RE: If its not gallstones, what then?

December 3, 2002

I too have had digestive symptoms first and then pain, but for me in the

left side, apparently we are all wired up differently and the pain for

gallstones can be on the left. I had an ultrasound and was told I had

gallstones, referred to a surgeon who said the ultrasound report was all

clear and showed I had no gallstones. He would not listen to me and said he

could only respond to the report. He then went on to say he suspected

stomach cancer! I went back to the ultrasound and was reexamined only to be

told again that I have a 1.4 gallstone and am now waiting to see the surgeon

again. I am taking berberis a herb, drinking loads of water, vitamin c, but

am very loath to do a liver flush. At the moment I do have a continuous

aching pain on the left side of my upper body. Even though I do have

gallstones I am not convinced that my symptoms are caused by them,

apparently many people have gallstones and are not aware of them. I have

read on these pages of people feeling no better after surgery and how

wonderful people feel after flushes, but I am not convinced I am so sick of

the pain I feel I may go ahead with an op if one is offered. Unlike in the

US I will not have to pay, but that it is still no reason to have your

gallbladder removed. Going to buy some special tea that I heard about from

this group yesterday something like Chandra pedra and see how that helps.

All the best to you and I know how confusing these symptoms can be. By the

way I had about 4 admissions to hospital with chest type pains and thought I

was having a heart attack, so the herbs etc have helped and also cutting out

fat in my diet.

>From: " art_muse " <art_muse@...>

>Reply-gallstones

>gallstones

>Subject: If its not gallstones, what then?

>Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2002 04:56:33 -0000

>

>About 3 weeks ago I began having an aching pain in my upper right

>chest area. It would come and go, but mainly at night when I went to

>bed I would feel it. It only lasted for maybe 30 seconds. After

>three days, I went to the doctor. I had also noticed that for a week

>prior to the chest pains, I had been having more indigestion, acidy

>stomach, a little acid reflux, and burping after I ate.

>

>My doctor said it could be any of three things (inflammation of the

>ribs, gallstones, anxiety). So she started me on a strong anti-

>inflammatory to see if that helped with the chest pains and gave me

>a strong antacid. The antacid helped with my indigestion (not with

>the burping) and my chest pains went away gradually after a week.

>

>However, a few days after seeing the doctor, I started having aches

>in my lower back, sides, stomach/gut area .. but mainly on my right

>side. So I went back to the doctor. She sent me to get an ultrasound

>to check for gallstones. She also tested my white blood count

>(normal .. so not fighting flu or infection) and my liver function.

>All blood work came back showing normal liver function. The

>ultrasound, which checked my stomach, liver, kidneys and gallbladder

>and bile duct, came back clear.

>

>Now, three weeks since the first symptom, the aching symptoms are

>all gone. My right side still feels a little strange (I think I was

>bruised from the ultrasound last week .. they have to " dig " in there

>to find that darn bile duct). I do still have some moderate

>indigestion and occasional burping. I have noticed that I have been

>more hungry the past 2 weeks as well .. craving more fatty foods

>that I usually never or rarely eat.

>

>One other thing has changed. For many weeks before this started, my

>stool was solid, yet soft and was a light brown sometimes with an

>orangish tint. During the last three weeks, I did have one movement

>where there was some floating stool (looked like several stones

>pressed together?). For the last week, my stool has been much more

>solid, less soft, but the color is still light brown with the

>slightest orange to it.

>

>So my question is .. could this have been my gallbadder? If a part

>of my stool was floating, was that possibly some stones? If my

>gallbladder is clear now .. maybe I just had a stone (group of

>stones) lodged that finally passed? Its strange that I had all of

>the classic symptoms of gallstones, but no stones. Maybe it is just

>anxiety?? I'm just thankful my ultrasound was clear, but I now want

>to make sure I take good care of my liver and gallbladder!

>

_________________________________________________________________

Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

December 3, 2002

Hi Gillie,

Just a quick one to say please please please do a liver flush and continue

with the dietry changes as I was in the same position at the beginning of

this year and would have jumped at the chance of surgery (I had to wait 4

months for an operation date and by the time the op was due, I had managed

to control the symptoms via these 'alternative' practices).

I'm in the UK and have added Chanca Piedra to my daily routine recently

(very good UK based company selling this

http://www.raintree-health.co.uk/ ). Although it is too soon to see any

difference (hoping for a reduction in the calcified gallstone size) , but

what I do know is I haven't had a single attack since March (after doing a

flush) and I had/have a 17mm calcified one in my gallbladder.

Just wanted to pass on the UK based company details as I know how hard it is

to try and trace these products outside the USA! (sorry...I'm presuming your

from the UK!)

Good luck,

Michele