posted
Anyone else out there have liver or gallbladder problems? Realted to lyme, etc, or treatment or unrelated? They want to take out my gallbladder and I have fatty liver disease (non alcohol related) and I am not sure what to do.... I still need to do further IV treatment but dont know if it's worth it to destroy my liver further.... feeling lost. Anyone who has gone through this or has any insight, PLEASE share. Thanks!!
Posts: 52 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Funny you should ask...I've been extremely ill with this for some time. I have no idea if it's from Lyme or not though I've had sludge in the past in my gallbladder from Rocephin.
A couple months ago, I started to lose my appetite which is fine by me because Lyme and company have caused me to gain mucho weight. Then I started having these "attacks" about a month ago. I was actually hospitalized for a couple days to rule out a heart attack. The attacks came again, a few times.
I thought it might be GERD but nothing was helping. The pain was horrible, chest pain, my lungs felt like they were on fire if I breathed in, my back felt like it had been beaten with a baseball bat. Then after several hours it would just disappear.
About a week and a half ago I had one that would not leave. I was in the Cancer Center getting IVIG or I'd have gone to the ER. They gave me IV Zantac, nothing helped. Thinking this CAN'T be GERD if even IV Zantac isn't helping, I've eaten about 12 Tums and I'm already on Prilosec, I started googling.
I came up with gallbladder attacks, and it fit my symptoms perfectly. I made an appt with both my primary and my GI doc.
From that day on, ten days straight now, I've been horribly ill. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, back pain, headache, and as of yesterday, running a temp of just under 102 until tonight when it got down to under 100. Chills with it.
PCP on Friday said certainly seems to be my gallbladder and set me up for an ultrasound but it was going to be five days away. With the high fever and chills yesterday and today, I was glad I had the GI appt coming up today.
They didn't send me to the ER which surprised me, but did manage to get me in tomorrow instead of Wednesday for an ultrasound. She said it is probably either my gallbladder or pancreatitis. If I need the gallbladder out, which everyone expects, I'll then need to be referred to a surgeon.
I cannot believe how inhumane gallbladder treatment is. You are left to suffer miserably for weeks while awaiting ultrasounds, then surgeon referrals, etc....all the while incapacitated, vomiting, unable to eat, and in pain.
The only reason I got the attacks to stop was because someone suggested the website www.gallbladderattack.com and I pretty much stopped eating for a few days, then slowly introduced the foods they have listed as safe, like cucumbers, lettuce, avacado, sweet potatoes, etc.
Well, I've finally lost some weight, but only about five pounds because I'm so bloated. I don't even know what is wrong with me yet. I have the ultrasound tomorrow but don't know how long before I get a call with the results.
If you get further IV treatment, it is critical to be on Actigall if you are on Rocephin. And there are many other IV's that do not harm the gallbladder. To protect your liver take Milk Thistle religiously; mine has always been fine as long as I take that daily. And if you need further liver support, Zhang's Allicin got mine whipped right into shape.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Tracy9 I feel for you. That is exactly how my gallbladder attacks felt! I also thought I was having a heart attack during my worst attack.
I am only just about to start treatment for Lyme (I hope) and now I am wondering what if anything I need to worry about since I have already had my gallbladder removed? Does it affect IV meds or their effect on my body? Good question for my new doctor next week.
Just wanted to say I feel your pain and I can't believe both of you, as sick as you are, are having to wait so long to have this taken care of.
-------------------- Untreated Lyme for 25+ years. Two kids, too much pain & fatigue, no hope of ever being able to treat. Posts: 310 | From Northeast | Registered: Mar 2010
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Crabby & Tracy, Just wanted to say how sorry I am that you have to go thru this.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Thank you 17hens!
Mamabear you should be good to go; the IV meds often can cause gallbladder problems (Rocephin) so if you don't have one that's one less thing to worry about. Both my 21 year old son and I had gallbladder problems from Rocephin and had to switch to Claforan.
I had my ultrasound this morning! I have a stone stuck in the cystic duct, which is probably what is causing the fever, nausea, vomiting, pain, etc. I also have several stones and "debris" in the gallbladder. This is just from the radiologist's on the spot read. I haven't gotten a call from the doctor yet.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
I had my gallbladder taken out because of sludging from Rocephin. After two attacks it came out.
Now I have liver problems.... having an ultrasound this week.
Just had an endoscope and I have an esphageal ulcer and hiatal hernia....
Where is all this coming from? Too much antibiotics or the disease?
-------------------- Lyme, Babs, Fry Bug..... Whatever it is, may a treatment be discovered to make us all whole again! Posts: 941 | From AZ-MT | Registered: Oct 2004
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