Guest guest Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 , I got really sick and by Feb./08 had to quit work. Eventually they found a gallstone. I was in so much discomfort all the time and almost everytime I ate I had big digestive upset. By nov/08 my gallbladder was removed. Then I got REALLY sick. The surgery did absolutely nothing for me except weaken me. The extreme bloating and sick feeling were worse. I did liver cleanses last Fall and passed lots of large stones, 1/2 inch across some of them. In my case I believe it has been a congested liver and a sick gut that were the true culprits and not the gallbladder, which was just a symptom. DarleneIntestinal DysbiosisSCD 3 weeks To: BTVC-SCD Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 5:00:10 PMSubject: Gallstone Hi all,I've just be diagnosed with a mobile gallstone that apparently requires the removal of my gallbladder (yikes!). I've read that removing the gallbladder doesn't necessarily remove the pain, which is a worry. also, the doctor I saw (very unfriendly), said that a gallstone had no effect on digestion and removal of said organ would have zero effect on the rest of the digestive distress I have. Does anyone have any experience of this?ThanksIBS/IBD/mass food intolerance - 40 yearsSCD 3 months Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2010 Report Share Posted March 12, 2010 I've had IBS-D (at least that is the only known problem) for 20 years. A couple of years ago I began having a golf ball under my rib cage. It was finally determined that I had a low functioning gall bladder. I waited a year, thinking I could deal with the discomfort, but it only got worse. I had the surgery done after so many people telling me they were perfectly fine afterwards (my husband included!). The diarrhea I had following my surgery never really want away. I would try many different nutritional things (food combining, gluten free, caltrate (constipates you) and all only worked for a very short time period. I began SCD and did well for the first 7 weeks then the D came big time. During this past year following surgery I have had 5 docs tell me I should go on Questran, which what is often prescribed to post gall bladder surgeries where people have D. It is a cholesterol med that binds your bile. I always said I wanted to treat this nutritionally so I never took the meds. It wasn't until the 5th doc finally explained to me that it wasn't going to matter what I did nutritionally, until I stopped the constant dripping of bile nothing was going to help. I had so much liquid in my stomach (either bile or bile that produced way too much gastric juices) that I couldn't roll over in bed w/out my stomach liquid churning and churning and having to go to the bathroom. It was like that all day long....I tried to move slowly as to not upset my stomach. I hated going on this med, especially since it is full of sugar, but w/in just a few days the liquid stopped and the D amounts have decreased and are beginning to look better. I am still doing SCD because I've had issues for 20 years...I've just always been able to pull myself out of bad times but simply couldn't do that after my gall bladder was removed. I am working on healing my stomach but realized I needed this med to help. My thoughts on gall bladder removal (granted, stones are different that just low functioning), but if you have a compromised digestive system going into surgery, your chances might be higher that you might have side effects. Most healthy people I know didn't have any trouble...but that constant dripping of bile irritated my already bad digestive system. I HATE being on the meds, but food alone apparently wasn't going to help me. My doc said that a lot of people can wean themselves because hopefully your body realizes it doesn't need to make that much bile. I'm hoping that's what happens! I wish I had known about SCD before having my surgery....maybe I never would have had it done. And I have to tell myself not to get mad at myself for refusing meds for over a year when I had such a rotten stomach year...I could have possibly spared myself. BUT, then I never would have know about SCD and I will stick with this for a while! So....it all works out Marla From: Kim Mumbower Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 9:10 AM To: BTVC-SCD Subject: Re:Re: Gallstone Don’t get me started – I could vent on this issue for hours [grin]. Nearly every doctor tells us that removing the gallbladder usually causes no problems. And most patients recover. And there are some situations where you need to have the gallbladder removed, such as in your case. But there are also 15% of patients (number is probably higher by now) who aren’t helped or are made worse by having a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removed). I’m one of the 15%, and had a perfectly normal gallbladder removed because the doctors didn’t know about or didn’t think to test me for Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. I should have asked more questions, but it took me seeing several doctors (and 6 months) before I found my current gastroenterologist who was able to diagnose my problem. The pain level from my gallbladder malfunctioning were severe, and I couldn’t have lasted longer so would have had it removed anyway. My first suggestion is to get some other opinions. Ask one or two gastroenterologists or other doctors whether you do need your gallbladder removed. Having gallstones is serious, though, and you may be wise to have it removed anyway. A number of serious conditions can occur with gallstones, so you don’t want to take chances. I’m guessing ultrasounds and other scans identified a gallstone or two? But at the very least you might want a doctor who is more helpful and has a better attitude. Also make sure the surgeon has done a lot of cholecystectomies. You definitely want someone who is skilled and experienced getting in close to your common bile duct and gallbladder and liver… You might look for a gastroenterologist who is experienced and skilled enough to remove gallstones through the ERCP. Mine does, and patients come to him from all over the US as he can go in through the common bile duct and extract gallstones. At least for some patients, I expect there are some he can’t help. This might be an option for you in your area. My other suggestion is more of a supportive statement. If you do get your gallbladder removed, you have a good chance of recovery and your body will adapt to the loss. But it your body doesn’t, it isn’t the end of the world either. It isn’t difficult to make adjustments to your food choices to make your digestion work better, and even if you develop some chronic symptoms, that can be dealt with as well. Many people do fine for a year or two, then begin to develop problems. This, too, can be coped with. If you want to research the problems that occur after a gallbladder is removed, search for: post-cholecystectomy syndrome. But let me repeat, if you have a gallstone or two that can’t get down the common bile duct, then you don’t want to take any chances with developing serious (deadly) complications. Kim M. SCD 6 years Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi all,I've just be diagnosed with a mobile gallstone that apparently requires the removal of my gallbladder (yikes!). I've read that removing the gallbladder doesn't necessarily remove the pain, which is a worry. also, the doctor I saw (very unfriendly), said that a gallstone had no effect on digestion and removal of said organ would have zero effect on the rest of the digestive distress I have. Does anyone have any experience of this?ThanksIBS/IBD/mass food intolerance - 40 yearsSCD 3 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Marla I haven’t had to take Questran because apparently my bile output is lower than usual anyway, or so my gastroenterologist has informed me. I certainly don’t have D to contend with, I have the opposite because of poor motility. Anyway, I’ve heard of many good experiences with Questran, so I’m glad you are finding it helps. Kim M. SCD 6 years Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ….I hated going on this med, especially since it is full of sugar, but w/in just a few days the liquid stopped and the D amounts have decreased and are beginning to look better. I am still doing SCD because I've had issues for 20 years...I've just always been able to pull myself out of bad times but simply couldn't do that after my gall bladder was removed. I am working on healing my stomach but realized I needed this med to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Hi Steve, Thanks for the information - that's good to hear. I did the baking soda test first thing in the am and didn't burp until after 5 minutes and from what i've read that can indicate low stomach acid. I haven't been tested by my Dr. yet. I have some samples from Houston enzymes (ZyCarb, Trienza and AFP Peptizyde)i'm going to try if eating the foods i tolerate pureed for about 4-5 days - i'm on day 3 and it does seem to be helping. I've wondered if the digestive enzymes would help if you do have low acid. Thanks so much! > > > > I've heard the same from several people that had theirs removed - they still had the pain. The nutritionist i seen a couple of weeks ago mentioned to me to ask my Dr. about my upper right side pain (which i had mentioned it to her on my last visit) and she said a friend of hers had hers out and it helped her a lot. I guess like everything else everyone is different. I'm glad Holly you saw some improvement afterwards and you can still eat lots of fat. The nutritionist had mentioned that about maybe not being able digest fats as well without it and i thought ugh...i have a hard enough time now i sure don't need anything added to my digestive struggles. > > > > My pain subsides some when i drink a little lemon juice in my water so maybe it is just the liver/gall bladder struggling from the die-off and the little bit of lemon helps...i don't know. I can't do too much lemon though because it'll irritate my stomach. I think i'm low in stomach acid but don't know how to help that right now - maybe just keep doing small amounts of lemon juice about 2 times a week? I had stomach lining irritation last Aug. from my endoscopy and i think it's better but don't want to irritate it even more. > > > > > > SCD - 17 months > > SCD and anti-candida - 4 months > > Gluten sensitive and 1 DQ8 celiac gene diagnosis - 01/08 > > Gluten free - 01/08 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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