Re: Gallbladder problems now? It's time for another opinion

June 26, 2008

I also have Crohn's and a gallstone. I don't know about the

function rate, but I don't have any symptoms. I hope to start LDN

on Monday.

At 01:39 PM 6/26/2008 +0000, you wrote:

Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have

been pretty ok. Only taking

Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a hidascan

that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is suppossed

to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and GP

aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse

functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and got

better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to see a

alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the info

for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is my no.

1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

friends.

June 26, 2008

gallbladder problems are many times related to too much estrogen in

the system.you can ask your doctor about using dim to regulate the

estrogen and natural progesterone cream to balance the

estrogene.extra magnesium can also help.for acute problems you can

read in the book by balch,presciption for nutrional healings.

>

> Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

> having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

hidascan

> that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

suppossed

> to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and

GP

> aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse

> functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and

got

> better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to

see a

> alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the

info

> for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is

my no.

> 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.

>

June 26, 2008

i'm not sure it's estrogen, since I'm a male, but who knows. I did

read that too much iron can be a cause and I've been taking iron

pills for a long time to supplement.

> >

> > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

> > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

> hidascan

> > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

> suppossed

> > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and

> GP

> > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with

worse

> > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery

and

> got

> > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to

> see a

> > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the

> info

> > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is

> my no.

> > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

friends.

> >

>

June 26, 2008

most of the men today above 40 are estrogen dominant.you can go to

the site of dr randolph and try there to ask about it.

http://www.hormonewell.com/male_menopause_andropause.htm

> > >

> > > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only

taking

> > > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I

started

> > > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

> > hidascan

> > > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

> > suppossed

> > > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI

and

> > GP

> > > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with

> worse

> > > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery

> and

> > got

> > > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going

to

> > see a

> > > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all

the

> > info

> > > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> > > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder

is

> > my no.

> > > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

> friends.

> > >

> >

>

June 26, 2008

Cholecystitis is one of the most common diseases, but does seem to strike women much more than men. I don't know if it is estrogen related..I'll have to ask that - never heard that before. But the common saying in the medical community is the 5 "Fs". Fair, Fat, Forty, Flatulent, and Female. It is a RX for gall bladder disease. I don't believe your gall bladder ever gets "better", but many have episodic cholecystitis and it is up to how much you can tolerate the symptoms as to whether you need it out. The other thing to consider is ACUTE cholecystitis, this is painful and of course dangerous and is a surgical issue. If you have a lot of stones or sludge in your GB, have it out. It will only get worse or you will obstruct the duct - not good. Modern laparoscopic surgery takes 30-45 minutes or so and is an easy recovery. You can be back to work doing LGHT duty in two weeks. I have seen people

come back in 4-5 days, but would not recommend it. Lots of luck! I am the only remaining member of my family that still harbors a gall bladder. I do have some MILD RUQ pain now and then but it does resolve in a day or two, So this can be hereditary by nature. Best Bob C. mtbaumgaertel <mtbaumgaertel@...> wrote: i'm not sure it's estrogen, since I'm a male, but who knows. I did read that too much iron can be a cause and I've been taking iron pills for a

long time to supplement.> >> > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking > > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started > > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an

ultrasound and a > hidascan > > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is > suppossed > > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and > GP > > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse > > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and > got > > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to > see a > > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the > info > > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a > > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is > my no. > > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.> >>

June 26, 2008

I went to my a Dr a couple years back and I was telling how many times I went to bathroom. I said I think my testosterone has all turned to estrogen because I now had a weak bladder and big boobs. No offense ladies.

I got that little boyish outta him on that.

[low dose naltrexone] Re: Gallbladder problems now? It's time for another opinion

i'm not sure it's estrogen, since I'm a male, but who knows. I did read that too much iron can be a cause and I've been taking iron pills for a long time to supplement.>> gallbladder Messages in this topic (4) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

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June 26, 2008

My 2 cents thrown in here(I'm a gynecologist)----Have your estradiol and total estrogens( shows some cross reactivity with xenoestrogens such as pesticides and animal hormones, free and total testosterone evaluated. Men can have high estogen levels and low testosterone. CDO

----- Original Message -----

I went to my a Dr a couple years back and I was telling how many times I went to bathroom. I said I think my testosterone has all turned to estrogen because I now had a weak bladder and big boobs. No offense ladies.

