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Could It Be My Gallbladder?

AlexJ72

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AlexJ72 Apprentice
AlexJ72
Posted

Is there a connection between celiac and gallbladder problems? I had a slight abnormality in my liver functional test and for the past 2 months have been having some indigestion and a stiff/tight feeling on my right side where the GB is. Im going to go for an ultrasound, but I REALLY DONT want to have surgery, i feel like it will make my situation worse and im just starting to feel better and heal. IS surgery always indicated or are there nonsurgical ways to dissolve or flush out the stones?

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Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted
Is there a connection between celiac and gallbladder problems? I had a slight abnormality in my liver functional test and for the past 2 months have been having some indigestion and a stiff/tight feeling on my right side where the GB is. Im going to go for an ultrasound, but I REALLY DONT want to have surgery, i feel like it will make my situation worse and im just starting to feel better and heal. IS surgery always indicated or are there nonsurgical ways to dissolve or flush out the stones?

As far as i know, surgery is the only way to deal with gallstones. Luckily, they can do it laproscopically and you go home within a couple of hours. I had mine out in the olden days with a 6 inch incision and 4 days in the hospital. About a year later, my 80 year old Granny had hers done by lapro and went home the same day with no problems. Good luck to you!

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

There is a drug called ursodiol that works in some cases. They use it for small cholesterol stones. There are pigment stones also and it doesn't work for them.

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I found this info by searching for "gall bladder treatment".

nu-to-no-glu Apprentice
nu-to-no-glu
Posted

Ugh, I sure hope you don't have to have your gallbladder removed! I had mine out about 12 years ago. I've spoken to several doctors who suspect I never really needed it out at all, as it was just a guess that it may have been the cause of my mysterious stomach pain. This was of course before I was gluten free. I would get pain like you are describing that didn't really relieve until I went gluten free. Not trying to worry you, just wanted to share my experience. I know drs will say a gallbladder isn't essential to digestion, but I would research the long term effects before deciding what to do. You said you are just starting to feel better, maybe give your body a little more time, and get the tests to rule out any other issues like you have planned. I know that gas can live in specific areas and be just as painful as passing a stone! Good luck! I'm sorry you're still not 100 percent :(

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted
As far as i know, surgery is the only way to deal with gallstones. Luckily, they can do it laproscopically and you go home within a couple of hours. I had mine out in the olden days with a 6 inch incision and 4 days in the hospital. About a year later, my 80 year old Granny had hers done by lapro and went home the same day with no problems. Good luck to you!

There is a correlation between gall bladder and celiac. I found out I had gallstones at the same time I found out I had celiac. I chose to have my gall bladder out in case of pregnancy (emergency gall bladder surgery when pregnant is NOT good).

It didn't solve all my problems but what does? I can say, as my only surgery, I had no problems or complications. I don't regret having it out. I was in and out in about 4 hours and have no scars.

Laproscopy is great BUT sometimes it's not an option. You could make an appointment with a surgeon and see what your options are.

AlexJ72 Apprentice
AlexJ72
Posted
  • Author

I've been reading that gallbladder removal doubles your risk of colon cancer, and since there already is a risk of that with celiac it could turn into a very scary situation. Any comments on that?

Glamour Explorer
Glamour
Posted

REad up up on liver and gallbladder health and flushes. Then do this under the supervision of a Dr. that has some concept of preventative and holistic medicine.

I would try this before doing surgery, unless it is an emergency. High fat and bad diets contribute to these problems.

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AlexJ72 Apprentice
AlexJ72
Posted
  • Author

Thats what I plan on doing. Thing is my diet has been so healthy since being diagnoses with celiac...no fried foods, healthy fats and no junk food so i have no idea how i could possibly have stones but i will find out soon enough

Ahorsesoul Enthusiast
Ahorsesoul
Posted

My gall bladder story. I was have pain under the breast bone. Dr decided it must be my gall bladder, had a ultrasound that showed some gall stones. Was scheduled for surgery. I requested a second opinion, as everyone should do before surgery. I went to Mayo Clinic to see a GI specialist.

This Mayo doctor was looking my over saying I sure didn't look sick. He asked questions, showed me the ultrasound film and explained that yes, I had a few gall stones. All small enough to pass without problems and not uncommon for someone in their 50s. He did not feel my symptoms fit a gall bladder problem. (symptoms: pain that started at night, a few times so bad I vomited, but always felt better afterwards and in the morning)

He did say if I had gall bladder symptoms, I should be seen right away because a gall stone blocking the ducts could cause pancreatitis.

He said if I had intense pain after eating something fatty and the pain lasted for hours (1 to 6 hrs) it could be gall bladder related. I went home to cancel the un-needed surgery.

I did eat high fat meals for the next few days just to make sure I wasn't having gall bladder problems. No problems with the meals at all. I also figure it gave my gall bladder a good work out to clear out the stones.

AlexJ72 Apprentice
AlexJ72
Posted
  • Author

so what caused the pain?

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted
I've been reading that gallbladder removal doubles your risk of colon cancer, and since there already is a risk of that with celiac it could turn into a very scary situation. Any comments on that?

Where did you read this? Yikes! I'd like to read the research if you can post it. Certainly something to be aware of!

Brooklyn528 Apprentice
Brooklyn528
Posted

Hi. Going back up to your original post, I notice that you said there was an abnormality in you liver functions. I was wondering if you knew what it was? When I was diagnosed with Celiac, they noticed that my liver enzymes were about 4x what they should have been. They blamed it on my Celiac disease for a long time, and i just got sicker and sicker even though I was gluten free. I was diagnosed Celiac in January of this year. I went to a liver specialist about the elevations in august. He told me that day that he thought I had Autoimmune Hepatitis. I had a biopsy done in the middle of september and got diagnosed on 9/24/2009. I would be interested in knowing whether your enzymes were high. I also suffered from indigestion and right side fullness and a stiff feeling when I would breathe.

AlexJ72 Apprentice
AlexJ72
Posted
  • Author

Hi- Yes my ALT enzyme was a bit high- 72 I think, not nearly as high as yours were. Are you being treated for autoimmune hep? did the enzymes come back down?

Hi. Going back up to your original post, I notice that you said there was an abnormality in you liver functions. I was wondering if you knew what it was? When I was diagnosed with Celiac, they noticed that my liver enzymes were about 4x what they should have been. They blamed it on my Celiac disease for a long time, and i just got sicker and sicker even though I was gluten free. I was diagnosed Celiac in January of this year. I went to a liver specialist about the elevations in august. He told me that day that he thought I had Autoimmune Hepatitis. I had a biopsy done in the middle of september and got diagnosed on 9/24/2009. I would be interested in knowing whether your enzymes were high. I also suffered from indigestion and right side fullness and a stiff feeling when I would breathe.

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