Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has heard of any alternative treatments (other than surgery) for gallstones? I have been doing great since my surgery-80 lbs. down now, since 10/07. However, I recently had a gallbladder attack...very scary! With no frame of reference, I thought I might be having a heart attack. My subsequent ultrasound revealed a "string of pearls" as the tech said. I have not had another attack, and my pcp initially said to take a 'wait and see' position, but my surgeon says it might be best that I get the gallbladder removed.

The issue for me is that I would prefer to not have surgery and I haven't been offered any options other than leave it or take it. Sounds silly maybe, but prior to having the lap band the only surgery I had was a c-section and I would prefer to keep it to a minimum. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Milady

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has heard of any alternative treatments (other than surgery) for gallstones? I have been doing great since my surgery-80 lbs. down now, since 10/07. However, I recently had a gallbladder attack...very scary! With no frame of reference, I thought I might be having a heart attack. My subsequent ultrasound revealed a "string of pearls" as the tech said. I have not had another attack, and my pcp initially said to take a 'wait and see' position, but my surgeon says it might be best that I get the gallbladder removed.

The issue for me is that I would prefer to not have surgery and I haven't been offered any options other than leave it or take it. Sounds silly maybe, but prior to having the lap band the only surgery I had was a c-section and I would prefer to keep it to a minimum. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Milady

Oh Boy! I have had the same problem. It started on June 21st and I have had two attacks since then. I, too, thought I was having a heart attack. I have lost 92 pounds and will be getting my gall bladder out at the end of this month. My dr. said that you try to keep it at bay with eating bland, healthy foods and NOTHING fried. He also said that it can cause you to have emergency surgery where they do a full blown incision instead of laprascopic if you don't get it out before a stone gets stuck. Good luck to you, but I don't think there are alternative options to getting it out.

You'll want to make sure to keep on top of the situation as if you allow your gallbladder to function as a deminished rate you could hurt your bile duct as well. I held off on having my gallbladder removed and had to have stents(sp) put in my bile duct because my gallbladder wasn't emptying and backing up into my bile duct. Also, you'll know when it's time to have it out...because you won't think that you're having a heart attack...you'll think that your dying right then and there. It was far worse than childbirth in my opinion and something that I'm grateful was able to be rectified via surgery.

If your Dr. says take a wait and see approach then I would take his word for it...but you'll know when you can't leave your house for 10 days in a row because you're stuck in the bathroom, that it's time to have it out.

Feel better.

I hear your pain! I was dignosed with back pain for 6 years. Trips to the ER lots of diffrent drugs and pain that makes you lie on the floor and cry because it hurts so bad. My Dr. always said lose some weight and you'll be fine. Well, when I went for pre-op tests for the lap band what do they find gall stones the size of golf balls and the Dr says I bet they have been painfull. Well frigging duh! I had my gall bladder out 6 weeks after my lapband surgery. I would have like to have both surgerys at once but the Dr. was worried about cross contamination. I won't lie to you the gall bladder was a more painful surgery, but nothing compared to the years I suffered in excruciating (sp?) pain. Good luck and please don't suffer with pain needlessly.

cc

There are some medications that can be prescribed if the problem is gall crystal or sludge. When you eat unhealthy for a long period of time (high fats), you're body is used to producing a lot of bile. Bile is released from the gallbladder when an excess amount of fat is consumed to help digest it. When you begin to eat healthy, more bile is stored than is released and that's when stones form. Consequently, it's common for people to have gallbladder problems when they lose large amounts of weight. In the medical world we look for the "FIVE F's" which are fair, female, fertile, forty, and fat.

There are some medications that can be prescribed if the problem is gall crystal or sludge. When you eat unhealthy for a long period of time (high fats), you're body is used to producing a lot of bile. Bile is released from the gallbladder when an excess amount of fat is consumed to help digest it. When you begin to eat healthy, more bile is stored than is released and that's when stones form. Consequently, it's common for people to have gallbladder problems when they lose large amounts of weight. In the medical world we look for the "FIVE F's" which are fair, female, fertile, forty, and fat.

I am all five :biggrin:! What is the difference between stones and crystals or are they the same thing? Is that what determines whether they try the meds?

Edited July 13, 200818 yr by miladyelfn