6 months of Keto and have developed gallstones
itsryanneyo
Posts: 18 Member
So after a month of horrible stomach pains, I finally went to see my alternative medicine doctor. My gallbladder is sludgy and full of pebbles, and she's put me on a pretty good dose of hydrangea root to break up the stones and hi-lipase to get everything flushed out of my g.b... I've read so many different versions of what causes this--eating high fat / eating low fat / eating low fat and then going to high fat. I'm not too terribly wrapped up in what caused it, but rather getting it taken care of. I still battle the constipation that everyone else seems to get past after the first 4 weeks, and I'm sure that this has contributed to my g.b. issues. Anyone else had to deal with this? My results and every other aspect of my well-being are so great, I can't fathom not being on a LC lifestyle. I love my bulletproof coffee, but even sometimes just a few sips is now sending my gut into the ultimate knot. I haven't let this issue keep me from working out, still going strong 6 days a week, but not sure how much longer I'm gonna be able to keep that up...
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated!
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated!
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I hope you are better now but if not you might start reading with this
http://www.dietdoctor.com/gallstones-and-low-carb0 -
I you drink a lot of water?0
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Yes, 12 cups a day!0
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Gallstones! My old nemesis! I remember my first attack. 3am and I honestly thought I was going to die, I was in such excruciating pain.
For me foods that gave me gas seemed to instigate an attack. But out of the many, many, many things I tried the best was apple cider vinegar drunk on the daily. 2 tbs with hot water. Tastes like crap, but does the job.
I have also had it halt an attack (though vomiting was involved. Fun!) For me a high fat low carb diet helped instead of hurt my gallstones. But before then I found taking this daily also helped.
http://www.amazon.com/Herb-Pharm-Breaker-Compound-Supplement/dp/B00028NYQM
On the down side it is a mild diuretic, and I pee enough on this diet already.
Personally I was willing to do just about anything to avoid surgery. If you are having consitpation/gastrointestinal problems that could be acting like a "trigger" to the attacks. I would say use your 20-30g carbs on dark leafy greens, almonds and full fat yogurt every day. If you are still constipated after 2 weeks of that, it is time to talk to a specialist.
I did find bulletproof coffee gave me immediate digestion issues, including gallbladder ache/stomach pain. I switched to bulletproof tea and everything was good. If you are anything like me coffee acid+oil might be agitating your system - especially if you are consuming it alone.
Tea gives me the caffeine, plus a bit of butter/half and half and it tastes like a hot toddy.
Good luck0 -
I have read that the reason many people pass gallstones on keto is that they were already present, and the chemical changes in diet plus the addition of extra water consumption simply dislodges stones which were already forming. Did you USED to not drink much water? Maybe a lot of diet soda? That's the pattern I've seen - keto doesn't cause them but it brings them to light.0
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The acidity in coffee could be a major contributing factor- maybe try a bulletproof tea, or take a break and see what that does for you. Do you french press your coffee? That could also contribute. I about ruined my stomach with my penchant for french pressed coffee (all those oils and acids? No bueno on a daily schedule.
Good luck!0 -
I had mine out when I was 13 years of age. At that age, I ate like crap. Junky, overly processed foods, didn’t drink water, et cetera. What happened afterward is that I was told I would have some difficulty digesting large portions of red meats, otherwise things are just fine. You may need to have it taken out, though. Honestly.
I don't know how to help with the pain during, though. When I had my episodes, I would just vomit everywhere and try to huddle into a pathetic fetal position, wishing it would go away. All of that was gone when they removed it. Years later, even if I eat lots of red meat, I'm fine. I just get bloaty.0 -
I currently have gallstones and have had them since I was 16. Just like BritDillinger, I also ate terrible. Over the last couple of weeks, I have had almost constant attacks. I found that almond flour brings on extremely painful attacks. I also know that the High Fat diet is flushing them. Take magnesium, such as Epson Salts, it expands the bile duct so that stones can pass through easier. It can also give you diarrhea if you have too much but it will flush your bowels.
It has got better for me and now I am not having a full blown attack with every fatty meal, just a very slight discomfort in the back as I feel stones passing. I am hoping that staying on it, I will not have any more attacks because they have all passed (my gallbladder was FULL of little stones). You can still function quiet well without it but I refused to have it out because I believe it was meant to be there.
Good Luck and please try to stick with it. It will get better
PS. Animal Fat triggers the gall bladder to release bile more than anything else. I have been sticking to mainly animal fat to get the stones out ie Tallow (Beef Fat) on everything, fatty meats, butter, etc.
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I had gallstones at one point and had surgery, BUT a few years later, they came back, even with no gall bladder (imagine that). I did a fast for 3 days. Apple juice (I know lots of carbs) water and at the end of the day a 1/4 cup of olive oil and lemon juice and passed a bunch of them. I am NOT recommending that you do this flush, everyone is different. but I htink there is medicine you can take to soften and pass them. I got mine from rapid weight loss. I wasn't low carb with that diet.0
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