lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
I've not been to Lymenet much because I've been really ill lately. I had a reoccurrence of severe babesiosis symptoms combined with an inflamed gallbladder and pancreatitis.
I had my gallbladder removed almost two weeks ago and I'm slowly improving. Lost 12 lbs. Pancreatic enzymes are normal now.
Wow, pancreatitis and an inflamed gallbladder are terribly painful! I asked the surgeon to test the gallbladder for borrelia and he said he would, but I doubt he'll follow through. I get the pathology results on Monday.
Something about having pain in or near the chest gives me a sense of doom. I thought I was going to die and I don't think I've ever cried so much in my life!
Now I have a new, weird symptom that I've asked about in a separate post - itchy, burning palms.
I've been on a no-fat diet for three weeks. What a bore, and you get hungry again quickly. I'm hoping to move it up to "low-fat" rather than "no-fat"!
Take care, everyone! - Lymelady
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Oh, sorry to hear about that. I hope healing comes more easily from here on.
Hey, even after the "event" it may not be too late to ask for some of the tissue samples to be sent to Clongen labs - they do tissue sample work. That way you'd know what tests would be done.
And - sometimes - it is possible to test gallbladder tissue for excess porphyrins. Since, otherwise, porphyria is so hard to test, if the gallbladder offers up an answer - either way - it might help guide your treatment.
There have been cases of gallbladder attacks leading to someone finding out about porphryia.
If you want details about how to do that, what tests, or labs, the association/foundations at this link would know what to do:
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
WOW! you have been going through an awful lot. I am glad removing your gallbladder has helped your pain.
I hope heal quickly from all your issues and can get a more interesting diet soon.
pain and itching is usually nerve stuff for me... my palms get more of a slicing sensation than a burning sensation but nerve pain can present either way from what i understand.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
Gotu Kola may help with the itching, burning palms.
It is great for micro circulation and to help take toxins out of the body, too.
It is used for skin and wound healing and for brain alertness. It is not at all a cola but can help with being alert but also still calm enough to focus.
Salvai m. is also another herb that is fabulous for micro circulation and toxin elimination as well as helping with healing of tissue after surgery.
I wonder if you are able to take even a tiny bit of fish oil and just let it absorb mostly in your mouth before swallowing it.
This could be in part due to a need for the skin to have more oil but its understandable that you'd need to follow your post surgical orders about fats.
I have used coconut oil on my face, hands and feet. You sort of have to plan not to get up for at least 20 minutes, though.
You should be able to start in, at a slow pace, with fats already.
I had my gall bladder out this summer, and can totally relate to the diet issue. I had to wait 6 weeks before I could get it out, and lost over 40 lbs during that time (a lb. a day on average).
Once it was out, I was told to resume a normal diet whenever I felt comfortable. The only thing that I have had trouble with since then are eggs. I'm also trying to keep the fat intake low so that I don't gain all the weight back.
Have you been able to take abx during all of this? (I couldn't, it just ripped my stomach up).
If not, hopefully you'll be able to get back on them soon, so that things can clear up.
I'm hoping you start to feel better soon, kp
Posts: 394 | From tinton falls nj | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Kathy Boss
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3062
posted
Dear LymeLady,
So sorry to hear about your surgery. i hope it has helped though.
I would like to ask some questions if you don't mind.
I went to the ER this week in what I thought was a heart attack. I'm asking my doc to now check on the gallbladder.
The pain went straight thru the center of my chest to my back, shoulder and arm. Did you have pain such as this? Morphine helped but I still felt pressure.
Also, I have had sever eye inflamation for almost a year now. Doc's keep on saying we have to find the source. I'm thinking it may be gall bladder.
What kind of symptoms did you have if you don't mind me asking.
Hope you are getting better, Kat
Posts: 1092 | From CA | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Sorry to hear about that and hope you feel better soon!
I know several who have had their gallbladder removed, and they have been able to move eventually to more normal diets Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
With a gallbladder removed fat digestion is impaired.
The gallbladder's job is to concentrate bile that is produced by the liver so that when you eat fat the bile comes out of the organ to help the fat digestion.
With no gallbladder you may need to take a supplement with a good bit of ox bile in it or totally ox bile.
Eating fat does not make you fat. Lots of carbs make you fat. Access the book "Good Calories Bad Calories" for a great lowdown on the fat scam.
For hundreds of thousands of years we did not eat any grains. And we ate fat when we could.
IP: Logged |
cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Lymelady, I'm sorry to hear you've been so ill.
Recovering from GB removal took me quite some time - it was not as quick as one would hope.
Hopefully you can add small amounts of fat back in soon, just take it easy because without a GB your body cannot digest fats the same way. Too much at once will cause GI distress (trust me, I've been there!).
I've recently been experiencing a babs relapse - and increased peripheral neuropathy is always one of my babs symptoms.
My hands and feet feel like they are on fire.
I wonder if your burning, itchy palms are a result of your babs symptoms, combined with a hit on your immune system (surgery) that has made the babs more active?
Best wishes for your recovery, Cactus
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
Thanks for all of your replies.
My itchy, red, painful hands are better, I'm beginning to tolerate more fat in my diet, and I'm feeling quite a bit better.
Yesterday I fell suddenly (my major babs symptom) and landed on my right side where I had the surgery. Talk about painful! But I'm okay today.
I'm taking essential fatty acids with mepron to see if that helps with absorption.
I'm continuing with levaquin and zithromax. I honestly feel better than I have in months right now and feel hopeful I can keep things under control at last.
My eyes and skin don't look nearly as toxic as they did. I look younger! I'd better not jinx myself - we all know how our health turns on a dime around here.
Take care, everyone! - Lymelady
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic