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Hi all I am just looking for some advice really, I am a slim 23 year old male who regularly plays sports etc.. Around 4 years ago I first had that sharp stabbing pain in my upper right abdomen going through to my back, went in an ambulance to hospital and was diagnosed with constipation. This happened 4/5 times before I was finally diagnosed with gallstones 2 years ago. I had another attack not long after being diagnosed and it gave me pancreatitis because it was blocked in the tube ( or something along those lines), I sort of blame this on the lack of support from the hospital on what I should be eating and avoiding, I mean they was serving me fish and chips, pie etc in hospital and I didn't know any different. I then had the camera down my throat to try and remove the gallstones that way but something went wrong and they couldn't remove them (there is 2 medium to large gallstones).
since then I have been watching my diet like a hawk and I am very happy with what I can and can't eat. I eat chocolate regularly, pastries, low fat cheese, muffins etc and none of these have given me an attack I eat them in moderation and never more than 8 grams of fat in one go. Thinking about it only fried food and cheese have given me attacks.. Now the only attack I have had in two years was my fault because I brought the wrong fish pie ( I am fine with the low fat youngs ones but I got the regular one with 4x the fat )
anyway I am scared to death of hospitals, my mom died aged only 40 a few years ago due to hospital negligence so I'd do anything to avoid having an operation on the nhs, it also doesn't help that I have severe anxiety.. The hospital want me to get it removed but I honestly feel like I can cope and would like to explore all possibilities first.
is it possible I could live happily ever after without getting my gallstones removed and just maintaining a low fat healthy diet? What would you do in my situation?
I have seen lots of people on these forums that are having difficulties after having their gallbladder removed so even if I go through with it there is no guarantee?
Any my advice would really be appreciated as I have no idea what to do, as I know any decision will last a lifetime.
Thanks, Rich
0 likes, 50 replies
anita03601 RichM
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I have had numerous operations down the years and so that is not the problem it's how it could affect my life after. It seems to be down to how your body will respond to not having a gallbladder so it's really if you are one of the lucky ones and everything is ok.
RichM anita03601
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Acejohnston RichM
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RichM Acejohnston
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Acejohnston RichM
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anita03601 RichM
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I tried to edt the previous post to this but you can't edit them.
Acejohnston anita03601
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RichM anita03601
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patricia30000 anita03601
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don't know if i have spoken to you before but have you had your gall bladder removed or are you tring others ways to cope with the pain of gall stones.sorry if i have already spoke to you.
Pat
anita03601 patricia30000
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I still have my gall bladder. I have been told that when I want to have it removed to let them know as I hadn't made up my mind. I am still finding out what food triggers it but am having more good days than when I first started with it. I get nausea, headches and tummy ache but not the terrible pain others have with it.
Acejohnston anita03601
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anita03601 Acejohnston
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Sorry to hear you are still suffering after this long. Thank you for the milk thistle tip I will try it. Now I am finding out what triggers the nausea I do not have it as much which is great. I am still finding out what foods give me the stomach ache but like anyhting it takes time as I have to elimate them one at a time. When you are told that if you have the op you may still have the symptoms then you wonder if it's worth having it, especially when I was told it's not at this moment necessary for me to have. If things got really worse then I would re-think but at the moment I am happy to try and control it myself.
Acejohnston anita03601
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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i have just brought myself some milk thistle and apple cider vingear
the milk thistlle is in tablet form 1 a day.so hear goes,i'm going to try and get rid of my stones,thought i had 18 weeks to decide if I wanted my gall bladder remove got letter yesterday and the op booked for early august,was hoping to have my injections for my back first as both doctors think its my back causing my pain and not the gb but they will take it out if i want to.still trying to decide but thought i would give this a go first,as it seems to have worked for some people on here.I 'm not going to let them remove my gb if I can help it.hope it works for you too please let me know how you get on
all the best
Pat
patricia30000 anita03601
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thanks for getting back to me,I have a date for my gall bladder op but really thought I had more time to decide.i just brought apple cidar viniger and milk thistle so going to give them ago. i realy want to have my injections in my back first to see if that helps,i 'm worried if i reject this date I will have to start all over again,I can cope with the pain at the moment but when I first had it in feb I would have had the op asap but not sure now having read some of the things people get after they have it removed. the doctor told me that I could still be in pain after the op and may have other problems as well.so going to do every thing possiable to avoid the op.do you have many gall stones I 'm frighten that one will move and then I shall be in more pain than i'm now but I surpose thats just done to luck. please keep in touch.i think gb problems are very simual.take care
Pat
please keep in touch with how you are doing
anita03601 patricia30000
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I had an scan and they found 1 large stone. It was another 5 months before I even found out that I had one as no one had told me that they had found one. All that time I was eating as usual which was just aggravating it. Once I knew that I had one I switched to a low fat diet and have been a lot better than I was. I still have bad days ( had one today). I can be fine then nausea and dizziness will come on then I feel tired. Feeling ok again now, I just do what my body tells me to do.
I also have a disc problem so they think that the pain I get in the lower back and sides is to do with that and not my gall bladder.
I would rather carry on like this for now than be in the 10% and things get worse after the op.
The decision was left to me and was told when I feel that I am ready to have it to let my Dr know so I will can get referred again to have it done. Good luck with whatever you decide and do what is right for you as only you knows how you feel and are coping with it.
