? for VeganVixen (and anyone lacking a gallbladder)

[sachis2112]

Hiya! I'm lacking a gallbladder too. I gained weight right after I had mine removed at age 20. But very little at the time. A year later, I gain 60 lbs in a period of 6 months. My doctor freaked out and told me that most people lose weight after losing a gallbladder. I was happy to read that you'd put on weight to know that I wasn't alone. For me, I didn't have to be afraid to eat stuff anymore because I didn't get the pain I had before.

However, I continued to have pain over the years (I'm now 29) but certainly less frequent (about 2 or 3 times over a week every 6 months or so) and not nearly as intense. The other night, I was a mess. Out of nowhere, I just plain hurt for about an hour. Certainly better than the 9 hour crud I put up with before getting the gallbladder removed, but unpleasant all the same. In fact, as I type this, I still feel tender there.

Have you ever experienced this? I only know a couple people without gallbladders and I'm pretty sure one of them has the same trouble I do but she's cooked so I'm only going to get so far asking her questions. Have you noticed (as I've ascertained from some of your posts) that certain foods set it off? I thought I saw you mention nuts and grains. I don't eat a whole lot and often go for days without either. But when I do eat them, I don't seem to have trouble.

I guess I'm just looking for help. This last little attack was the worst I've had since my surgery 9 years ago. Usually it's just an uncomfortable pain in the butt and goes away after a little while. This last one had me pale, shakey, sweaty and crying. Any insight or suggestions? I think I'm just looking to know that I'm not alone.

[VeganVixen]

I definatley still have reprecussions,for one weight gain (YES ,I am too vain) I WAS 120-125 pre op then within 3 weeks after the surgery I went to 145 -It was I at the time was eating VERY little and what I did eat I threw up.It drove me nuts gaining and eating so little food......and OF COURSE the second problem being pains and poor digestion ,I bloat up REALLY easy ,and if I eat too much fat ,sugar or just too much food I will throw up (its like a reflux ,since a valve was inverted by a breathing tube during surgery) sometimes I have acid reflux and (sorry this is graphic) bile comes up ,but this never happens when I eat responsibly.

since then raw has helped ,Im now 130-135 (ish) and have better digestion,I rarely get the "attacks" that I had (of course I eat little fat or ref. sugar ) I used to get attacks 3-4 times a week ,they were intense ,I would frequent the E.R. so much that I knew the nurses and doctors names and shifts!I wasnt diagnosed for about 7 months and had no idea what was happening(it was scary) .....no one suspected g.b. stones b/c I was young and thin,sometimes the doctors told me it was "in my head" or it was "pms cramping" ~YEAH RIGHT! I fell out of a loft and ripped my liver in half ,I KNOW PAIN!!!

I notice water helps A LOT! and also to anybody thinking about g.b. removal ~try flushing first ,IT SHOULD BE LAST ,LAST ,LAST resort-your problems WONT vanish!!!!!!

but I agree it is nice to not worry about tremendous pain after eating!

[PixieGreen]

....and also to anybody thinking about g.b. removal ~try flushing first ,IT SHOULD BE LAST ,LAST ,LAST resort-your problems WONT vanish!!!!!!

Thank you for putting that reminder out there VVixen. I officially started my raw journey the day I did a gb flush. My gall bladder stones were painful, my food simply would not digest and I was so sluggish after eating I couldn't work. Thankfully [!] I don't have health insurance so I actively sought a natural self cure and the right book crossed my book at the right time. I really feel for you two. I'm so glad eating raw has helped ease your pain.

Christa

[sachis2112]

It could have been me writing that account. My first trip to the emergency room was on my 18th birthday. I was diagnosed with everything under the sun as far as digestive disorders are concerned. A year and a half later, my father had to call in sick at my work for me. My boss up 'till then had been getting really mad at me and even passed me up for promotion because I'd been missing so much work. She thought I was faking. After this, she knew I wasn't. She'd had her gallbaldder removed w/an emergency surgery so she started asking me questions about my pain. It was an exact match.

I had to litterally throw a tantrum to get the doctor to order an ultrasound. He wanted me to do another upper GI. Blech!

