HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Gallstones

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/26/2014 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
FINALLY… I have a diagnosis—or at least part of a dx for the GI episodes. Spent Christmas eve from 10pm - 4am at the Emergency Room with another GI episode. But had a sonogram & CT scan done and looks like I have a large stone in the neck of the gallbladder—the worst place.

I am not happy. But relieved that we have some answers now.

Anyone have any experience or opinions or advice on my next step? I need to schedule a procedure to get it removed ASAP although I will try to wait until new insurance (with no deductible) kicks in at the beginning of the year. But I'd like to see the lyme-friendly gastroenterologist-turned-functional MD first before doing anything—will call him Monday to see if I can get in before my Jan 20 appt.

thanks-
-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 1/11/2015 8:58:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/26/2014 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pirouette,

So sorry you have problems with your gallbladder. If you are open-minded, you can start doing this (a natural remedy that won't hurt you but will start dissolving your gallstone as well as making it smaller):

javuviews.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/gallbladder-liver-flush-that-i-do/

Make sure you buy the organic apple juice and cold pressed virgin olive oil.

If you go to a naturopath, they would probably give you the same recipe.

Hope you feel better!
Denise
Posted 12/26/2014 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with Denise on trying to dissolve the stones rather than just take the gall bladder out. I had mine removed and wish I hadn't - it can create issues. I have to take bile salts to absorb fat soluable vitamins - and I don't tolerate fats as well due to not having the gall bladder to provide the bile in a more constant flow.

But, I'm glad you now know what was happening!! That's a relief!
Posted 12/26/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
AWESOME. I am definitely interested in an attempt to dissolve the thing before having it removed.

According to the ER doc, there are signs of inflammation in the wall of the gall bladder but no sign of infection. So he felt the next step would be laproscopic surgery to remove the stone. If that was not successful, they would have to open me up.

He admitted it wasn't an emergency that I have the stone removed immediately, but tried to talk me into staying in the hospital and have the stone removed Christmas day. Maybe. Or whenever they could find someone to do it. I was not willing to just have anyone do the surgery —or sitting and waiting around on a holiday weekend for a "taker" to come in in their day off.

Plus, my insurance with no deductible goes into effect Jan 1 so it makes sense to try to wait. Unfortunately, I had more trouble last night— but not the same pain as before. Last night it was contained right in the front stomach area with a different kind of cramping that was consistent—not pulsing and much less severe. Related? Who knows.

I am concerned about a no-fat diet. My diet is already so restricted, eliminating fat would be disastrous. Hope I can get into the gastro next week...

Thanks again—

-p
Posted 12/27/2014 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I use bile salts to help break down fats & fat soluable vitamins so that I can absorb them. I use the Standard Process brand called Cholacol (pronounced Kol-a-call) and it does help.

With the amount of toxins that we deal with though, I still have to do liver/gall bladder flushes regularly (about 4 times a year) as I can't take milk thistle to help protect my liver due to allergies.

You may want to ask your LLMD about adding bile salts in to help with bile production, stones and inflammation. From the website of the product I use, and this site on Virginia Mason Hospital (/www.virginiamason.org/GallstonesandBileDuctStones) :

"Medications can be given that dissolve gallstones but they are not always effective and are not indicated in all cases. The most common medication is a bile salt (ursodiol) that slowly dissolves cholesterol within the stones. However, the stones can return when the medication is discontinued."
Posted 12/27/2014 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much T—I will talk w/ her about bile salts. My cholesterol has been a little high this year all of a sudden —LLMD was watching it carefully but bloodwork done in the ER showed normal levels… so that is confusing.

-p
Posted 12/27/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Make sure that she is looking at all of the different types of cholesterol levels. I have high levels of bad cholesterol, but not when compared with the very high levels of good cholesterol.

Also remember that Lyme can raise cholesterol levels as well.

You may not be a good candidate for bile salts, but it's something to look into! I hope that you find something that helps.
Posted 12/27/2014 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yes— I had a long list of results when my ND ran comprehensive labs a few months ago. ;) I don't understand much about cholesterol at this point but both LLMD and ND told me that there were some good levels along with the bad levels and that it's the combination that is important and would take further analysis if we thought at some point we needed to look to meds (which of course, I don't want). Time will tell…

-p
Posted 12/27/2014 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Oh - and ND suggested that the thyroid support (Naturethroid) can raise cholesterol. I doubled my previous dosage back in Sept so that can also be a cue.

-p
Posted 1/12/2015 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Denise—

Can I substitute o.j. & lemon juice for the grapefruit and lemon juice?

-p
Posted 1/12/2015 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi P,

I guess you can... According to the livestrong article below it states this:

Grapefruit juice is ideal for gallbladder cleansing because it contains limonoid, a substance that dissolves gallstones, Drugs.com explains. Grapefruit juice also increases the excretion of calcium just like orange and apple juice. This can help prevent gallstones from forming in the future.

www.livestrong.com/article/478404-gallbladder-cleanse-with-grapefruit-juice/

I don't know if this helps or not. I hope you dissolve your gallstones soon.

Feel better,
Denise
Posted 1/12/2015 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
OK—thanks so much for answering quickly—making a list for a grocery run tomorrow so that was helpful.

I ask because one of my homozygous detox mutations of a gene function for "Hydroxylation or dealkylation of xenobiotics, Phase I, metabolize E2 to 2-hydroxyestradiol", the consequences are that "CYP1A2*11 allele with approximately 5% activity of that
of the CYP1A2 wild type" and therefore, it declares I should not eat grapefruit. Of course I have NO IDEA what this means but it sounds scary and painful. LOL

Another of my heterozygous detox mutations results in decreased enzyme function (not fungi—typo) on and says to also avoid grapefruit.

I guess I could always just try it.

-p
Posted 1/12/2015 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi P,

I don't understand that either! According to another recipe cleanse below, you can use lemon juice. This article states lemon juice is best, next is grapefruit juice, and then orange juice (make sure everything is organic and you squeeze the lemons yourself), the apple juice should also be organic and if you have a juicer, it's better to make your own apple juice.

healthblog.yinteing.com/2011/04/21/removing-gallstones-naturally-with-no-surgery/

Then there is Hulda Clark's recipe from curezone (WARNING: contains graphic photos):

www.curezone.com/cleanse/liver/huldas_recipe.asp

Good luck and keep us updated okay?
Denise
Posted 1/12/2015 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
OK - thanks Denise. It's been awhile since I've read Hulda Clark—had studied her a lot when I thought I had parasites. I think I like your cleanse better… going to try it this week. I'm sccceeeerrrrdddd! ;)

I just want it dissolved so that when I see the gastro on the 26th he will not be interested in doing anything. I spent Christmas eve in the ER, so this would be a great Christmas gift.

-p
Posted 1/12/2015 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Please do let us know how you are doing with this, P!!! And of course, best of luck! I hope that the gall stones are all gone and you don't have to do anything more! Living without one is a pain!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply