Okay, this on-going decision whether or not to have my gallbladder out continues.
All I want to know is; Do lyme patients feel better once that sucker is removed secondary to a LOW EJECTION FRACTION ??????????? ***********************************************
ps. I had gallstones which resolved but then I devleoped a very small pallup.
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Hi,
I'm in the same situation. I am now rescheduled for gallbladder surgery, after having cancelled once. I have a low ejection fraction, but no stones. However, my pancreatic enzyme, lipase, has been elevating mildly to moderately. I have very mild right-sided pain, can eat fatty foods most of the time without worsening, but occasionally it worsens slightly.
I, too, am concerned about having post-surgery diarrhea, etc., because my sister-in-law (non-Lymie) has that ongoing problem and inability to eat fattier foods, due to surgery. My surgeon said about two percent of patients develop that - but he is speaking about the general population - he doesn't have experience with Lyme although I'm educating him.
Two Lyme patients I spoke to do feel better after having had the gallbladders removed. One had a low ejection fraction and sludge, another one had sludge.
I've done a few consultations recently with naturopaths or other alternative practitioners and they did recommend trying ox bile to see if it helps now.
My issue is more that I've developed pancreas problems. I could live with the gallbladder pain because it's mild.
My surgeon thinks this is a vague nerve/motility problem, that is affecting the organs. Could be, because I have very bad Bartonella and vagus nerve issues.
Jill
Posted by Piegirl (Member # 14786) on :
I had my gallbladder out when I was at my worst with Lyme and in my case it did not help me one bit! I was having constant nausea and bad stomach problems.
An ultra sound showed several small gallstones and a hida scan showed it wasn't functioning very well. The surgeon told me getting it removed would take care of the nausea.
I did not know that what I was sick from was Lyme at the time. After having it removed nothing improved. It wasn't until I went on a gluten and dairy free diet and added enzymes did my nausea improve.
I now still have problems with diarrea and not able to digest fat three years later. I wish I had gone the naturopathic route to treat my gallbladder.
But, since it is too late I will look into the ox bile for some help. Thanks for suggesting that. I have never heard of it before.
Mary
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Think long and hard before you give up your gallbladder. Ask some people around here who have done it - have their problems ceased?? Are they replacing one problem with another problem now?
Take good care -
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I had my gallbladder removed ten days after I had gotten married.
It was full of stones.
I don't believe I had Lyme at the time though.
I couldn't sleep (due to pain), couldn't eat without causing pain,
And had the lovely taste of bile in my mouth constantly.
It did make my life easier and less painful prior to Lyme.
I have no problems with fatty foods. None.
Maybe I am the exception to the rule.
My gallbladder was going to burst if it wasn't removed.
That would have been really bad.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I had my gallbladder removed when I was already very sick with lyme and didn't know it. For me, it wasn't a choice. I was bright yellow and in excruciating pain. I should also say the gall bladder pain wasn't bad at first but got progressively worse prior to the surgery.
That was 6 years ago.
The surgery wasn't too bad, and I don't think I've really from having it out. Occasionally, I eat food that's too fatty, and I can't handle it, but that's only happened two or three times since the surgery.
If there are other longtem complications, I don't know about them yet.
Andie
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I had mine out nearly 3 yrs ago. I had stones [huge] and a non-functioning GB.
I now have possible stones in my bile duct. Still waiting to see a GI specialist about it.
Can't eat fats for the most part or I have pain.
The stones in the bile duct were most likely caused by abx I had to take for 8 months for a sinus infection.
CHLOROGENIC ACID FOR HEALTHY LIVER AND GALLBLADDER FUNCTION
by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine - 2006
BACKGROUND
One of the functions an herb may have is designated cholagogue, meaning, to promote the flow of bile (Latin: chole).
Herbs reputed to be cholagogues have several indications for use, but have been primarily given for alleviating diseases of the liver and gallbladder.
Today, we have some additional information about how the flow of bile affects health, so that we can better appreciate the action of cholagogues.
. . .
Rapid weight loss is a significant factor in gallstone formation; this may come from shedding large amounts of fats via the bile while having too little bile flow stimulus from eating fats.
Therefore, gradual weight loss is recommended instead. Also, some people mistakenly believe that a healthy diet is one which is free from coffee, and if this bile-flow promoter is discontinued at the same time a weight loss regimen is pursued, gallstones may form rapidly . . . .
- full article at link
---------------
Acupuncture treatment may also be helpful.
-
Posted by maryland (Member # 10345) on :
Thanks for all the responses!
I just ate (but didn't take my Levequin) and still became VERY, VERY nauseated assoicated with right-sided rib pain which radiated around my right side and into my right shoulder blade.
Could these symptoms be related to gallbladder problems OR my lyme/bartonella??
please help.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
I had my gallbladder out before I knew I had lyme. Wish I had not done it.
I cannot digest fat and if I have too much, I get deathly ill. Excruciating pain in my stomach and both sides under my ribs radiating to my back. It literally puts me down sometimes for weeks. I can't eat anything so I loose weight.
For me, it was a really bad mistake...I was told I had sludge...I would rather lived with "sludge" than the way I am now.
Posted by kpa (Member # 12079) on :
My daughter was miserable with nausea, pain, and acid reflux. GI doctor was not much help.
She eventually got diagnosed by a cardiologist with POTS, Posterior Orthostatic Hypotension.
Treating the POTS helped her dizziness, depression, and digestion. Guess it makes sense that if circulation around gut area is not good, digestive problems could occur.
She can eat!
I am sorry that you are dealing with this miserable symptom.
More info on POTS at dinet.org. I think it is often undiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to lyme symptoms. So maybe this is something you could look into...
kpa
Posted by motownlyme (Member # 11485) on :
My bile ejection fraction was less than 1%. No gall stones on ultrasound or MRI.
Dr.s (family and LLMD) both insisted that it come out. Family Dr. - "Get the thing cut out NOW" LLMD said " Bad gall bladder poisons whole body" (Yes I know it sounds like a bad fortune cookie but that is exactly how he said it).
In the end I agreed to have it out. They did not find a single gall stone, large or small. No mention of "sludge". My gall bladder was covered in "lesions" and slightly inflamed and they kept playing that up like they were justifying the surgery.
That was 6 months ago. I have had zero improvement in symptoms that Drs attributed to the Gall Bladder and now have worse pain and more symptoms than before.
I wish I had fought more to keep my original equipment...
Posted by on :
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