I hope that I find I have less in the way of attacks. Like I said, I don't have trouble if I eat fats or grains. Prior to surgery and prior to raw, I definately had trouble with volume of food but that's not the case anymore because I simply don't eat much. My only other longlasting problem is that some nerves were damaged in my right thigh so that it doesn't feel much sensation other than nasty pain when I bang into something. But I'm happy to report that it's getting better since I've gone raw!!! Woohoo! And I've only been raw for 38 days!!!! 100% for 18 days!

[VeganVixen]

He wanted me to do another upper GI. Blech!



lol I second that!Everybody (including my dad ) thought I was faking!It got so bad he actually started getting mad when I went to the E.R. because of the bill ......my mom HOWEVER knew better since she was in the car on the trip ,and heard me saying that I dont know If Ill make it to the hospital alive or consious,THE PAIN WAS THAT BAD!

[Sweet lips]

I am the surgery girl - in addition to all the other things that have occurred I had my gall bladder removed -now, as a woman, please ask them to check your female parts as that was one of my sources of pain. However, I have not had the type pain you guys have decsribed.

[Autumn]

I had my gallbladder removed 14 years ago. The pain was intense for 2 years, but I never thought it was the "right time" to get it removed. :rolleyes: As soon as I recoup'd from the operation, I never thought about it again. LOL! Lack of it doesn't seem to have affected me in any way.

[squidly]

I was born with a blood disorder which required the removal of my spleen at age 8. When they went in the discovered as a result of the disease I also had gallstones so took my gall bladder out too. I am now 33 and for years while eating SAD I just thought that everyday stomach aches were normal. They improved slightly when I turned vegetarian, remarkedly when I went vegan and now that I on the path to raw the oly stomach aches I seem to get are when I eat too many foods at one sitting - worst seems to be when I eat a nut rich dessert after dinner whcih usually consists of salad veggies and a burger / enchilada etc.

Pain was worst when I ate any fried or oily baked foods. I have had a sugar addiction my whole life and raw is helping me overcome that. I think I just got used to having a saw stomach etc and only now realise with being 90% raw that I can feel better than that. I have been 100 % sugar free for 9 days now and feel GREAT.

Should note that the blood disorder iteself gave me chronic stomach aches until my spleen was taken out as my spleen worked 24 / 7 killing my red blood cells which it thought were diseased. So I guess stomach aches were something I took to be the norm

yeh to RAW as I heal my mind and body in oh so many ways!!!

[swiddweas]

I thought that once the Gall Bladder was removed, there would be no more pain? NOw you're saying you still have it? This has happened to a friend, also. He had his GB removed, and still has the same piercing pain, What in the world is THAT all about? I mean, you get the thing removed because of the pain... so why remove it if it doesn't work? Are they removing the right thing? Sheessshhh!!

I Have had GB pain before. It went away and the surgeon gave me the option of keeping it, so I did and am so glad I did. That was in April of 2001. I am fine now. Somettimes I get some pain, but I think the last episode was detox of m y liver and organs in that area. The pain lasted for about 5 days, but then dissppeared suddenly.

Thanks for sharing your stories with us.

Swid

[Sharon in Colorado]

I wonder if the stones slowly dissolve after years on raw food? You'd think so, wouldn't you, as the body heals itself of all sorts of things.

[CJB]

I've had rather intense gall bladder attacks in the past and flushes have healed them. As to the fellow who had the gall bladder out and still has pain...often the gall bladder and liver are linked. If the gall bladder was clogged, chances are really great that the liver is too. Doing gall bladder/liver flushes would probably be a good idea. This might possibly explain those who are still having pain after having the gb's removed, too. Don't know but it seems a reasonable guesstimate. My understanding is that the liver has to work even harder once the gb is removed and isn't the ducts for the liver in the same general location? Don't know my anatomy of all that too well so going from a fuzzy memory...well, anyway, something to consider.

[sachis2112]

My attacks been happening much more frequently lately and I plan on doing a flush this weekend. I used to have them maybe once or twice a year and I'm now having them almost every day for the last two weeks. Fortunately they don't last long or anything. just really puts a cramp in my day.

I read a rather lengthy article about what is happening after removal when you get the same pain and, based on that, I truly believe a flush will eliminate the problem if only temporarily.