Gallstones

[chrizzy100]

I know a few people here have talk about having them...well my Limo driver was taken ill in FL with Gallstones and nearly died...when the stones went to the lab...they were made up of the colouring in diet cokes etc....and that he has now been told not to drink ANY kind of dark diet drink...I don't know if this is of any interest to anyone who has had stones or not...

[LiesaAnna]

thats interesting Chrizzy, i never drink coke!!! i used to about 5 years ago, but not alot, mind you i find i cant stand any type of coke cola or pepsi, ugh yuk!! makes me feel sick just the thought of it!!

back to the drawing board!![msnwink]
hope your driver is better now?

[Newhomebuyer]

I had gallstones a few years ago. They were very very small and went floating about. They got stuck in my pancreatic duct and caused pancreatitis (apparently the other way to get pancreatitis is to drink too much alchohol)I got too much amalayse into my system and had to send for an ambulance.
They never told me what they were made of but I had always assumed that if you ate too many fatty foods they helped to cause them. I was told to reduce my intake of eggs once I had my gallbaladder out to fewer then 2 per week.
I don't know why I am so big when I think of all the bits that have been removed from my insides over the years for one reason or another there shouldn't be all this left.
I hope your driver is better now. I recovered from that op really quickly.

[chrizzy100]

Its seems its only dark diet drinks....normal ones are OK.......something to do with the low cal sugar and colouring mix maybe..
He is fine now....he picked us up from the airport....it was great to see him...he is now a long time friend....so it was a bit of a shock to find out he was so ill....

[Chloe]

I've not heard of that before as a possible cause. I believe they can be excruciatingly painful, thankfully I don't drink fizzy drinks, they give me the MOST awful indigestion and I feel like I am about to have a heart attack with the pain, so not tempted. Chloe

[bjpointon]

My MIL who is 85 suffers with gallstones and has had to have morphine to quell the pain. I did a bit of research and I have now got her Obbekjaers Pappermint Tabs and Peppermint Oil and she has one or two drinks of peppermint tea per day and the symptoms have almost disappeared, she has the odd day when she gets a severe bout of pain. She said it is worst than childbirth when the pain starts.

[LiesaAnna]

when i had that turn as we landed in florida in sept, i wanted to die, i have had 6 children and there is nothing i can compare with the pain of gallstones i wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy

[LiesaAnna]

i was told fatty foods, and i dont consciously have it in my diet!!!

[Ray&Sarah]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
i was told fatty foods, and i dont consciously have it in my diet!!!
[/quote]

My friend was told that too and it did seem to be certain fatty foods that set it off.[msnsmile]

[LiesaAnna]

i dont remember having any on the flight over, i even refused the cream with the afternoon tea, but the scone itself has butter so maybe it was that that set it off? i had roast chicken and picked at that, so that particular spell with gallstones couldnt tell what caused that!

[Ray&Sarah]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
i dont remember having any on the flight over, i even refused the cream with the afternoon tea, but the scone itself has butter so maybe it was that that set it off? i had roast chicken and picked at that, so that particular spell with gallstones couldnt tell what caused that!
[/quote]

Sounds as though you were really unlucky Liesa, you wouldn't think that a bit of butter would cause so much pain, would you?[msnscared]

[LiesaAnna]

no Sarah i wouldnt!! but guarenteed i wont have it again!! mind you after everything i have stuffed over christmas i am surprised it hasnt gone mad again!! am in to see digestive diseases Dr on jan 16th so hopefully will get rid before it goes mad again!!

[Ray&Sarah]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
no Sarah i wouldnt!! but guarenteed i wont have it again!! mind you after everything i have stuffed over christmas i am surprised it hasnt gone mad again!! am in to see digestive diseases Dr on jan 16th so hopefully will get rid before it goes mad again!!
[/quote]

Hope the Dr's appt goes well, will have fingers crossed that you are able to "get rid" in the near future.[msnsmile2]

[LiesaAnna]

thanks Sarah, me too, not sure how i will stand with the insurance company's if i still keep my gall bladder? with the next trip?

[julieanne]

Liesa - you will no doubt have to pay a slightly increased premium, or maybe an excess depending on your insurer. But getting covered shouldn't be a problem - do tell them about it though, honesty is the best policy!!

[LiesaAnna]

of course Julie, i would tell them! as i did high blood pressure and arthritis, no extra to pay, but now i fear its gonna go right up until theyre removed!

[CarolAnn]

Cripes! Not heard of the dark diet drink theory[:O] Not a big consummer of diet drinks, nor a real "fatty food" eater normally, well not so as you would notice anyway[msnwink], but can vouch for the pain caused if you have an attack of gallstones!! garlic butter on mushroom pasta was what alerted me!! Well, fortunately, I had my gall bladder out in July, and would highly recommend it to anyone! Best wishes Liesa[msnsmile2]

[LiesaAnna]

i wonder now you say that Carol, i went onto a healthy eating binge and ate tons of pasta!!!! with toms, mushrooms, onions, tuna etc etc so does make me think if pasta has a link?

[Susan J]

I had me gall bladder out years ago - was stick thin, had no problems, good diet, then got this absolutely frightening pain -there are no words to cover it, the pain is intense - went to Doctors [ how I got there I do not know] and he diagnosed it instantly - I had mine out - and was told it was hereditary - then a yeat later - my Mum got the same probs !! Mine was set off by drinking lemonade - I stay off Fizzy drinks now, and try to avoid fat in the main, apart from butter on toast, chicken curry......fish and chips..........won't affect your insurance, but they may put a stipulation in about pre existing conditions not being covered - get the bugger out, you'll feel great :)

[Newhomebuyer]

Liesa I was on my way to Orlando just a few weeks after having mine removed. I had a letter from the consultant to say I was fit to travel, no extra charge on insurance and no problems after any meals.
I had a laparascope not open surgery and it was such a relief after suffering the pain beforehand. Don't hesitate if you are offered the chance to have one.

[LiesaAnna]

thanks for the advice, will see whats to be said and done on the 16th of jan i think, must look it out!!!! and see if they will take it out when?

[CarolAnn]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Newhomebuyer
Liesa I was on my way to Orlando just a few weeks after having mine removed. I had a letter from the consultant to say I was fit to travel, no extra charge on insurance and no problems after any meals.
I had a laparascope not open surgery and it was such a relief after suffering the pain beforehand. Don't hesitate if you are offered the chance to have one.
[/quote]
Absolutely Angela:) Here Here!!

[chrisflowers]

I am sure you will be offered a lap(orascopic) Chole(cystectomy). The old fashioned op with an incision under the right ribcage is still sometimes used, but only if Lap Chole is not possible or there are complications.

The standard op caused problems for up to 6 months after, but Lap Choles(pronounced coleys) allow you to recover within a few days. One of my GI coleagues who did mine, said that he had a businessman who had the op and was back at work in the afternoon. When I had mine, I developed hiccoughs which drove me mad (the CO2 that they pump into your tummy to lift the abdominal wall away from the liver and bowel irritates the diaphragm and causes the hiccoughs).

I was off work for a couple of weeks and then plunged straight back in with no problems.

Any questions - just ask.

[LiesaAnna]

Thanks Chris, are you our "new" Ov medic??? (nostromo was before) [msnwink][msnwink] bit worried about having it out, no problems again now since arriving home! have had 2 bouts including the one last sept as we were leaving the plane after landing in florida, being taken off to hospital its as weird as how it started!! i only seem to have trouble once in a blue moon, so feel reluctant to have surgery, but i do remember wanting to die the pain was that bad!! oh well will just wait and see whats said on the 16th after my appointment with digestive diseases[msnscared]

[orlandobabe]

While you are waiting Liesa you can do a gall bladder flush.

I've done 4 now since having gall bladder pain 2 years ago and got rid of loads of stones.

It's very easy and is an old fashioned remedy and does work. Stones can form in the liver even if youhave your gall bladder removed.

The day of the flush eat organic apples and loads of water-(the pectin in apples help the stones to soften)

Then at 6pm juice an organic apple and mix with a tablespoon of epsom salts (can be bought at boots)

8pm-do the same.

The epsom salts open the bile ducts.

You'll probably find you need to visit the toilet.

Then at 10pm juice an organic grapefruit and get a cupful of the best organic olive oil you can buy. Mix up and drink through a straw-then put your liver to bed!

I often put a warm hot water bottle on top of my liver.

When you wake up-do the epsom and apple mix again.

You should find that you pass quite a few stones or chaff even.

If you wish-you might want to do the epsom-apple mix again several hours later.

I find the three doses enough as I probably have slightly more than 1 tablespoonful.

I usually do this when I have an attack. Ideally you should do it monthly until you stop getting stones out.

It also helps me with fluid retention in my legs. I last did it in November and have been great since.

You can read more at
www.curezone.com

[LiesaAnna]

very informative site OB, i then went on to look at other sites for gallstones and there are some very sceptical people out there, they dont believe in this "flushing" i will leave well alone until i have seen the Digestive people next week and see what they have to offer me, everything i have read says about pain under the right ribs, when i had my terrible "turn" i was in agony under the left side, but had had a bad lower right back for a few weeks and was being treated for a kidney infection, so i guess this is the pain in the back even tho it wasnt quite the right shoulder blade, it was diagnosed by ultra sound scan 2 years ago and since that scan it had been so quiet it was "forgotten" about then on re scanning in florida after being taken ill, they said my gall bladder was packed with stones, not sure what this Dr will do to me next week[msnscared]

[orlandobabe]

See what the doctor says Liesa-but I've done it 4 times and my daughter about 8 times and for a 28 year old-she had literally hundreds and hundreds of stones.

