Gallbladder Issues?

[mommyof4]

I'm thankful for this sight as there are so many questions I have...has anyone had gallbladder issues? I have been fighting fatigue and this upper right pain since being diagnosed with Celiac last Fall. A CT of my gallbladder was done last Fall...no stones...BUT I still have this fatigue & constant "discomfort" on right side...my other intestinal issues have resolved going g.free. So, this week I asked my local doctor to do the HIDA scan & if all is normal I will never bring my gallbladder up again...I have a great doctor that agreed. My gallbladder is only functioning at 15%. I have put in a call with my specialist at Mayo.

Just curious if a low-functioning gallbladder has caused anyone here issues? If so, can it heal naturally or did you get it removed? If you healed naturally...what did you do? I'm to the point with all of this that I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get things "NORMAL"!!!!! I also have a fatty liver...I'm not heavy(124 lbs) & I don't drink alcohol. Can fatty liver, celiac & gallbladder issues be related?

Like I said, I have a call in to my Celiac Dr at Mayo, but until I hear back, I'm curious of other Celiac's experiences.

Thanks...again!

[IrishHeart]

Non-alcoholic Fatty liver is often associated with celiac disease.

Here are some articles:

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21501/1/Celiac-Disease-and-Liver-Disorders/Page1.html

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FWIW, I had gall bladder disease when I was 22 and it was removed at 25 when I could no longer stand the pain, nausea, etc. No one in my family has a GB anymore. My celiac disease went UnDxed for the next 25 years.

There are many associated conditions and diseases with celiac disease and these two are common.

Hope you get resolution for the pain soon.

[GladGirl]

I'm thankful for this sight as there are so many questions I have...has anyone had gallbladder issues? I have been fighting fatigue and this upper right pain since being diagnosed with Celiac last Fall. A CT of my gallbladder was done last Fall...no stones...BUT I still have this fatigue & constant "discomfort" on right side...my other intestinal issues have resolved going g.free. So, this week I asked my local doctor to do the HIDA scan & if all is normal I will never bring my gallbladder up again...I have a great doctor that agreed. My gallbladder is only functioning at 15%. I have put in a call with my specialist at Mayo.

Just curious if a low-functioning gallbladder has caused anyone here issues? If so, can it heal naturally or did you get it removed? If you healed naturally...what did you do? I'm to the point with all of this that I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get things "NORMAL"!!!!! I also have a fatty liver...I'm not heavy(124 lbs) & I don't drink alcohol. Can fatty liver, celiac & gallbladder issues be related?

Like I said, I have a call in to my Celiac Dr at Mayo, but until I hear back, I'm curious of other Celiac's experiences.

Thanks...again!

Oh, yes! Gallbladder and liver issues are certainly associated with celiac disease. Interestingly enough, when I was having the on-set issues with my gallbladder about 7 years ago, the association with that and slightly elevated liver enzymes did not even "trigger" a Dr. (I saw three to include the surgeon) to the fact that I may have Celiac Disease. I too had a HIDA Scan, my gallbladder was not even functioning, they called it dyskenesia...so I had it removed and a liver biopsy at the same time. Even though the biopsy was showing some fatty infiltration on the report...it did not send the "signal" to any of my Dr's. I was just diagnosed a few months ago now. Feeling so much better having gone gluten free and lost 20 lbs so far without being hungry, just reducing all the inflammation in my body that had built up. (between my Uncle and my brother, I started putting info together, and "ding", saw that this could be a hereditary problem...it is/was.)

Anyway, back to your gallbladder, I thought perhaps if I had been diagnosed where you are at on this journey, perhaps my gallbladder would have been saved, but it seems that might not be so. Sorry you are still feeling that "gnawing" pain, I remember it well...and the fatigue as well. Hope you find an answer soon, so you can start mending better.

For me, my first blood tests on liver enzymes will be available for me to see next week. I am anxiously waiting for that appt. Went to the lab earlier this week with the scrip...then I am planning on changing Dr's. This one does not seem to be "aware" of much in caring for patients with celiac disease. What a journey!!

[mommyof4]

Thank you both...very interesting websites on gallbladder & Celiac. Very interesting, also, about both of your issues with gbladder.

