Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Trey on July 07, 2013, 08:21:27 PM

Title: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 07, 2013, 08:21:27 PM
I'm such a fan of Estrace, estradiol cream and upped my dosage the past two weeks.  It is a known cause of gall bladder disease.  I've been in pain on and off since last night.  Sort of makes me re-think the question of systemic absorption.  I've had this twice before and if lucky will take omega 3, milk thistle and Taurine and stop eating fats and nuts for a while.  Had two slices of cheddar cheese last night.

So crossing my fingers.

Posted this because of the estrogen connection.  I'm on patch as well.  Will decrease cream, not patch as did fine until I did so many things wrong at once.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: honeybun on July 07, 2013, 08:44:40 PM
Sounds painful Trey.

I can't eats nuts or sweet corn or peppers as it cause my diverticulitis problems to rear it's head.

Bland low fat diet for a while perhaps.

Do you think you would have absorbed too much estradiol or maybe just an unhappy coincidence.
You have had a run in with nuts before if I recall.

Hope you feel much better soon.


Honeyb
X
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Taz2 on July 07, 2013, 10:46:43 PM
Sorry to hear this Trey - have a hug.

Taz x  :bighug:
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 08, 2013, 12:23:26 AM
The only thing I changed was the increase in the estrogen cream and possibly too many fats at once.  Eating very carefully just now, baked potato and no fat yogurt.  Hope it behaves through the night.

This is the same connection of estrogen to cholesterol production.  I just can't see how it is, but that's what the fact sheets says---increase in gallbladder disease.........

I think I'll take Taurine for the rest of my life as it is supposed to thin cholesterol.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 08, 2013, 12:29:20 PM
Cheddar cheese won't help!  :o all cheese has fats .......... which is one of the first things to cause gall bladder symptoms.  I doubt whether you are absorbing enough estrogen to cause problems, unless you cut out all fats including cheese and chocolate you won't know for certain  ::)

I'll have your chocolate portion please  ;) and I'm sure the dogs will help out with the cheese .........
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 08, 2013, 02:26:39 PM
Waiting for doc to call.  I know I need ultrasound.  Don't feel very well, but haven't eaten hardly anything.  Main thing is not to get infected as I'm allergic to most ABs.  I'm getting sore in my back now and only the occasional spasm so improved in some ways, just weak.

The h*** you say, CLKD, you are NOT getting my chocolate.  You are probably right on the estradiol cream.  I did a ton of exercises this week and can't tell one soreness from another. 

I hate living alone at times like this. >:(
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 08, 2013, 09:05:35 PM
Of course.  No one to have a Jolly Good Moan to and no one to tell  you to call the Doctor/go for a walk/it will pass  :hug:

Are you able to tolerate goat products?  Although to me they taste like goats smell, there is a UK company who pack and post goad products world wide for those with allergies ...........  even pets!
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Rose on July 09, 2013, 07:26:57 AM
Trey, I hope you are okay. I had to have my gall bladder removed as I had gallstones, tiny ones that kept getting out and wrecking my pancreas and liver. It wasn't picked up by Docs beforehand until it got so bad I was in agony. Please don't let anyone ignore your need for help and torture them until they do something, that's if you haven't already. My thoughts are with you. Gall bladder attacks are horrible. Are you loosing weight? I feel so much better now it's gone but I am still stick thin, two years on!
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 09, 2013, 01:56:41 PM
Gall ducts clear, no sludge or stones. Outside inflamed, white count up.  Nothing abnormal in all the organs, which is weird as previous scans had sludge and abnormalities.  Still getting pinching spasms, feel weak and yes, Rose, lost lots of weight.  All I can think of is taking Taurine and my powerful laser my have cleared the ducts.  The Taurine thins cholesterol so who knows.  I did an excessive amount of exercise in that area, a standing Pilates one and also tai chi to manipulate he fascia over the abdominal organs and common sense tells me that must have something to do with it as well as sudden high fat intake.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 09, 2013, 02:51:39 PM
Finding small muscles you didn't know you had then  ::)

