A Bad Gall Bladder Was the Reason I Wasn't Losing the Weight

martina_5683
martina_5683 Posts: 5 Member
edited November 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I couldn't understand why I wasn't losing the weight!!! I mean I was taking the time to exercise daily at least 1 hour a day Monday - Friday, watched was I eating, and I was still having difficulty losing the weight I thought would melt away like butter in a hot pan!!!! Let me back pedal just a bit. I was having digestional problems, abdominal cramping, and bloating that I chalked up to "women issues". Little did I know I would be rushed to the emergency room all the while thinking I had another kidney infection, after a bit of poking and prodding, I found out I had gall stones the size of a golf ball (literally) and several smaller stones that was causing me all these health issues. It wasn't until I was informed of the purpose of the gall bladder and what it actually does. I know realize everything I was eating wasn't being processed nor broken down to be digested. Long story short, after going through an emergency gall bladder surgery (completely removed) in December 2010 I have lost 22 lbs. I had to completely change my diet. My new diet consists of fish, chicken breasts (only) No red meats for now anyhow, fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 2% reduced fat milk, low-fat yogurts, raw beet juice (which is DISGUSTING), fresh carrot juices, and anything else I throw into my juicer, no processed sugars including flavored coffee creamers, no fried foods, nothing high in cholesterol, and tons, and tons of water!!!

It's sad to say, that had my body not forced me into the emergency room, I'd continue to struggle with my weight, still eat somewhat healthy, however, still enjoy the cakes, cookies, pastries, etc.., and continue to work out and struggle with losing weight. I lost this weight without stepping foot into the gym (WHICH I AM NOT SUGGESTING EVERYONE GO GET THEIR GALL BLADDERS REMOVED) but I'm so excited to return because I feel like a brand new person, and I know once I get back in the gym, my results will be remarkable.

I just wanted to share this story, because a lot of people have this problem and don't even know it!!!! I'm just very thankful that I was able to take care of it before my gall bladder burst which would've caused even more damage, possibly irreparable damage to my body!!! Hope this story can help someone...

p.s. Did you know that gall bladder surgery is the 2nd most common surgery in the U.S. next to appendicitis?
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Replies

  • Missevanston
    Missevanston Posts: 361 Member
    Wow! That is some experience you had! Thanks goodness you found out what was happening, and you are now okay! How fun to be back at the gym, knowing that you are eating healthy and can look forward to healthy results! Best !
  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    Very informative! Thanks for sharing!
  • jennyjennbug
    jennyjennbug Posts: 101 Member
    I have a sensitive gallblader too not the stones but I have to watch what I eat if not I end up in sever pain on my side. My doctor keeps track of it but she said with weight loss it could get better. She's giving me a year to get down to 175 then there going to test it again. But at any time I would end up wit gallstones I will have to have it removed. Thanks for yor story and congrats on the weight loss.
  • Nemlein
    Nemlein Posts: 168 Member
    I had gall stones three years ago, followed by a lap-choli (laprascopic cholecystectomy, or gall bladder removal) procedure. Unfortunately, it had no bearing on my weight gain or loss. Then again, I wasn't put on a special diet afterwards; they just yanked that sucker out and sent me on my way :tongue:
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    millesun stole my add-on to the production of bile.. :indifferent:

    Lol. Glad someone else with medical knowledge chimed in with that.
  • ymaiyah7299
    ymaiyah7299 Posts: 1
    Hi,

    My name is Angella. I have been complaining for the last few years of digestive problems to my doctor. Recently, as my acid reflux has increase my doctor is paying a bit more attention to my concerns. I have been watching my diet and exercising and not shedding one pound. I have tried cutting calories to 1200 per day, HCG diet, low carb, low fat, weight watchers and every other fat remedy under the sun to NO avail. I have told my self and my doctor that I don't feel like I am digesting properly and have continuously gained weight.

    At this point, Im frustrated with the weight gain seems that its in my stomach area and I can't seem to lose it. I have known what's wrong with me but to get the doctors to understand is nearly impossible. I am having a difficult time with pain in my throat after I eat or drink and now the doctors are sending me to have an endoscopy this week finally. I think I know my body better than any doctor and they really should listen more. I have described the same symptoms you have, and I have had my thyroid checked and everything else. Im hoping that they will finally listen to me and check my gallbladder, which I truly believe is the culprit and the only rational explanation. I am finally EXCITED that someone else has experienced this and has made me feel MUCH better.

    THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH
  • BuckeyeBoi
    BuckeyeBoi Posts: 233 Member
    I had my GB out 6wks ago and then 3wks ago had to go back and have a big stone removed out of the bile duct! In fact Im still not feeling completely normal.. Im gonna have to fast because I feel like the Pancreatitis is back..... I will say this it did cure me of wanting bad food to eat for sure!
  • novalh42
    novalh42 Posts: 102 Member
    I just had my GB removed and I had the pancreatitis as well due th the bile ducts being blocked. I have lost 11 pounds in 6 days so far so I was wondering if the bad GB had anything to do with it being difficult to lose weight so I Googled it and I got your post. I know it will not continue to go down this fast but I am enjoying it while I can and hoping that now it will continue to go down instead of stalling.
  • She_Hulk
    She_Hulk Posts: 277
    This thread is perfect timing! I've had a bloating issue for some time now. My doctor wants me on a gluten-free/GI friendly diet and sent me for blood work yesterday to be tested for celiacs. My sister (who is in the medical field) swears it's my gallbladder. I see my doctor tomorrow and I'm going to ask him to have my gb tested now. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
  • ppennington7
    ppennington7 Posts: 1
    I have been avoiding this site because I have had so much trouble losing weight (for four years), and am embarrassed to weigh in. Yesterday, I had another bad experience with what I think is a gall bladder problem. My doctors don't seem to be rushing to make the connection to my inability to lose weight, (though I do have an ultrasound scheduled next week). Finding this post today has given me new resurgence. Thank you!
  • duplicitous
    duplicitous Posts: 82 Member
    I too have a bad gall bladder. I have sludge and I believe sphincter issues with it not expelling as it should but my crappy care managers won't runt he tests to see. Anyway I have been steadily gaining weight for over a year and I was working out 5 days a week too. I had a personal trainer who also monitored my food intake on this app. He too was baffled. About 3 months ago I discovered the bad gall bladder and only a little over a week ago did I finally stumble upon something helpful on the internet. So I began... and this is what I did. I started taking a shot of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water and a tsp of local honey. Then for breakfast I had only fruit. For lunch I had only vegetables followed by dinner of anything. Just in one week I lost a pants size and 7lbs. The first time in a year I saw the scale budge downward was this morning. I am not on a diet. I am just regulating the crap I am putting in by doing it the simplest way for me. At work I can snack on the fruits and vegetables easier because I have witnesses. I don't have a problem with eating. But I do have a problem with sugar. Now I get my sugar from fruit and I don't feel guilty about it. It's good for me and to hell with calorie counting. I haven't had a gall attack this past week and that's a big plus. I even had tomato sauce with my dinner last night and had no attack. Tomato sauce seemed to be my trigger. Mind you I may plateau and see nothing fall away next week and that is ok as long as my gb isn't hurting. I'm tired of fighting with the mirror and my waist line. I am exhausted. If I eat right... what more can I ask of myself? Oh and I broke my back in 4 places so I unfortunately can ask my fat *kitten* to get back in the gym. Eating right is all I have. I just thought I would throw this out there for everyone who is struggling and still has a faulty gb in their body. There aren't many resources for us. Trust me I've hunted the whole web over.
  • hannahweisergerike
    hannahweisergerike Posts: 1
    Gallstones can also be the result of yoyo dieting which would explain why there are so many more women with this problem then men. Today, my sister-in-law (she is an ultrasound tech) found 4 stones in my gallbladder. I do not have insurance, and I'm wondering if this counts as a pre-existing condition (probably does) as I want this thing out of me like yesterday. I only wish they would do like a 2 for 1 combo meaning gallbladder removal with a bit of lipo or breast aug.lol
  • 120by30
    120by30 Posts: 217 Member
    I don't know anything about gall bladder problems, but I know how AMAZING it feels to find out the source of what's been ailing you for a long time. I'm glad you're on the mend and have been able to get your weight loss going. :happy:
  • recesq
    recesq Posts: 154 Member
    How can you not have insurance???
    Obamacare cured that!
  • kkc92
    kkc92 Posts: 1 Member
    My gallbladder doesn't work anymore and is being taken out too. I was not losing weight even when I was doing extreme exercises. I am glad I'm not the only one that has this problem on here.
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  • jojo37696
    jojo37696 Posts: 93 Member
    You are lucky they took yours out. They refuse to take mine out as" those golf ball size stones aren't going anywhere". I've been with MFP for 2 yrs now am only here for the friends. Totally given up on losing weight and I eat what I want now. I know it's my gallbladder but when they refuse to take it out what can I do. I'm not extremely overweight but I would have loved to lose 30 lbs. I do exercise Mon to Fri and I reasonably watch what I eat. I'm moving and I'm not gaining and that is good enough for me.
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    I was diagnosed with gall bladder disease just over a week ago and I am now on a waiting list for surgery. I first visited my doc as I was using this site for around 2 years and not losing weight despite increased exercise and control of calories in. I had similar stomach issues to the original op. I count calories /weigh them and I am honest with my recording.

    Being in my 40s I was tested for a few obvious things too including a scan but I have been told by my gp that it is likely that the GB is enlarged and is causing me to deal with fat in different ways hence leading to lack of weight loss.

