Oh my aching Gallbladder. :/

leotardbanshee

Okay so I have been diagnosed with billiary sludge, basically sludge in my gallbladder that could turn into gallstones, I am concerned about whether or not I should get surgery because I have heard that some people have had horrible experiences after having theirs removed. I have tried doing an apple fast and it seemed to calm some of my symptoms, but recently I am in a lot of pain and having a hard time sleeping and generally doing most things. I am wondering if anyone has been able to use food to assist in curing or reducing gallbladder issues. Thanks for the help in advance!!!

toomuchbootyindapants

I used to have terrible gallbladder issues when I was eating unhealthy and overweight. I'll mention some things here that I did and while I can't say for sure what ONE thing did the most good, I can say that I haven't suffered from ANY gallbladder attacks or pain in several years.
1.) take 1 tbsp Bragg's apple cider vinegar a day (in 12 oz of water if you need to) - these are natural digestive enzymes to help with the digestive process
2.) take probiotics daily
3.) I did a "gallbladder/liver cleanse" on the advice of a naturopath. It was crazy but I swear that ish worked. It required me to eat a granny smith apple each day for five days. Then on the sixth day in the evening I drank some crazy concoction of epsom salts and apple cider to get things "going" - before bed I took olive oil in grapefruit juice. Upon waking, more epsom in apple cider. Then spent the rest of the day pretty much on the couch or toilet. Yes, the point was to crap it all out....and that I did.

Then I completely overhauled my diet (really think THIS was the changing factor) and cut out all processed (or most) foods. Ate clean and/or organic for several months to heal up my digestive system. In the process, lost a bunch of weight.

People will say I'm crazy for having done the cleanse...and I will agree. But I was desperate, in pain, suffering from attacks, and knew I didn't want surgery so I was willing to try pretty much anything "natural" to help. I'm glad I did and anyone saying the contrary can KMA.

Quiltmania

Okay so I have been diagnosed with billiary sludge, basically sludge in my gallbladder that could turn into gallstones, I am concerned about whether or not I should get surgery because I have heard that some people have had horrible experiences after having theirs removed. I have tried doing an apple fast and it seemed to calm some of my symptoms, but recently I am in a lot of pain and having a hard time sleeping and generally doing most things. I am wondering if anyone has been able to use food to assist in curing or reducing gallbladder issues. Thanks for the help in advance!!!

Get the surgery. It was the best thing I ever did. I had sludge, stones, you name it in there. Plus, I put it off so long that infection had set in and the gallbladder was beginning to fuse to the liver. I felt bad for about 10 days after but after that, I haven't had any problems.

leotardbanshee

I used to have terrible gallbladder issues when I was eating unhealthy and overweight. I'll mention some things here that I did and while I can't say for sure what ONE thing did the most good, I can say that I haven't suffered from ANY gallbladder attacks or pain in several years.
1.) take 1 tbsp Bragg's apple cider vinegar a day (in 12 oz of water if you need to) - these are natural digestive enzymes to help with the digestive process
2.) take probiotics daily
3.) I did a "gallbladder/liver cleanse" on the advice of a naturopath. It was crazy but I swear that ish worked. It required me to eat a granny smith apple each day for five days. Then on the sixth day in the evening I drank some crazy concoction of epsom salts and apple cider to get things "going" - before bed I took olive oil in grapefruit juice. Upon waking, more epsom in apple cider. Then spent the rest of the day pretty much on the couch or toilet. Yes, the point was to crap it all out....and that I did.

Then I completely overhauled my diet (really think THIS was the changing factor) and cut out all processed (or most) foods. Ate clean and/or organic for several months to heal up my digestive system. In the process, lost a bunch of weight.

People will say I'm crazy for having done the cleanse...and I will agree. But I was desperate, in pain, suffering from attacks, and knew I didn't want surgery so I was willing to try pretty much anything "natural" to help. I'm glad I did and anyone saying the contrary can KMA.

Wow thank you so much for the advice! I am scheduled to have surgery in about two weeks and I have gone from severe to light pains for a while now depending upon what I eat. I did an apple cleanse (not as intense as yours) and I felt immensely better. I am, however worried of the possibility of infection (I am not at that point right now). I understand that after you have surgery, you may have to change your diet after having gallbladder surgery regardless, so I am veering towards a lifestyle of clean eating and I feel like I am on the learning curve right now lol.

WAHMto5

I had mine out years ago and was not a bad surgery at all. I had a full blown attack wgich was not fun at all.

caribougal

Big link between gallbladder issues and gluten. Get yourself tested for celiac disease. Or try eliminating gluten for 30 days before you have surgery.

kayfrog

I was having an attack at least once a week that lasted 5-8 hours at a time. It was getting to where I couldn't eat anything without getting sick and ended up loosing 30ish pounds.

Needless to say, the surgery was the best thing I ever did.

If you have stones (especially large ones that can't be passed) I would suggest getting it removed. I've had no problems and contrary to popular belief, you don't have to cut out any type of food once its gone.

ldbuster0

I had my gallbladder removed many many years ago. I had so many gallstones I couldn't count them. I was scheduled for surgery on a Monday and I had the worst attack I ever had on a Saturday. I had emergency surgery. My doctor joked with me about it. After the surgery, my life has been so much better.

sniker_doodles

I had mine taken out almost 2 yrs. ago. for the 1st week when ppl asked if I was ok I would joke that I felt like a part of me is missing. its hard to be sure what you can keep in and can't I'm still learning. it hurts after the surgery I wanted to stab my doctor because they wanted me to walk the night after my surgery. I HAD to get mine out though because it got really bad. If your doctor thinks its best then he maybe right.