My Celiac doctor at Mayo called me late afternoon. I am going to go see him in a couple weeks(we live 4 hours from Mayo, so everything has to be planned out), so I will let you know what we find out. In my situation he said NOT to rush into getting it removed until we know WHY it is low-functioning...it still may need to come out. Yes, it is very common for Celiacs to have fatty liver & gallbladder issues just like both of you said. I am hoping it will perhaps heal on its own as my body fully heals.

Very interesting...thank you for your replies. One last question for you both...did you feel better once it was removed? I just want to dive back into life with that energy I used to have & no discomfort/pain...it is taking sooo long. I am trying to keep up with my 4 kids & hubby, not talk about all "my issues", & trudge forward with a positive attitude...sometimes harder done than said!

[IrishHeart]

Honestly, when I had mine out it was 1985

but as I recall, I was so sick, jaundiced and feeling so lousy for so long that YES! I felt better.

[GladGirl]

I certainly felt better with the more extrememe right side pain gone from it, but my liver enzymes were still getting worse soon after that, and every year they were a bit higher, and then my cholesterol too. Now that I have been gluten free for three months, my right side is not painful any longer, so my bloodwork next week hopefully shows the AST and ALT have gone down...

[Gfreeatx]

I had mine out in 2009..a year before I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. My GB issues were also due to low function (13%). I definitely think there is a connection between Celiac disease and GB issues. There are so many of us that have had issues with low functioning GB's. When I was finally diagnosed with Celiac Disease the damage they saw was Marsh score stage 4 so I am sure that having the disease untreated for so long had caused the littony of health issues I was having. Everything from the GB issues to Dysautonomia. Hope you get to feel better soon!!

[Curlyqueen]

Hello!

I found this topic very interesting as I am considering that there might be something going on with my gall bladder and or pancreas. Similarly to you, since going gluten free a lot of my symptoms have gone away since going gluten free. Like you I'm still

• 
  
  
• fatigue
  

,

• get hypoglycemic symptoms(I have always gotten them growing up but in the last few months they have been pretty bad)
  

[*]can not tolerate alcohol at all ( maybe its leaky gut)

Anyway I don't want to leave any stone unturned and my doctor doesn't seem to be well versed in Celiac and or Leaky Gut syndrome. So I feel the need to keep researching and making suggestions. So I just wanted to say that I'm glad you shared this! Thanks! I wish you the best.

[frieze]

it is at 15% now, we don't know if it were actually less in the past. Try pancreatic enzymes for digestion, maintain good hydration. You have heard of the 5 "Fs" of gallbladder disease?

fair, flatulent, fat, forty, and female.....what else does that sound like? hmm........

[Bubba's Mom]

Thank you both...very interesting websites on gallbladder & Celiac. Very interesting, also, about both of your issues with gbladder.

My Celiac doctor at Mayo called me late afternoon. I am going to go see him in a couple weeks(we live 4 hours from Mayo, so everything has to be planned out), so I will let you know what we find out. In my situation he said NOT to rush into getting it removed until we know WHY it is low-functioning...it still may need to come out. Yes, it is very common for Celiacs to have fatty liver & gallbladder issues just like both of you said. I am hoping it will perhaps heal on its own as my body fully heals.

Very interesting...thank you for your replies. One last question for you both...did you feel better once it was removed? I just want to dive back into life with that energy I used to have & no discomfort/pain...it is taking sooo long. I am trying to keep up with my 4 kids & hubby, not talk about all "my issues", & trudge forward with a positive attitude...sometimes harder done than said!

I had gallbladder symptoms for a couple of years before my Celiac DX. An ultrasound showed no stones, a bit of sludge. After that my complaints of GB symptoms to my PCP fell on deaf ears.

Once my Celiac symptoms increased and I was DXed,and gluten-free, the GB symptoms continued. A HIDA scan done 6months gluten-free showed I had 30% function. I was told to consult a surgeon.

I didn't want surgery and did a lot of looking into GB dyskinesia. I found that PPI meds slow it down, so went off them. (my gerd had stopped after being gluten-free anyway)Being gluten-free and PPI free lessend the pain some.

