Gallstone Experience, etc.? Scully?

by patio34 23 Replies latest watchtower medical

• 

  yrs2long

  Pat,

  There are some discussion forums/groups on gallbladders/gallstones that you might find helpful. There is one on yahoo.com that requires membership in order to read and/or share.

  Although I had no indication for doing so, I underwent some natural therapies for eliminating gallstones. I lost about 7 pounds and there was stuff that came out that, to this day I have no idea what it may have been. I completed the process 3 times and each time seemed to eliminate larger although fewer 'stones' than the previous attempt. Again, I had no problems with my gallbladder nor with the passage of stones through the ducts so my experience will not be helpful to you.

  I am providing the following link for information/amusement. There are quite a few pictures on the site including some of an actual gallbladder surgery. There are also links to discussion boards. I am not affiliated in any way with this site.

  http://www.curezone.com/gallstones/default.asp

  Years (who avoids surgery as much as possible while recognizing that at some point it may become inevitable)
• 

  patio34

  Hi Blondie,

  Thanks for the reply. Frankly, it wasn't too reassuring to hear the doc's see-how-much-pain-you-can-take attitude, lol. Maybe it's the HMO rationale, eh? Next time, I'll be at the ER to get something stronger!! Ain't it awful when good body parts start to go bad?

  Pat
• 

  patio34

  Thanks Yrs2long! I'll go there right now!

  Pat
• 

  hillary_step

  Hello,

  Another avenue for serious exploration is the non-invasive treatment that is being pioneered by the Mayo Clinic. The treatment involves the insertion under local anaesthetic of a spaghetti sized catheter directly into the gall-bladder. A solution is pumped through this tube until it dissolves the stones whcih are then naturally washed out of the body. I understand that the procedure is carried out in out-patients.

  It does of course not stop stones from developing again in time, but is so non-invasive that it can be repeated every few years. Pregnancy and rapid dieting are classic irritants of these stones which it has to be remembered almost every person has. Why it erupts in others is still a bit of a mystery.

  I suppose if you fast slow it is much safer that a fast fast....lol

  Good luck - HS
• 

  breeze

  patio34....

  My wife had gallstone surgery on November 25th, 2002. She had struggled with them for a long time, although we didn't realize it until just before the surgery.

  The surgery is pretty simple now, they don't even make a big scar. She has four little tiny scars. She had the surgery on Monday and came home on Tuesday afternoon.

  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the excepted surgical type. I think the main concern with this procedure is the tearing of the bile ducts. They are trying to decide whether or not to repeat my wifes, it seems they didn't get all of the gallstones?

  If she ate anything greasy like bacon she had her symptoms.
• 

  patio34

  Hi HillaryStep,

  Thanks for the post. Actually, I did lose a lot of weight this year and then developed the gallstones. They were diagnosed early because of having a routine post-cancer liver ultrasound. Losing weight was a good thing, right? Oh, the irony. I'll be sure to ask my doc about the Mayo Clinic procedure. That sounds much better. Thanks!

  Hi Breeze,

  Glad your wife's surgery went well, but too bad about repeating it! One of my attacks (I've had 3) did follow a fatty meal, but yesterday's didn't. Thanks for the info.

  Oh, btw, Scully did send me an e-mail in response that was very helpful.

  Pat

  Thanks to everyone for responding to this!!

  Edited by - Patio34 on 29 December 2002 20:24:23
• 

  bigfloppydog

  I have had in my younger years around age 24 terrible attacks, It would start around 11 p.m. and continue for a couple of hours, I would be pacing the floor, because I could not lie down, that would make it worse. It hits people differently, my neighbour had attacks that would have her rolling on the floor. I had gallstones, she had a gallbladder infection. Even so, they are both painful. I had the operation at age 25, I had many small gallstones, some of which they put in a container and gave to me, they resemble pebbles, octagon shape. If one of these stones gets stuck in your gallbladder duct, that is what causes the pain to start. The doctor said you get these from eating to much fried foods. Come to think of it, we did eat alot of fries, KFC etc. When I had the operation, I had to be careful of fat intake, certain foods caused a reaction, even though I no longer had my gallbladder. This only went on for a little while. While I was in hospital, they had me on a strict diet of skim milk, jello, things of this sort. At home if I ate peanuts or hot dogs, they would trigger a reaction. My doctor when he discovered I was getting gallbladder attacks in the beginning, told me to take Mylanta, seems I was downing that stuff all the time, it was the only thing that softened the pain. Now I understand they have Mylanta (extra strength)
• 

  WildHorses

  Hi Pat,

  I had my gallbladder taken out back in 92. Protien would bring on my attacks. Stay away from it as much as possible. Especially peanutbutter, that always gave me an attack.

  Tink had hers taken out not to long ago also and said too that when she ate protien she had an attack.

  I believe your Dr will op for taking out your gallbladde if you keep having attacks. Mine took mine out after only suffering four attacks. I love that man!
• 

  target

  Pat:

  It is true that some people still have problems afterward but it has been 15 years since I had mine out and I have had no problems at all. I suffered with that damn thing for 15 years first. I did try some alternative thing that made me pass a bunch of stones. They just came right back and when I tried the same "cure" again it just made me throw up. It involved drinking a lot of salt water and then olive oil and lemon juice. It worked good the first time but after that I could not keep the salt water down.

  A few years down the road I went through the same thing with my appendix. It was acting up and giving me pain but I waited until it go horrible and I ended up in the emergency room. Same surgeon. He said I was what he called a "repeat offender".

  You know, we keep hoping the crap will just go away but it never does. Faulty parts to start with. I always blamed it on the fact that I was the 10th child and they made me from leftovers.

  Millie the 10th
• 

  SPAZnik

  Eating anything can bring on an attack.
  
  When you eat, your gallbladder automatically "squeezes" in order to secrete *bile*
  (a digestive "juice"). When it squeezes on the gallstones you feel it...big time.
  
  If your attacks have been mild, it could take any number of months or years for the situation to worsen.
  
  If you are not into "alternative" suggestions, then my only suggestions would be to consider:
  - taking a photo in memory of your scarless abdomen, while you still have the chance.
  - what to pack in your hospital bag when and if the doc says time to go under the knife to remove your gallbladder.
  - who can drive you to emergency once the attacks get so bad you cannot see straight or breathe.
  - who can take care of your dependants while you are recovering from surgery.
  
  Good luck, I envy you not!

  SPAZ

  ps - here's an informative site: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/gallstns/gallstns.htm