LoriIone

Get it taken out before you get stones! I had 2 stones the size of golf balls in mine and 18 the size of marbles. Having an attack with those hurt worse than child birth! (I've had a natural birth and a c-section) nip it in the bud, get it out! I feel 110% better now, NO side effects!

CWatermelon

I would try a cleanse first. My mom did the cleanse and avoided surgery. I do the cleanse regularly just to flush my liver so that it doesn't back up into the gallbladder. I use Dr. Hulda Clark's with olive oil and grapefruit. Changing your diet is even more important, but the cleanse will get rid of the stones.

Lizzythecat

I'd say get the surgery asap, I had it done last year via laparoscopy and I was able to go home the same day. I had stones which caused pancreatitis, it was incredibly painful (the pancreatitis, not the surgery) and I'm so glad I had my gallbladder removed. By the way, rapid weight loss can cause gallstones.

greasygriddle

heard of a little thing called Pancreatitis? i'm sure you are "dying" to know... get it out. :sick:

restoreleanne

Having an attack with those hurt worse than child birth. I had 3 before they said it was safe to remove mine due to me being in a high risk pregnancy at the time. I had mine removed over 2 years ago and I still have pain in the same place if I eat fatty food. with some unpleasant side effects. way you risks and is it infected?

Deka61

I had severe pain due to sludge, the doctor said get it taken out. I changed my diet, stopped eating bread, and lots of carbs, and ensured that my diet had lots of olive oil in it. I also in the same period recognised that my job was making me ill. 10 years later, no pain, no surgery. Later on this year I'm going to treat myself to a full body MRI and see how it is doing.

Trista87Marie

I had my gall bladder out about 3 years ago. I am so glad that I did. The pain that I was in was unbearable. I had to have mine removed in emergency surgery because it was so infected that it was gangrene. The side effects after the surgery( having to run to the bathroom immediately after eating eggs and constant loose stools) were nothing compared to the pain I was in before I had it removed. I have been eating much cleaner over the last month and almost instantly noticed that these symptoms are nearly gone altho eggs still bother my system. From what I hear everyone is very different but I would def suggest having it out if changing your diet first doesn't help.

elis_mama

Okay so I have been diagnosed with billiary sludge, basically sludge in my gallbladder that could turn into gallstones, I am concerned about whether or not I should get surgery because I have heard that some people have had horrible experiences after having theirs removed. I have tried doing an apple fast and it seemed to calm some of my symptoms, but recently I am in a lot of pain and having a hard time sleeping and generally doing most things. I am wondering if anyone has been able to use food to assist in curing or reducing gallbladder issues. Thanks for the help in advance!!!

Get the surgery. It was the best thing I ever did. I had sludge, stones, you name it in there. Plus, I put it off so long that infection had set in and the gallbladder was beginning to fuse to the liver. I felt bad for about 10 days after but after that, I haven't had any problems.

I second that.....mine got SO infected and horrible that I had to go to the emergency room and had a nice, 4 day stay in the hospital before they could even operate. I had pancreatitis, gallstones, sludge, jaundice and had a stone caught in my bile duct. It was awful. After the surgery, I was in for about 2 days, just because of all my previous issues. The surgery was the BEST thing I did!!!! I feel soooooooo much better. It's been about a year.

elis_mama

heard of a little thing called Pancreatitis? i'm sure you are "dying" to know... get it out. :sick:

Ugh. Totally ended up with that due to gallbladder issues!!! Worst pain EVER!!! Worse than labor!

princess3479

i had my gallbladder out a year ago & i am glad i had the surgery.. gallstones are very painful & eventually everything i ate gave me problems. my gallstone attacks would last for hours & there was nothing i could do to help the pain, i literally would crawl into the fetal position & cry. initially i was not going to have it out because i was afraid of surgery but what changed my mind was having Pancreatitis!!!! worst pain ever, i was in pain for 3 or 4 days straight!!!! like someone else mentioned braggs organic apple cider vinegar does help, i used to drink some every day when i had gallstones!!! post surgery -i am no longer experiencing the pain i did before & can eat most foods but certain foods still upset my stomach & make me feel like i am having an attack. high fatty foods, greasy foods and carbonated drink still bother me along with some unpleasant side effects.

princess3479

Having an attack with those hurt worse than child birth. I had 3 before they said it was safe to remove mine due to me being in a high risk pregnancy at the time. I had mine removed over 2 years ago and I still have pain in the same place if I eat fatty food. with some unpleasant side effects. way you risks and is it infected?

i thought i was the only one who experienced this! certain days where i eat high fatty foods, greasy foods or even drinks such as carbonated water i get a pain on my right side of my stomach, feels like i am having a gallstone attack but less intense than what i experienced with gallstones.

leotardbanshee

Everyone who has had gallbladder attacks, can you tell me about your symptoms? I am not sure whether what I am experiencing now is an actual gallbladder attack...