I got that little boyish outta him on that.

i'm not sure it's estrogen, since I'm a male, but who knows. I did read that too much iron can be a cause and I've been taking iron pills for a long time to supplement.

..

June 26, 2008

From what I read, there is a link between kidney stones and gall stones with Crohn's. I have Crohn's, diagnosed in 2003 and have had kidney stones and my gall bladder removed. Becky

Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a hidascan that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is suppossed to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and GP aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and got better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to see a alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the info for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is my no. 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.

June 26, 2008

Interesting about the estrogen levels. I've been crying all the time

and also urinating alot. they said for the urination I have

prostatitis. I thought the crying was just because I was having

trouble dealing with things. hmmm.

>

> Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

> having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a hidascan

> that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

suppossed

> to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and GP

> aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse

> functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and

got

> better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to see

a

> alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the info

> for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is my

no.

> 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.

>

June 26, 2008

Yeah this definitely is not an acute attack. It's just a small pain

that I have. It has gotten no worse in 3 weeks. I've been taking so

many other medicines, I'm not so sure this can't be fixed. Over

production of iron slow the gallbladder down. I've been taking tons

of iron where that would make sense. again, if I get an attack, it

can come out, but not yet.

> > >

> > > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> > > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I

started

> > > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

> > hidascan

> > > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

> > suppossed

> > > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and

> > GP

> > > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with

> worse

> > > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery

> and

> > got

> > > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to

> > see a

> > > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the

> > info

> > > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> > > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is

> > my no.

> > > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

> friends.

> > >

> >

>

June 26, 2008

Too bad! Because you are partly right, most men after 40 have low

testosterone. They get the beer gut thing and man boobs.

mary

> >

> > gallbladder Messages in this topic (4) Reply (via web post) |

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June 26, 2008

from my experience the medical community knows very little .the fact

that you do not about estrogen in relation to gallbladder is just

proving the point.the same they do not know to balance women with

bio identical hormones ,the same millions are not treated for their

thyroid and are given antidepressiva,etc,etc,etc,etc

> > >

> > > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> > > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I

started

> > > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

> > hidascan

> > > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

> > suppossed

> > > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and

> > GP

> > > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with

> worse

> > > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery

> and

> > got

> > > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to

> > see a

> > > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the

> > info

> > > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> > > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is

> > my no.

> > > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

> friends.

> > >

> >

>

June 26, 2008

>>the fact that you do not about estrogen in relation to gallbladder is just proving the point.<< Not really proving any point in my case. I'm am not a doctor, but assisted in hunderds of cholecystectomies in my clinical days. That's why I said I would ask around. I supect most endocrinologists and internal medicine MDs would make this connection if it is a fact. In my personal experience we were not diagnostic clinicians. Besides, changing your estrogen vs testosterone levels probably would not reverse a diseased gallbladder! It's too late maybe? It's far too easy to remove the offending organ, with a lot of experience in the outcomes and relief very quickly. Now...it is also interesting to note that a lot of people who lose a significant amount of weight develop cholecystitis. This sort of flies in the face of the estrogen thing. You could rationalize that

most of these people were working out a LOT more and increasing their testosterone levels, as opposed to their estrogen. I'll be asking around and get back on this. BCzahavi <zahavi100@...> wrote: from my experience the medical community knows very little .the fact that you do not about estrogen in relation to gallbladder is just proving the point.the same they do not know to balance women with bio identical hormones ,the same millions are not treated for their thyroid and are given

antidepressiva,etc,etc,etc,etc> > >> > > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking > > > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started > > > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a > > hidascan > > > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

> > suppossed > > > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and > > GP > > > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with > worse > > > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery > and > > got > > > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to > > see a > > > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the > > info > > > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a > > > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is > > my no. > > > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and > friends.> > >> >>

June 26, 2008

Hi,

This takes me back half a lifetime :-)

When I was in nursing school we learned the " Four F's, Fair,

Fat, Forty and Four pregnancies " , not as RX for gallbladder disease,

but as predisposing factors. I'd call Flatulence symptomatic.