Feet up, chocolate to hand ........  ;)
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: joyce21 on July 09, 2013, 03:22:45 PM
Hi Trey
I have Gall bladder problems, I was supposed to have mine taken out last year, but i have such a phobia of surgery that I chickened out at the eleventh hour  :'(. But in the main, i've sussed out what set's mine off, the ones for me are Butter, Fat, eggs and white bread. I was poorly a few weeks ago with it (one of my worst attacks to date) and I don't know what caused that, I tried to go over what I'd eaten, but nothing really pop's up for me. The surgeon did tell me that your gall bladder does a natural flush a couple of times a year, and in people with no problems this will pass without them even knowing, but in people with problems already it can trigger an attack, so it could have been this that caused your pain.
Good luck in getting to the bottom of it

joyce x
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 09, 2013, 06:20:55 PM
Joyce, thanks, that helps as it really was out of the blue because I've been eating the same fat foods forever. The tai chi and qi gong are supposed to manipulate those organs and maybe that set it off.  The GB surgery is not to be taken lightly.  Many are lucky but many get dumping syndrome and have the rins after eating forever.  Also this and that can be nicked in surgery.  No such thing as simple surgery, just simple surgeons.  And we do need our GB to digest fats. Everything has a purpose or it wouldn't be there.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Rose on July 09, 2013, 10:30:30 PM
Hi Trey and Joyce,
Please don't ignore your symptoms. If your gall bladder needs to go, so be it. Honestly you'll feel so much better. I have to watch what I eat regarding fats but am probably staying thin because of that. In my case I had pancreatitis and that's pretty serious. Are any of you feeling nauseous? What I'm really saying is; have your gall bladder out if that is what is recommended because it can save a whole lot of pain in the end. As for you, Trey, I hope that the medical profession gets to the bottom of this.
take care, Rose.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 10, 2013, 09:40:50 PM
Today I noticed I really have overworked my abdominal muscles as was sore on both sides.  Eating well and no nausea.  I'm fine.  And happy about it.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Taz2 on July 10, 2013, 10:15:13 PM
 :foryou: :foryou: :foryou: Trey

Taz x
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 11, 2013, 03:13:24 PM
That's more like it  :peace:
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: honeybun on July 11, 2013, 06:00:48 PM
Really pleased to hear you are feeling much better Trey.

My sis has her gallbladder removed and wishes she hadn't. She has really bad bowel problems now and there is no cure for that. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.


Honeyb
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Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Trey on July 12, 2013, 12:07:19 PM
HB. So many people think GB lap surgery is a walk in the park and yet about ten percent have dumping syndrome.  No such thing as simple surgery.
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 12, 2013, 12:40:44 PM
Dumping syndrome?  :-\ ........  ???  (reptiles dump ......... )  ;)
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Taz2 on July 13, 2013, 11:15:48 AM
Dumping syndrome is horrible - a friend had that after his surgery for pancreatic cancer. The surgery gave him two years extra life - two horrible years to be honest.

Taz x
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 13, 2013, 01:07:56 PM
It affects the body how exactly?
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Taz2 on July 13, 2013, 01:48:56 PM
It empties the stomach contacts suddenly into the bowel. It can happen within minutes of eating or a few hours later. It is painful and very socially embarrassing. It can also lead to malnutrition if not controlled. There is some info here about it http://www.motilitysociety.org/patient/pdf/Dumping%20Diet%205%204b%202006.pdf
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: honeybun on July 13, 2013, 02:45:44 PM
My sister's consultant did not tell her that little fact and when my hubby was seeing a consultant he left that question till the very end of his appointment. When he did ask he was told it was very very common.

My sister is miserable as it is impossible to figure out what foods trigger it as it changes so much.

Consultants should inform people of this.

Honeyb
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Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: Taz2 on July 13, 2013, 02:51:40 PM
How long ago did she have her op Honeybun. It can take around six months to settle.  I don't know if there is anything of use to your sister here http://www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladdersurgery.shtml ?

Taz x
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: honeybun on July 13, 2013, 02:56:05 PM
It's nearly two years ago Taz. She is ok some of the time and bad at others. It's the unpredictability that gets her down.

Funny enough the first six months or so we're fine. I would say it now happens about once a month or so. She has kept a food diary which helps a little.


Honeyb
X
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: CLKD on July 13, 2013, 08:57:01 PM
How awful!  I would have thought a temporary colostomy would ease symptoms until the bruising etc. from the original op. healed.  Then introduce food stuffs gently before reversal.  Certainly patients should be warned!

I had a lot of those symptoms when my anxiety was bad: sudden toileting, cold sweats, hot sweats, shaking ...... so I never knew if my body wanted to empty or not ......... which made going anywhere extremely difficult.  Didn't realise there was a name for the condition t hough
Title: Re: Gallbladder Attack
Post by: honeybun on July 13, 2013, 09:01:00 PM
I don't think a colostomy,temporary or permanent, would help things. When the gall bladder has been removed there is nothing else to do its job so the situation would always be there.

It can be a miserable situation but  for some it's the only answer.


Honeyb
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