yet you seem very aware of the thresholds of discomfort you are experiencing along with the reality of that. Neverthelss, this may be worth while reading or not. All my best, Bear.

 

[Mike]

Thanks, voyageur. I had an ultrasound and blood work done yesterday, since the doctor wanted to make sure the problem was gallstones. He left me a voicemail, which was hard to hear, so I called and left a message to talk to him to make sure I understood what he said correctly. What I think he said is the blood work was fine and gallstones is the only problem indicated from the ultrasound. The pain and discomfort has subsided some, but it is still constant. The short of the doctors visit is that he highly recommends surgery to remove the gall bladder given my symptoms. He recommended I talk to the surgeon and he put in a request for an appointment, since he said that they are the most knowledgeable about the issue and what can be done if anything.

 

[Mike]

I recently saw a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) with one topic being my gallstone problem, since the only option and recommendation from the mainstream doctor and surgeon was removal of the gall bladder. My pain and discomfort has subsided significantly, yet has not gone away entirely. The medical doctor did say that the discomfort may just go away for a significant amount of time and I may not have another gall bladder attack for years.

The ND said that the gall stones can be reduced in size and future formation of stones can be stopped with supplementation with one aimed being to help the liver with optimal function. My liver enzymes according to the ND are out of whack. The ND's only main concern in the whole process is as the stone(s) is reduced in size there is a chance the stone can block or get stuck in the bile duct leading from the gall bladder and need a more serious surgery to correct if it happens. Right now I'm going to give reducing the size of the stone(s) a shot and not schedule the surgery to remove the gall bladder.

Thinking about a stone blocking the duct when it is reduced in size, I wonder wouldn't this have possibly happened as the stone grew in size?

I guess as with everything there is risk involved. Risk with surgery and having my digestion affected for live and risk with reducing the size and possible blockage.

One concern I have, which if it happens my gall bladder may be the least of my worries, is the full breakdown of the medical system in the future if economic collapse, etc happens leading to surgery not being available in any form.

 

[Lilou]

I think it is at least worth a shot to save your gallbladder. My brother had a stone stuck in his bile duct and it was removed without a hitch, along with the gallbladder. Best of luck with the natural remedy! As for a SHTF scenerio - I don't see that as something that will happen real soon.

 

[Mike]

Due to discomfort in various places in my abdomen that were coming and going starting a few months ago, including the area of the gall bladder, I decided to see a holistic doctor and also do a follow up with my mainstream medical provider.

The holistic doctor thought that the discomfort was most likely related to inflammation and in the area of the gall bladder due to the gall stone that I have. He recommended blood work testing for c-reactive protein to test for inflammation. I got the test done and it was negative. He recommended eliminating any sugar and lowering carbs to see if that would reduce the inflammation/discomfort. I have reduced them in conjunction with some supplements, such as betaine hcl and ox bile during meals and NAC and ALA before bed. 95% to 99% of the discomfort has gone away. As long as I take the supplements and keep my carbs in a lower range and fat intake reasonable the pain in all areas is gone and doesn’t come and go in various areas like I was experiencing. It is when I slip from the paleo type diet and eat something like dark chocolate that I notice the discomfort coming back.

The holistic doctor also brought up a medication he thought I should look into for reducing the gall stones size. The medication is ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid). I researched it some and I talked to the mainstream medicine GI specialist about it and was told this is only used for much smaller stones and usually for stones in the bile ducts. Mine is much too big to use on it.

When talking to the GI specialist, it turns out the reason I was having such problems with pain late last year is the gall stone, which is 1.4 cm in diameter, was lodged in the exit of the gall bladder according to the ultrasound done then. I was not told this last year when they recommended surgery or would have probably elected to have the surgery then.
I had another ultrasound completed recently before seeing the GI specialist and the stone is now free floating in the gall bladder. The doctor said that the stone is too big to pass and the only risk is if the stone blocks and gets stuck in the exit again. She said if this happens I could need emergency surgery.

My next step, besides keeping up liver support, is to look into Applied Kinesiology as recommended by Foxx to see about any options to reduce the size. Though at this point given the size of the stone and knowing what I need to do in terms of supplements and diet to keep from having discomfort, doing this is lower on my priority of things to do and I may just end up accepting to live with it.