I agree with your advice regarding surgery. Gall bladder attacks are

no laughing matter, can feel like heart attack, end up in chronic

inflammation, which severly taxes one's system, or even in rupture,

neccessitating emergency surgery. Not good! I also heard, long ago,

that cancer of the gall bladder is rarely seen in the absence of

stones, so I'd say, to anyone who has gallstones, get that thing out ASAP!

And, as you point out, the surgery is so much improved these days, it

is not nearly the ordeal it used to be. And I do believe that LDN can

aid in recovery from any surgery.

Konnie

.... the common saying in the medical community is the 5 " Fs " . Fair,

Fat, Forty, Flatulent, and Female. It is a RX for gall bladder disease.

> I don't believe your gall bladder ever gets " better " , but many

have episodic cholecystitis and it is up to how much you can tolerate

the symptoms as to whether you need it out.

June 26, 2008

--I had my gallbladder out when I was 8 months pregnant with my third

child. The pain I went through for years when the stone would roll

into the duct was worse than any labor I have ever had (and had that

child 100% natural)Took years for me to be diagnosed (which seems to

be the case for me every time something is wrong)The surgery was a

breeze, with no problems. I had a friend that almost died from

ignoring the pain. She got pancreatits and had her last rights read to

her just before surgery. And one who had the surgery years ago, and

the little piece of tissue that was left developed problems for her,

and she had to have another surgery, but this is rare.

In my case, they think it was from too much fat in the diet. Lord

knows that is probably the cause of all my health issues....bad diet!!

OHHH, if I only knew then what I know now..(my parents are laughing in

their graves...hehe)

Saundra

June 26, 2008

Hi,

Did anyone offer a clue as to why your gallbladder function is not up

to par? I think that is a very important question, to get to the root

of the problem. If you've got stones and gravel in there, with

resulting inflammatory reaction, then I think you should seriously

consider removal, before you reach a crisis. If you have no stones,

and this is all related to your Crohn's, then it may be that LDN would

help. You could take a " wait and see " attitude in that case, with LDN.

Your GI is just wrong, IMHO, when he says he sees LDN as a merely

painkiller. Apparently he has not studied it deeply enough! Typical.

Just hand him a few of the posts from people with Crohn's, to show him

how it has truly given them their lives back, eliminated, or at least

ameliorated, their symptoms, and actually, demonstrably, healed their

gut lesions!

Remember, no retreat, no surrender!

Good luck, and God bless you too.

You are very fortunate to have supportive friends and family.

Please continue to let the group know how you are doing.

Konnie

>

> Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

> having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a hidascan

> that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is suppossed

> to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and GP

> aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse

> functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and got

> better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to see a

> alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the info

> for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is my no.

> 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.

>

June 26, 2008

Thanks very much for the nice note. Yes, he said the gallbladder is

probably because of the Crohn's but he thought I'd have stones, which

I don't. and as I said, my GP said it's up to me and that my GB

functioning is better than others she's seen and those people have

not have the surgery either. so, yes I'm definitely doing a wait and

see approach. I thought the same thing when he called LDN a pain

kiler, when there are pictures that show a clear bowel after usage.

I am trying to get an appointment with an internist, who is

homeopathic. He is listed as prescribing LDN. I didn't follow

through with this 2 weeks ago. this time I am determined to.

> >

> > Well, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking

> > Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started

> > having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a

hidascan

> > that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is

suppossed

> > to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and

GP

> > aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with

worse

> > functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery

and got

> > better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to

see a

> > alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the

info

> > for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a

> > painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is

my no.

> > 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and

friends.

> >

>

June 26, 2008

My daughter's pain was located in the right upper quadrant (when she

was only 12 - she is 14 now) and had worsened until it was constant

and severe. She could actually pinpoint the pain with one finger.

She spent a week in the hospital undergoing all sorts of invasive

tests. The last test that they did was the hidascan which showed

only a 6% ejection fraction, which meant that the gallbladder

basically was not working. She had already had her 2nd upper

endoscopy that did not reveal anything, so they removed her

gallbladder, stating that there was a 50/50 chance if it really

helped her (i.e., it will either work or it won't). After removing

the gallbladder they discovered that it was perfectly healthy and

removal did nothing to alleviate the pain. We were then told to see

a behaviorist so she could learn to live with the pain.