There is a link to GB issues and Celiac.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/119/1/Gall-Bladder-Disease-and-Celiac-Disease---By-Ronald-Hoggan/Page1.html

I recently went to Mayo for additional testing for issues that weren't resolving. Dr. Murry put me on pancreatic enzymes and said he didn't advise removal of my GB. He encouraged a "wait and see" attitude about function returning to normal once I heal.

The chemical (CCK) that tells your GB to contract is made in and sent from the duodenum. If you have damage there that chemical may not be made in the amount needed for proper contraction..or not sent to the GB.

I'm currently taking Curcumin (Tumeric) to help the gallbladder too. I'm noticing some improvement, so I'm hopeful that with time I'll continue to improve.

Good luck to you..and best wishes!

[mommyof4]

Interesting...Dr. Murray is my doctor also. I am going to see him within the next few weeks as I also have some unresolved issues...I last saw him in January. He wants to take a closer look at my gallbladder through ultrasound. He also prescribed digestive enzymes...I have to pick the prescription up today.

So, are you feeling better? When you had gallbladder pain, was it ever on the left side? That's what is driving me crazy...one day I feel fine, the next I may have pain or just discomfort on the right side, the next it may on the left side. Did your pain ever rotate like that? I know the gallbladder is on the right side, so this baffles me. I know my intestinal issues are healing because after losing 22 lbs in a few weeks last Fall, I have put 12 lbs back on & I don't have diahrrea anymore.

Thanks for your input...thanks to everyone above that gave input too!

[Bubba's Mom]

Interesting...Dr. Murray is my doctor also. I am going to see him within the next few weeks as I also have some unresolved issues...I last saw him in January. He wants to take a closer look at my gallbladder through ultrasound. He also prescribed digestive enzymes...I have to pick the prescription up today.

So, are you feeling better? When you had gallbladder pain, was it ever on the left side? That's what is driving me crazy...one day I feel fine, the next I may have pain or just discomfort on the right side, the next it may on the left side. Did your pain ever rotate like that? I know the gallbladder is on the right side, so this baffles me. I know my intestinal issues are healing because after losing 22 lbs in a few weeks last Fall, I have put 12 lbs back on & I don't have diahrrea anymore.

Thanks for your input...thanks to everyone above that gave input too!

My pain is/was mostly the right side, but sometimes it would refer to the center or left. I also got tingling in my right shoulder blade, which has stopped.

An ultrasound will show if you have any stones or blockage in the bile ducts, as well as anything in the GB.

I'm glad that Dr. Murry is conservative about removing GBs. They're there to help aid digestion. If he tests you and says you need to have yours removed, I just wanted you to know he doesn't jump to that conclusion lightly.

The digestive enzymes are good. They help break down your food when your GB isn't working effectively. Quite often, the pancreas isn't releasing the enzymes when it should either because of the lack of the CCK message.

He also put me on a steroid that stays in the intestine (Entocort) to help in my healing. I went on them in Feb., after an endoscope done 8 mos. gluten-free showed no healing. A capsule endoscope done in early May (not as clear of a picture) showed quite a bit of healing starting, so the steroids are working it seems? I've finally started gaining back a few pounds too!

I see SO many magazines on the news stands that advertise articles on how to lose weight. They don't seem to know there are some of us out here that are trying to gain? LOL Congrats..it sounds like you're moving in the right direction?

[butterfl8]

So I was dxed Celiac in July '09. This last fall I had my GB removed. By the time I got in for the HIDA scan, I was only eating rice, vegetables, fruit and NO fat dairy. SUCH A BAD IDEA, but hey, it was the only way I could get through without pain. I failed the scan, my GB failed to recieve any bile until they pumped me full of morphine. The thing was removed 2 weeks later, and the Dr said it was floppy (not sure what that means...)! The surgery was in mid-November, and I could actually enjoy real food a week and a half later. I feel great now! I am VERY glad that I had it taken out--no more pain, no more no fat meals, LOTS more energy. The only bad part is that I've gained 5 lbs! and I lost 5 on the GB diet, so I'm bummed. And I've got a bigger bum! :lol:

That's just my story. The pain I had then was on the right, but by the end my right shoulder was constantly aching, and always had a sore back. Now? Just a few twinges from the scars. I'll take that over before.

-Daisy

[mommyof4]

Interesting! I am encouraged that perhaps this can all turn around!!! I see Dr. Murray June 15...only 2 weeks...I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of the gallbladder issue.