Acejohnston patricia30000
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patricia30000 anita03601
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your story is very much like mine,both dr thing my pain is coming from my back and not the gall bladder,had MRI and although I have problems with my lower back,high up where the pain is now is just gerenal wear and tear.
thouht I had 18 weeks to decide only to get a letter saturday to say I can have it removed in August.i'm waiting to have facet joint injection in my spine,was hoping to get them before the op as this might cure the pain.At the moment i think I will put of the surgery until I have had them.Like you I can cope with the pain at the moment although if you had asked that question in feb i would have had the op then.I don't want to have the op and be left with the same pain and more problems.I have started taking milk thistle and apple cider vinegar in the hope this will help.hope this go well with you
keep in touch
Pat
patricia30000 Acejohnston
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they just said I have lots of gall stones about 3mm.sorry don't know what you mean whats ppis.at the moment I have decided to leave the op,try the mt and apple cidar and see how things go.want to get my injections in my back first and see if that helps.I'm just a bit worried about my gall stones moving and then being in a lot of pain like I was in feb.I am worryed about all the problems that you can get by having your gall bladder removed so think I will try and keep it for now.hope things keep getting better for you wll keep in touch
take care
Pat
Acejohnston patricia30000
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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thanks I think I'm making the right decision at the moment just hope I don't get a flare up like i had when this whole thing happened in feb.started on the mt and apple cidar.the mt is in tablet form which is ok,the apple cider 3 tablespoons in hot water 3x aday,it tastes terriorable made me want to be sick,can I add something to it.I am taking 1 Omeprazole 20mg a day not sure if there helping.i had my sunday roast with pudding and only had mild discomfort that why i think my gb is not to bad as I can eat what i want.will keep in touch hope alls getting better for you
take care
Pat x
Acejohnston patricia30000
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Acejohnston
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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thanks reread you reply and Inow know its only 1 tablespoon,it might be easier to take now.not been on omeprezole very long my gp said take 2 a day but they made me feel realy ill going to see a gp tomorror so will ask her.I really hoping that these two things will help me,know you have gall stones some how makes it hard to decide what to do,I'm frighten one will move and get stuck and with that will come that terrorable pain.might try and get the cidar apple in tablet form if I can't drink it.thanks again for your advice.will keep in touch
Pat x
Acejohnston patricia30000
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Acejohnston
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Acejohnston
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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will keep in touch
Pat x
Acejohnston patricia30000
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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have got the apple cider in tablet form so here goes,I have managed to postpone my gb op until November so hopefully I will be able to get the injections in my back done.I wonder why the don't offer you the medication or laser its proberly to dear,hope you will be feeling better soon,thanks for all your advice will let you know how I get on
take care
Pat x
Acejohnston patricia30000
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patricia30000 Acejohnston
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thanks for all your help
also found pressed apple juice in Marks & spensers so going to drink that too,it want be for the want of trying to get my gall stones to go away how are you getting on now,hope you find some relief soon
.will keep in touch
Pat x
Acejohnston patricia30000
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That's great and eat an apple a day too. I find the milk thistle very good for the indigestion and heartburn which I didn't have prior to the op either! There's definitely a hormone link in my case as I've just had my period for the last week and had the nausea and wanting to vomit really bad and now it's finished its gone! I have a cyst in my ovary so am wondering if that's part of the problem although have heard of other people who've had hormone issues after gallbladder removal. I think my acupuncturist is right that it's a hormone imbalance that caused all this in the first place as was on a hormone for a couple of years prescribed by my endocrinologist and one of the side effects is high estrogen! There is definitely a link too with birth control pills and hrt and gallbladder problems too. My acupuncturist has given me some other herbs too in conjunction with the milk thistle to balance the hormones. It's 7 months next week since my operation and it's been hell. I'm just praying my gp is right that it will all settle down in time. The longer this goes on the more frightened I'm becoming. But the milk thistle has really helped so am hoping another 6-8 weeks and things will have settled down. I wish you the best in getting rid of the stones. Let me know how your getting on. Will be thinking of you. Xx
anita03601 patricia30000
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I have been doing a lot of reading up on milk thistle and the apple cider and they all say ask your Dr before starting them. I have read 2 reports that were done this year and whilst they both said that they could help the gall bladder and liver they could also help the stone or stones to move and block the duct or even rupture the gall bladder. Milk thistle can also cause the gall bladder to contract.
To fully eliminate the stones you have to do a flush to get rid if them once they have been softened with the apple cider and milk thistle.
I would take the milk thistle if I had by gall bladder out at any time as it does seem to be good for that.
Take care,
Anita.
Acejohnston anita03601
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Thanks for sharing this. My understanding is that the flushes are usually the main cause of the stones getting stuck. I know a lot of people who've used the milk thistle and apple cider vinegar and it dissolved their Stones. Have heard of people who've had stones get stuck after a flush but not with Apple cider vinegar or the milk thistle. The milk thistle detoxes the liver. Gallstones are usually formed due to the liver becoming overloaded with toxins ie estrogen, cholesterol and the bile becomes thicker causing the stones to form. The milk thistle helps the liver and gallbladder work more efficiently and the bile flow more freely. The apple cider vinegar helps soften and dissolve the stones. Also when you have a lot of stones in your gallbladder it can't work properly and contract as it should to release bile when we eat food. Unfortunately most gallstones won't go away by themselves although some are passed without anyone realising they have passed. So you need to try and get rid of them if they are causing you problems. Some people have stones that cause them no issues at all. Doctors can prescribe medication to dissolve the stones but it can take a long time and stones may form again. They can also do laser treatment but they don't offer either of these as they say stones may form again. The key to this is the liver which needs to be detoxed and help to work more efficiently. X
anita03601 Acejohnston
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There were 2 case studies in the States this year and they say that milk thistle is good for gall bladder pain and does help keep the oestrogen levels down.
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patricia30000 anita03601
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thanks for the advice,I don't want to have my gall bladder removed if it is in fact my back causing the trouble,have postponed my op until Nov so that I can hopefully get my injections for my back,will try anything that might help get rid of the stones.keep in touch
Pat
Acejohnston anita03601
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