Fritzy 22's Journal, 12 Feb 20

I'm sorry you are in pain, I had my gallbladder removed nearly 20 years ago. I wish I could have it back now, but at the time, alleviating the pain was my main concern. But please do a lot of research before making any decisions. After removal, most people find they still have to be very careful with fat. It may no longer cause pain, but rather encourage a close relationship with your toilet. I started LCHF, and while it has been a blessing for me both physically and mentally, it was a long road to get my body to cooperate. Good luck with your decision, I hope you get relief.  

I had mine out 11 years ago after years of random attacks. It got so bad I was hospitalized for 5 days before they realized it had to come out. I say take it out and you won't have to worry about the attacks - you will have to modify your diet to healthy fat choices (avocado, butter, full fat yogurt, etc.). 

I agree with the research as removal affects people differently. I had mine out years ago and I've done fine. No issues at all. Good going on the gym! 

Yay for the gym. I'd rather remove my gallbladder than not be able to eat fat. :( Sorry you are going through this!  

man your doctor is nicer than mine was. I tried talking to him about every eating plan I could try to avoid surgery, because I did not want it. But he blatantly said, "eventually everything you eat will cause an attack to better just to get it out." happy to say, its a relief.  

Have you gotten an opinion of another doctor? That sounds concerning to the highest degree. I do hope and wish you the best. 

so* not to 

Nice workout friend 🤗💪 It really seems to be bothering you. I would get it out. 

what do you think you want to do? Your doctor is very partial to a certain way of eating. Make the choice that feels right for you. Hard to overdo gym... a bit of soreness maybe but unless you pulled something it will be fine 

Have they done an ultrasound of the gallbladder? Mine was so full of stones there was no other option. 

Thanks Thunder - I have been doing research online about the gallstones and having the gallbladder removed. From what I've seen it seems like it may be inevitable to have the gallbladder removed. Thanks Eimaj - I worry something like that may happen to me - an emergency that puts me in the hospital Thanks Tatauu! Thanks DP - I have always preferred a low fat diet to low carb. I was surprised when I joined FS to find so many people doing a high fat diet. It's never been healthy for me. I tried the Atkins diet over 30 years ago and realized I couldn't give up carbs long term. Vcabral2 - my doctor will always talk about diet with me. Because of problems with inflammation and now my gallbladder he encourages me to do a plant based diet and to eliminate all processed meats and limit processed foods as much as possible. I know he is vegan. I try to do what he says but it's hard. But over time I am eating more "plants" and finding some I actually like and am eating less processed foods. I rarely have processed meat, but I think it was part of the reason I had gallbladder attacks during the holidays. Aamaddux - I originally saw another doctor after 3 "attacks" after Thanksgiving because mine was not available right away. That doctor sent me to have an ultrasound and then referred me to a surgeon. After seeing the surgeon I made an appointment with my doctor because I really like him and he takes the time to discuss things with me. But I may make an appointment with a GI specialist before deciding on surgery. That's Jcmama! Liv - I think I would like to avoid surgery but am afraid of a medical emergency if I don't have the gallbladder out. I am going to try to eat the way my doctor suggests for a couple of months and not do anything unless I have further attacks. He told me losing weight could also help with the gallstones. I am trying not to do too much at the gym to start with, but to work up to more. I sometimes have poor posture when working with weights so am trying to do things the right way. Kind of enjoyed the gym today and will go again on Friday. I think I need to go at least 3 times a week to make it worth the membership fee. I am surprised at how many people are there at 10am so will probably avoid the weekends. Thanks Becky - I had an ultrasound but both my doctor and the surgeon just seemed to read the information provided by whoever originally reviewed it. Neither could tell me how many gallstones I had or how big they were. Thanks again everyone! One thing I have figured out is it really helps me if I drink a lot of water if I do eat something fatty. I think I have avoided problems from the glazed donut holes I ate earlier in the day (and shouldn't have had) by drinking about 4 glasses of water -12 oz glasses! The surgeon suggested I do that. I'm surprised to find so many people who have had their gallbladders removed. My doctor did say I may end up with chronic diarrhea if I have the gallbladder removed and would probably need to have a low fat diet regardless of what I decide. 

Hey, Fritzy, you're doing your due diligence. That's most important, so just keep an eye on it. GB situations do typically worsen over time. The danger of a medical emergency after I'd had a number of attacks convinced me to have the surgery. For 5-6 mos. post-op, I avoided even small amounts of salad dressing but, amazingly, the biliary system takes over the function of the GB. Since then, I've been able to eat anything (and everything!) without difficulty. 

I had mine out at 19, almost 20 years ago. The stones can migrate into your bike ducts and cause permanent damage to the liver and pancreas. It was the best decision I could have made - your body has to readjust to digesting certain things, but other than that, you'll feel better! 

I had to have my gallbladder removed when I was 22 because the stones were also in my bile ducts,The Doctor said if I hadn't come in to the ER that night during the attack , I would have been dead as the liver was shutting down. So please be careful about waiting too long. 

Check out magnesium advocacy Facebook group for possible better answers 

Thanks for the support everyone! You're starting to scare me a little and I am already worried. My doctor seems to think my diet can deal with the issue and that if I do decide on the surgery I should be fine waiting until June when I will be eligible for Medicare. Hclfsaucy - I'm not on Facebook and doubt I will ever sign up. But thanks for the suggestion. 

Fritzy- sounds to me like your doctor is in a predicament because he is repeating to you what you want to hear and have already decided is that you don't want surgery and wish to control it with diet. But in my observation of your posts - you have not been able to do that successfully if you are still eating fats and donuts and having attacks. I mentioned before I had mine out and it was the best decision for my health. Good luck !  

I was researching on diets, and I think the weakness I had was dairy products that aren’t low fat. I also saw where it says in web md that drinking caffeine or moderate amounts of alcohol where actually good for gallbladder which I didn’t know. It also stated in one studied that eating one serving of peanuts a day could lower gallbladder removal by up to 20 percent.Mediterranean diet sounds like a good way to go on that issue. Do some research before you make any decisions though. Fact check. 

No gallbladder issues, but I agree that lowfat is difficult especially when we are conditioned to do whatever we want to do and then suffer for it! You can do it if you set your mind to it, and then go for the surgery after you qualify for Medicare if you want to. Good luck! 

After 20 years of suffering I bit the bullet and had my gall bladder out last year best decision I have ever made. I ate a very low fat diet for the last 5 years of suffering but it finally came down to agony every time I ate, now I realize that I suffered for all those years for nothing.