    I am not seriously overweight at 147 lb (aged 44) and this is not a result of a higher than standard fatty diet as I don't actually eat much high fat or high processed foods on the whole (though I have to fight with my love of cheeses)

    If I had not taken steps to try to sort my weight who knows how big I could have got.



    I am wary of all people thinking that the GB is the cause of course but if you are really honestly trying and getting nowhere it is worth visiting the doc for a wide range of checks.
  • lessbounce
    lessbounce Posts: 250 Member
    Ummmm I had my gall bladder removed a while back ( due to side affects for medication). Hasn't made the slightest bit of difference weight wise. But I guess every one is different, so congrats on how things have worked out for you xxx
  • mabelbabel1
    mabelbabel1 Posts: 391 Member
    I have an 11mm gallstone. I knew for a while I had one, and it was likely caused by my binge eating of high fatty foods over a number of years. I finally had a horrendous attack at 4am one morning. I thought I was going to die, the pain was so bad. It lasted for 4 hours. I had another milder attack due to eating 2 jars of peanut butter, this one left me feeling incredibly sick, on strong painkillers and generally awful for a week.

    It was after that, that I had an ultrasound and got my diagnosis. However, I haven't had my gallbladder removed and neither I or my GP see any reason for me to do so.
    Gallbladder removal isn't always a good thing and can leave the patient with a variety of unwelcome side effects. I know what causes the attacks and how to avoid them. It's a simply a matter of not stressing my gallbladder (in my case) by drowning it in fat.

    I love my poor abused little gallbladder, he's been through a lot with me over the years! It's time to look after us both :flowerforyou:

    Having a gallstone has never had any bearing whatsoever on my weight loss. What I eat has.
  • LadyGisborne
    LadyGisborne Posts: 32 Member
    My gallbladder is full of stones (the doctor who did the ultrasound said it is unable to store bile any more) and it hasn't stopped me from losing lots of weight in the past.
  • palmerdanielle
    palmerdanielle Posts: 341 Member
    Sorry; but this is ridiculous. NO problem with your gall bladder is going to keep you from losing weight. In fact, fatty intolerance, nausea, vomiting, bloating and pain from gallbladder problems might actually keep you from eating a bit.

    Ditto, calories in vs calories out. Your gall bladder had nothing to do with it.

    This. I had mine out in May, and prior to that lost weight just fine; if anything I avoided trigger foods more... It sounds like you're eating healthier now, so I'm pretty sure that's why you're seeing more weight loss. Even if you were exercising a lot, you know what they say, can't out-exercise a bad diet. Glad you've got it out though and things are going well, I feel so much better with mine out aside from some digestive issues, but it's better than the pain I was in!
  • palmerdanielle
    palmerdanielle Posts: 341 Member
    double posted somehow, woops.
  • sheilavives1
    sheilavives1 Posts: 1 Member
    Those of you saying the gallbladder has nothing to do with weight gain are seriously misinformed. The type of stones, the size of stones and where they are putting pressure or possibly blocking bile flow all weigh into the matter. A gallstone blocking the neck of the gallbladder will indeed cause problems processing fats and sugars, can block the hepatic duct, and gallstone problems can cause a significant increase in estrogen, thus affecting weight and also increasing breast size (a common problem with men with this condition). Instead of speaking out of ignorance and "what you want to believe" or to "attack someone" I suggest you learn to do some real research into scientific journals. Even the doctors are ignorant about gallbladder symptoms and post-surgery effects.
  • sltrooien
    sltrooien Posts: 1 Member
    Has anyone had issues with GAINing weight after they had their gallbladder removed?
  • mgookin1
    mgookin1 Posts: 72 Member
    Something similar happened to me almost 10 years ago. I started having gallbladder problems when I was 16, I told the doctors it was my gallbladder and they refused to do any testing because I was to young. It took them 3 years to finally test and I had to have emergency surgery because of how bad my gallbladder was. I was rushed into a second emergency surgery the next day because I had a gallstone lodged in my bile duct that they didn't notice.

    I didn't notice any struggle with my weight during the 3 years, I actually dropped a lot of weight and was hospitalized several times for dehydration because anytime I had any amount of fat in foods I would throw up and have severe pains. I pretty much lived on vegetable broth. It was miserable.
  • Jelenajelenajelenajelena
    Jelenajelenajelenajelena Posts: 34 Member
    Beet juice is amaaaaaazinggggg.
  • dbienz
    dbienz Posts: 188 Member
    Has anyone ever gained weight after having their gallbladder removed? I was steadily losing weight, doing really well in my routine and since my surgery 4 months ago I have gained 10 of my 30 pounds back :disappointed: I am back to my normal food and gym routine and still GAINING weight.
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