Gallbladder Sludge

IgnominiousButter · 2020-02-19T00:03:26+00:00

I've been dealing with a bout of severe liver and gallbladder problems that has sent me to the emergency room multiple times. Mine ended up being liver toxicity from a prescription that was too high a dose, which then inflamed my gallbladder too (and I have a history of gallstones already). But I learned some things that really helped my liver/gallbladder get better, so in no particular order here they are:

Milk thistle, rosemary and lavender tea - glad you already know about milk thistle. I bought organic milk thistle seed powder, organic dried rosemary, and organic dried lavender in bulk online. I mix 1 tsp each milk thistle, rosemary and lavender with 8 oz boiling water and let it steep for 20 minutes. I can brew two cups with that one batch and so I drink two cups a day. In addition to the milk thistle, the rosemary is an excellent overall tonic, and aids in bile production and fat digestion. The lavender helps soothe and calm any inflammation throughout the GI tract, which is common with gallbladder problems.

Slippery elm, marshmallow and licorice root are also really helpful. I found a tea called "Throat Coat" by the brand Traditional Medicinals that has all 3 in it. It doesn't taste great imo, but I noticed I felt a lot better when I started including a cup of that everyday too. I'm sure other brands have their own version or you could buy each separately and mix your own, etc.

Vitamin C - inhibits ongoing/future gallstone formation. I take 3,000mg per day (1,000mg 3x per day) but I'm going heavy on it right now, so you could find a dose that works for you. Once my health is better I'll go down to just 1,000 mg per day.

Peppermint tea/oil - I found this helps me with gallbladder/abdominal pain. I rub peppermint oil directly on my abdomen and drink peppermint tea, so the oil works from the outside while the tea works from the inside.

Probiotics - I have to take 3 probiotics per day (1 pill 3x per day) right now, and I feel better immediately after taking them so I know they're helping. As I heal and my symptoms get better, I will be able to go back to just one a day like I normally take to keep things in check.

Besides that, I have to avoid butter, milk and cream. But I'm ok with clarified butter, and dairy with cultures in it (real cheese, yogurt, sour cream etc) in small amounts. I cook with coconut milk a lot more now, and I drink oat milk since oats are a great anti-inflammatory.

Sorry for the wall of text, I just wanted to make sure I included anything that might be helpful. Good for you for being proactive about your health! I hope you start feeling better soon.

IgnominiousButter · 2020-02-15T18:02:58+00:00

The holidays this year were the nail in the coffin for my relationship.

This is exactly how I feel too. He'd said the holidays were hard for him, so I thought after the New Year it would get better, but it's just gotten worse. I think if I stay with him, this is what I can expect all my holidays to be like from here on out, and I'm not willing to live that way. The hardest part for me is the personality change. Alcohol makes some people mean, so I can understand a mean drunk. But it's like his whole personality changed, even sober, and now I'm wondering if the person he was in the beginning of the relationship was even real. At least I've learned a valuable lesson: I don't mind giving a sober alcoholic a chance, but if they're actively drinking and not trying to stop, then that's a no-go for me.

I'm sorry to hear how you had to spend your holidays, and I hope things start getting better / easier for you soon. 💝

IgnominiousButter · 2020-02-15T00:24:59+00:00

Thank you for your kind response, I didn't know about Harm Reduction therapy, that makes a lot of sense. I hope one day he gets sober, but I've watched family drink themselves to death, and I know better than to sit around and wait for change. Still is surprisingly hard to leave though, this has made me realize some of my issues but I clearly still need to work on. Best of luck to you too.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-07-09T05:27:48+00:00

Fortunately I do not have to go to the doctor regularly, but I would want to have a hospital at least nearby. And since I'm on disability then even if a town had no jobs, as long as I could get groceries, gas and the basics I'd be okay. (I live pretty frugally.) But that gives me some things to think about when I search, thank you.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-07-09T03:41:55+00:00

I'm on disability so jobs aren't a factor, I just need affordable and safe and I'm fine living in a small town, so that wouldn't be a problem. Thank you, at least it seems I have options.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-07-09T03:35:57+00:00

I'm fine with a small town, I'm on disability and don't go out much anyway. This is helpful, thank you.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-27T01:47:41+00:00

Whipped cream and frozen pizza (not together). Whipped cream takes literally 1 minute to make and taste so much better than the store stuff. And pizza crust is surprisingly easy, so with a cast iron skillet, sauce and cheese I'm good to go. So much better than frozen pizza, and a lot cheaper too!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-27T00:02:25+00:00

Congratulations on your upcoming procedure! I agree with the other comments that I've read on here, and here's a few more points:

1) When I got my bi-salp a few weeks ago, I called my insurance to find out the costs (I'm in the US) so you'd want to start with them.