I want my mum to giveit a go too-but she's a bit scared.

Florida 3883 on here's wife is a nurse and she said it was very popular years ago and they used to get patients to do it while waiting for their surgery.

[LiesaAnna]

no think i will leave well alone for now, thanks anyway!![msnscared]

[ahagan]

Had mine out in April 05. Agree it was the worst pain ever and by the time I got to A&E at 5 am on a Monday I was on all fours! It was taken out the next day.

Prior to having it out I had so much tummy discomfort and pain. It was frequent - after every meal. Have had relief since it was taken out.

[LiesaAnna]

thing is with mine, not sure i should say this as i dont wanna tempt fate but i dont have a lot of trouble with mine, it was a few occasions before i had the first scan, then a tummy ache or two in 2004 then all hell let loose last sept 29th (will never forget it) so apart from a spell on the way home from florida as well havent had any problems since so not sure what to do now, nobody wants surgery!

[chrisflowers]

Leisa
Yes I am a doctor (breast cancer radiologist) but also do loads of ultrasound scans for ?cholecystitis

Interestingly, you can have stones without symptoms at all. There are 2 important complications - cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder wall which gets thickened and infected) and gallstone induced biliary colic/pancreatitis (which is aweful - having had it myself). Orlandobabe is correct that gallstones can still form after a cholecystectomy, but in real life, this is not usually a problem.

I personally would avoid 'old wives remedies' as advocated. They may be of help to one or two people, but you could equally induce biliary colic if you have a stone which is in the common bile duct at this moment, but not impacted up against the outlet in the duodenum.

[LiesaAnna]

Thanks Chris, i'll just see what they say next week it will be sods law i will refuse surgery for it, then it will play up again!! so will keep an open mind on it at present!!

[ALR]

I was told to avoid mineral water as a source of kidney stones which is something I'd never thought about. I know a kidney stone is different to a gall stone, but it's not something you really stop and think about when you are thirsty. I drink loads of water, and you would think it would be the healthy option.

[chrizzy100]

I must own up to only use old remedies....my doctor had great faith in how right I was all the time....

My grandmother was a healer..back in the days before the NHS...I learnt a lot from her..my kids had doctors who I worked with..and I only came out of the office with pills twice for them...most of the time I just wanted to be sure I was right....I know if I'd listened to the doctors.....I would not be walking now and in great pain 24/7....its a case of listening to your body and knowing when a doctor needs to be seen...and talking through with him other treatments....

[chrisflowers]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ALR
I was told to avoid mineral water as a source of kidney stones which is something I'd never thought about. I know a kidney stone is different to a gall stone, but it's not something you really stop and think about when you are thirsty. I drink loads of water, and you would think it would be the healthy option.
[/quote]

Mineral water contains all the trace elements and any heavy metals in the water supply of the region the water is taken from.

Some mineral water companies have been shut down due to high quantities of Magnesium or lead.
It is not necessarily healthier - just sterile (compared with tap water in some countries) and prevents you from getting Hepatitis or a nasty parasite

[LiesaAnna]

have finally been put on a 12- 16 week waiting list, but it doesnt really matter now as to when i have it out as we have cancelled this years hols, was a bit worried about that before but will relax now and wait for the tests, the Dr said he just wants to get his own scan pics and then get it out, didnt even examine me!!
just thought i'd keep you updated

[CarolAnn]

12-16 weeks doesn't sound too bad Liesa. Best wishes:)

[LiesaAnna]

thanks Carol, will keep you posted[msnwink]

[orlandobabe]

was doing a search for something and this came up.

Just wondered what the end result was.

Are you feeling better now?

[CarolAnn]

Well spotted! Any news Liesa?

[LiesaAnna]

am sure i did a post on it, had the little blighters out last october, 13 little green peas, was up and about within 2 hours of back from surgery, feeling better still having problems with my ever fluctating weight!!
next surgery should be for my knee replacement am on the waiting list said to be done by June 07, so should be running around in florida in sept
fingers crossed
thanks for asking xxx[beer]

[CarolAnn]

It must be my age Liesa[msnwink] I think you are right. You had told us! I think I was thinking of the knee op[msnsad] What ever they tell you to do to get back on track after the knee op Liesa, make sure you do young lady...nice and fit for that Florida trip...a real good reason too. Best wishes.

[LiesaAnna]

thanks Carol, just wish they would get a move on with knee op, feeling pretty desperate at times!