I am down to eating pretty much rice, veggies, fruit, chicken & g.f.toast. I would take a bigger bum too if it made me feel better!

I will let you know what happens...

[Bubba's Mom]

Interesting! I am encouraged that perhaps this can all turn around!!! I see Dr. Murray June 15...only 2 weeks...I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of the gallbladder issue.

I am down to eating pretty much rice, veggies, fruit, chicken & g.f.toast. I would take a bigger bum too if it made me feel better!

I will let you know what happens...

The digestive enzymes should help you a lot? Hopefully, you can add some foods back?

Please let us know what they find when they test you and the treatment plan?

Fingers crossed for you!

[WendyLee]

I was DX with Coeliac back in March 2012 after being unwell and fatigued since Aug 2011. I was lucky to be DX so 'quickly' but that was because I changed Doctors until I found one who would listen!

I've been strictly gluten free since 17 March and I still feel like s$#&e. I was so sick 2 weeks ago that my husband took me to his young Doctor Bond [who's quite easy on the eyes] and he sent me off for ultrasound of my abdo and renal, also did bloods. The results being that I have a gallstone, slightly raised Liver function and high ESR. Good news was that my Coeliac readings had come down, so the diet is working.

Last Monday night I had my first ever gallstone attack...3 of them in a row. Each lasting about 10-15 minutes with a 5 minute break. Now that was painful. For many weeks prior I've had an annoying pain under my right shoulder blade. At the time of the attacks the pain started in the right side and spread out over my belly like a vice and the pain in my back moved to the middle.

Dr Bond has referred me to Prof. Abraham [surgeon] who I can't get into until 13 Feb 2013. I don't want my gallbladder removed. So I'm trying to find out how I can improve it's function. The ultrasound showed that the gallbladder was healthy. I don't know where to go from here.

I wake every morning with nausea and that lasts almost all day. Some days are better than others. My diet has diminished somewhat and I've lost 6kgs this month. Would so like to see this Dr Martin at the Mayo but being in Australia in a country town, that ain't going to happen

I'm at a point where I believe I need to get the gallbladder working better and shrivel this stone down enough so I can try a liver flush. Any one have suggestions on how to increase the activity of the flow of bile from the gallbladder?

Many cheers

Wendy

[shadowicewolf]

I was DX with Coeliac back in March 2012 after being unwell and fatigued since Aug 2011. I was lucky to be DX so 'quickly' but that was because I changed Doctors until I found one who would listen!

I've been strictly gluten free since 17 March and I still feel like s$#&e. I was so sick 2 weeks ago that my husband took me to his young Doctor Bond [who's quite easy on the eyes] and he sent me off for ultrasound of my abdo and renal, also did bloods. The results being that I have a gallstone, slightly raised Liver function and high ESR. Good news was that my Coeliac readings had come down, so the diet is working.

Last Monday night I had my first ever gallstone attack...3 of them in a row. Each lasting about 10-15 minutes with a 5 minute break. Now that was painful. For many weeks prior I've had an annoying pain under my right shoulder blade. At the time of the attacks the pain started in the right side and spread out over my belly like a vice and the pain in my back moved to the middle.

Dr Bond has referred me to Prof. Abraham [surgeon] who I can't get into until 13 Feb 2013. I don't want my gallbladder removed. So I'm trying to find out how I can improve it's function. The ultrasound showed that the gallbladder was healthy. I don't know where to go from here.

I wake every morning with nausea and that lasts almost all day. Some days are better than others. My diet has diminished somewhat and I've lost 6kgs this month. Would so like to see this Dr Martin at the Mayo but being in Australia in a country town, that ain't going to happen

I'm at a point where I believe I need to get the gallbladder working better and shrivel this stone down enough so I can try a liver flush. Any one have suggestions on how to increase the activity of the flow of bile from the gallbladder?

Many cheers

Wendy

My advice is to just have it removed. It will get worse as the stones build up. To my knowledge there is no way to remove them outside of surgery.

That pain is not fun (mine was a bit different, no stones but it was working against itself), and nothing i found helped.

The surgery itself isn't so bad. I have four small scars from mine. The recovery was kind of painful, but nothing like the pain the gallbladder gave me.