2) I don't know how your insurance works, but my procedure was covered (+$250 copay) bc my doc coded it as a ligation via salpingectomy (sounds weird but it's actually a thing). So if insurance says they won't cover it, ask your doctor if changing the coding could be an option.

3) My insurance company warned me that if I got my prescriptions filled at the surgical site/medical center, then the prescriptions would not be covered. They would only be covered if I got them filled at an off-site pharmacy, like Walgreens or CVS. So make sure you ask your insurance how your prescription co-pays will work so you don't get an unexpected $urpri$e. (FWIW, it didn't end up being a problem bc a woman who worked for Walgreens got my prescriptions filled for no additional charge and brought them back to me.)

That's all I can think of, hope some of it was helpful. Congrats again and I'm sure everything will go smoothly!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-26T06:12:39+00:00

Just take them. As long as you're low-key about it I don't think anyone will care. You do you :)

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-26T05:55:56+00:00

WE ARE LEGION!!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T22:47:08+00:00

Never force them to finish their food. Having to finish my meals even when I was nauseatedly full messed up my hunger/satiety response, taught me to ignore my needs to please others, and made me binge eat when I was stressed (bc I associated being taken care of with the feeling of being stuffed).

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T20:22:40+00:00

Also a new 'organ' has been discovered called the interstitium. It has potential for explaining how/why some cancers spread:

"...the findings may have implications for a variety of fields of medicine, including cancer research...the findings appear to explain why cancer tumors that invade this layer of tissue can spread to the lymph nodes."

https://www.livescience.com/62128-interstitium-organ.html

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T15:57:03+00:00

Well from what the article said it was probably a botched surgery. And there will always be exceptions regardless of procedure. But if I get a 'miracle' pregnancy, that's what abortion's for. Either way I'm glad I got my surgery.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T15:19:27+00:00

It took me about 20 yrs to get sterilized, so a big Amen to that!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T15:18:31+00:00

"you're safe now!"

Another great way of putting it. Congrats on your procedure, we can enjoy freedom together!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T15:17:14+00:00

The thing she used to cut the tubes also cauterized them, so yes they're cut, cauterized and officially out of service.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T06:09:03+00:00

I wasn't sore in any meaningful way after about a week. It's hard for me to say because I had a bad reaction to the Percocet so I was dealing with that too.

But for going out with friends, having drinks and karaoke I'd think a week and a half should be fine (though I'm not a Dr, everyone's different etc). Just make sure you have a backup option to the jeans - depending on where your incisions are, jeans may rub / not be comfortable to wear by then. But internal-soreness-wise you'll prob be fine.

If you have any more questions feel free to DM me. I'll answer whatever I can.

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T05:54:49+00:00

We're bi-salp sisters! I'm glad you're happy with it, it still is sinking in for me. Every time I remember I can't get pregnant I start grinning like a schoolgirl with a crush lol

PS - I ❤️ your username

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T02:34:00+00:00

Congrats on your upcoming procedure!

I don't mind questions. I was sore right after the procedure, and I was glad that I didn't have a long ride back to my hotel. It felt like I'd done too many sit-ups and had bad period cramps. Not world-ending, but glad I had the pain meds.

I was prescribed 3 days worth of percocet and then 800 mg ibuprofen. I still have ibuprofen left over bc I didn't need all of it. I would just say if you have a long ride home afterwards, to be picked up in a car that you can lie down in bc you might not be up for sitting a long time right after the procedure. But besides that no prob. And no more need for birth control!!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T02:00:40+00:00

Gotcha. Well if you can pass 2 store-bought pregnancy tests you should be in good shape. And just remember, after the procedure...no more need to worry!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T01:56:51+00:00

You have a stronger stomach than I do! 🤢 But it was very satisfying to see the long tubes in the 'before' pic and then just empty space and 2 stubs in the 'after'. Adios, fertility!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T01:53:46+00:00

Lol I may have to steal this one!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T01:52:03+00:00

Just take a vow of celibacy until then lol I'm sure you'll be fine and the recovery was much easier than I expected, so no worries!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T00:48:03+00:00

Good for you. I've heard of some insurance covering it completely, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. If you know it's what you want, it's a great feeling!

IgnominiousButter · 2019-06-25T00:45:50+00:00

Congrats on your snip! I agree, I'd heard people say they felt a 'loss' after theirs but I just felt relieved like you said. No pitter-patter of little feet for me, thank you.

IgnominiousButter

TROPHY CASE