Finally, a doctor in Cleveland did a third upper endoscopy and was

carefull when moving through the upper duodenum where her pain was

located. She stated that it was an unusual location and she is not

surprised that other doctors had missed the Crohn's lesions, but

there they were - right where all of the pain was - in her upper

doudenum located in the area that all of the bile ducts entered.

(Not an option to remove the affected area). They believe that the

location of the lesions was affecting the proper emptying of the

gallbladder, which was evident in the hidascan.

My point is that it could definitely be Crohn's vs. gallbladder

stones or disease. You are wise to keep your gallbladder if it is

healthy as it does serve a purpose and removal can seriously affect

your bowels and digestion. My daughter fortunately still has regular

bowel movements, but I know others who have had their gallbladder

removed with significant adverse affects.

Deanelle

June 27, 2008

>>there they were - right where all of the pain was - in her upper doudenum located in the area that all of the bile ducts entered. << This area is part of a routine EGD study, and a lot of attention is paid to that area. If it was missed there are only two possible reasons: 1. There were no active lesions at the time and these were healed. 2. The first doctor was not very good at this procedure. Yes, it can be somewhat difficult, but there would be no point in doing an EGD for RUQ pain and not pay particular attention to that area. Something doesn't add up here.... BC helpren2 <drpayne@...> wrote: My daughter's pain was located in the right upper quadrant (when she was only 12 - she is 14 now) and had worsened until it was constant and severe. She could actually pinpoint the pain with one finger. She spent a week in the hospital undergoing all sorts of invasive tests. The last test that they did was the hidascan which showed only a 6% ejection fraction, which meant that the gallbladder basically was not working. She had already had her 2nd upper endoscopy that did not reveal anything, so they removed her gallbladder, stating that there was a 50/50 chance if it really helped her (i.e.,

it will either work or it won't). After removing the gallbladder they discovered that it was perfectly healthy and removal did nothing to alleviate the pain. We were then told to see a behaviorist so she could learn to live with the pain.Finally, a doctor in Cleveland did a third upper endoscopy and was carefull when moving through the upper duodenum where her pain was located. She stated that it was an unusual location and she is not surprised that other doctors had missed the Crohn's lesions, but there they were - right where all of the pain was - in her upper doudenum located in the area that all of the bile ducts entered. (Not an option to remove the affected area). They believe that the location of the lesions was affecting the proper emptying of the gallbladder, which was evident in the hidascan.My point is that it could definitely be Crohn's vs. gallbladder stones or disease. You are wise to keep your

gallbladder if it is healthy as it does serve a purpose and removal can seriously affect your bowels and digestion. My daughter fortunately still has regular bowel movements, but I know others who have had their gallbladder removed with significant adverse affects.Deanelle

June 27, 2008

BC-We would agree that something was and is not right. It should

never have taken that long and that many invasive procedures to

identify the lesions and the cause of the RUQ pain. I can't begin to

relay to you the physical and emotional pain that she has been

through.

Logic would dictate that the lesions existed at the time of the first

two upper endoscopies - 1st in Jan '04; 2nd in Oct '05 - since the

lesions were the cause of the RUQ pain and she was in pain at the

time of the endoscopies. That leaves a level of incompetence that we

have continually run into over the years. I believe that part of the

reason that the first two doctors did not find anything is because

they went into it not expecting to find anything. When both doctors

reported back to us after the endoscopy, they indicated that

everything appeared normal and that they had not expected to find

anything. At the time I had a 12-year old child pinpointing severe

pain in her right upper quadrant and I'm left with IBS as a possible

diagnosis and the advice to send her to a behaviorist.

I know that doctors tend to cover for each other, so perhaps that was

part of the explanation from our Cleveland GI that finally found the

lesions in her upper duodenum. (Based on our daughter's blood work

and symptoms, this doctor went in expecting to find a cause.) I can

only tell you what we were told by the Cleveland GI when we asked why

these were not found earlier. Her comment was that she almost glided

past them and they could be missed because of their location. She

took multiple biopsies of the tissue in that area and it was

abnormal...I don't know exactly what abnormal meant, only that they

had finally found the cause....and my child was deemed not insane

afterall.

And then I finally found this site and after 8 weeks on LDN, the pain

had went from constant to gone and her 4th follow-up endoscopy in

November of 07 - two weeks after the 8 weeks on LDN; almost 4 years

after the pain began - showed that the lesions had healed and the

tissue biopsies came back normal.

I'll see if I can get her before-and-after endoscopy pictures scanned

tomorrow and email them to you if you are interested. I had

misplaced the before picture in the move and I've now located it.

Deanelle

June 27, 2008

Hi,

I would be interested in copies of the pictures too, it would be great encouragement for y daughter.

-- [low dose naltrexone] Re: Gallbladder problems now? It's time for another opinion

BC-We would agree that something was and is not right. It should never have taken that long and that many invasive procedures to identify the lesions and the cause of the RUQ pain. I can't begin to relay to you the physical and emotional pain that she has been through.Logic would dictate that the lesions existed at the time of the first two upper endoscopies - 1st in Jan '04; 2nd in Oct '05 - since the lesions were the cause of the RUQ pain and she was in pain at the time of the endoscopies. That leaves a level of incompetence that we have continually run into over the years. I believe that part of the reason that the first two doctors did not find anything is because they went into it not expecting to find anything. When both doctors reported back to us after the endoscopy, they indicated that everything appeared normal and that they had not expected to find anything. At the time I had a 12-year old child pinpointing severe pain in her right upper quadrant and I'm left with IBS as a possible diagnosis and the advice to send her to a behaviorist.I know that doctors tend to cover for each other, so perhaps that was part of the explanation from our Cleveland GI that finally found the lesions in her upper duodenum. (Based on our daughter's blood work and symptoms, this doctor went in expecting to find a cause.) I can only tell you what we were told by the Cleveland GI when we asked why these were not found earlier. Her comment was that she almost glided past them and they could be missed because of their location. She took multiple biopsies of the tissue in that area and it was abnormal...I don't know exactly what abnormal meant, only that they had finally found the cause....and my child was deemed not insane afterall.And then I finally found this site and after 8 weeks on LDN, the pain had went from constant to gone and her 4th follow-up endoscopy in November of 07 - two weeks after the 8 weeks on LDN; almost 4 years after the pain began - showed that the lesions had healed and the tissue biopsies came back normal.I'll see if I can get her before-and-after endoscopy pictures scanned tomorrow and email them to you if you are interested. I had misplaced the before picture in the move and I've now located it.Deanelle

June 29, 2008

Your doctor is wrong.

LDN is improving pain levels and even diarrhea, (haven't got one since september last year),

is also improving cramps, bloating, have reduced my inflammation in the small intestines so

the food I eat is not stuck in there anymore. I now am able to eat vegetables, onions, garlics,

and bananas. All of those was too dangerous for me to eat before september 2007.

I am another Crohnie with narrowed distal jejunum from 2003 and to 2007, Almost constantly in flares.

Now: feeling fantastic: no fevers, no bloating, no pain, no obstructions, no cramps. No lousy

electrolyte balance, no severe anemia. Due to (partial) obstructions: had them app. twice a month.

Haven't had one since the week before I started LDN. (I had then tapered off of a 3 month long prednisone

treatment - the inflammation should have been healed - but I had a really severe obstruction when tapering,

so pred.did nothing for me.

Hope LDN will solve your problems.

Good luck! Ingrid

[low dose naltrexone] Gallbladder problems now? It's time for another opinionWell, I have Crohn's disease. Have been pretty ok. Only taking Pentasa because of an allergic reaction Remicade. Now, I started having a pain under my rib cage. I had an ultrasound and a hidascan that show my gallbladder is functioning low at 21%. 35% is suppossed to be acceptable. they're referring me to a surgeon. my GI and GP aren't sure about surgery. my GP said she's had people with worse functioning gallbladders than me, they didn't have the surgery and got better. so, I'm doing what I should have done before. Going to see

a alternative doctor. He also prescribes LDN. I've read all the info for LDN. My GI said he studied the drug and only sees it as a painkiller. so I don't know. wish me luck. the gallbladder is my no. 1 priority right now. I have a very supportive family and friends.------------------------------------

June 29, 2008