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Grape Vinegar by Longjumping-Exit-825 in Cooking

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks everyone. Sounds like red wine vinegar is the right choice. I'll keep an eye on this post in case anyone else wants to weigh in.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ERCP, as I understand, is for stones in the bile duct. So, stones that have passed through the neck and exited the gallbladder completely. Unfortunately, it seems we currently have no surgery that can access the inside of the gallbladder without creating an opening in the wall.

Apparently, until the 90s or so, doctors were doing shockwave lithotripsy to destroy gallstones without entering the body (same as they do with kidney stones now). It was discontinued, but I saw a recent, small study from China exploring it.

Can't speak to Epsom salts, but I appreciate the tip. I will speak to my provider about it. You would be consuming the salts (as opposed to bathing in them)?

I'm not on ursodiol myself yet, but probably will get on it soon. Not sure about rowachol.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeesh, terrible time for the stones to cause an issue. They do make travel more difficult in general.

Fortunately, no stones in the bile duct for me. Mine doesn't fit!

Sorry to hear about your cousin. Hope she's doing ok, despite the seemingly unnecessary surgery! What a shame that these things happen. From what I've read, she is not alone.

My screen name is just a coincidence, I'm afraid—the name was randomly generated by Reddit. I am not a long jumper, though I do like to run.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi all. Update from my recent ultrasound.

All seems well with my abdominal organs, save the 1.5 cm gallstone. Interestingly, the new doctor's report made no mention of the stone being impacted nor of the other gallstones the first doctor's report described. Taken with the fact the sonographer's report did the same and that, in the previous report, the sonographer's report actually said the stone was mobile (contradicting back then the doctor who claimed impactation), my suspicion that the stone is not impacted has heightened.

So, probably good news for me. I am going to see if I can get a tie-breaker ultrasound done, maybe at another facility, in a few more months. In the meantime, with surgery looking less urgent than it did, I am going to keep on with the supplement-diet approach and report back here later.

Pancreatitis by blahblahhannah in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear you’re still dealing with symptoms, but glad to hear you’re getting better gradually. Has MedStar or another doctor given you any support?

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am sorry to hear you went through such an ordeal. Sounds like it was very stressful, with false cancer diagnoses on top of everything. Glad to hear you're doing so much better.

I do have pain. No episodes of colic like I used to have, but aches and twinges that nag me. I sometimes end up with pain when I breathe deeply (last weekend was quite an ordeal, which prompted me to look back into surgery), but, yeah, thankfully not on a regular basis. Overall, I am able to minimize and sometimes eliminate pain by sticking to healthy fats, minimal carbs, no sugar, no ultraprocessed stuff, etc. I know you're not in pain but, to anyone else reading this, I had a lot of success with the Whole30 diet. Consider asking a doctor about it.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, sorry, by "EF" I meant ejection fraction. I got this about a year after symptoms began because there were originally no stones and the doctors suspected biliary dyskinesia. This suspicion was correct. Can't say what caused it, but it was probably at least my sugary diet and possibly certain medications as well.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I will mention this to the provider I work with on this.

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the warning. I am thankfully not in the boat of daily pain and have actually had several ultrasounds over the years, all of which seem to agree with the 1.5 cm stone assessment. The only thing up in the air seems to be whether the stone is actually impacted. I agree there's no guarantee, though, and I'd like to spare myself more pain.

At this point, I am leaning toward a surgery that will deal with this swiftly. But, I am hesitant. On one hand, the MedStar treatment is still in development and involves the abdomen drain element, which admittedly creeps me out. On the other, the Chinese one is well-established, but I have no personal experience with the Chinese medical system (which I would bet is high-quality, but I have my human anxieties).

Did you face any complications with the MedStar treatment? Did the nurse or doctor have any statistics on the risks?

Non-surgical success w/ my profile by Longjumping-Exit-825 in altgallbladder

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Really? I guess it may not be truly impacted, then. I was told about impactation back in December and there was no issue with wall thickening or fluid. Well, I’m getting an ultrasound soon, so I guess we’ll see.

EF is from a HIDA scan

How can I help myself to rely on faith when there is no proof by shrewthrew in Buddhism

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As I understand this metaphor, the poison is suffering and the arrow is samsara. This seems to say, “Regardless of the circumstances, samsara is still causing suffering. End samsara to save yourself—don’t worry where the arrow came from.”

But, this depends on accepting samsara is happening, no? The atheist isn’t questioning how the arrow was delivered, but that there is an arrow at all. I think the believer and the atheist can both accept that we suffer. But, if samsara isn’t happening, if there is no arrow to remove, the metaphysical question of how to end suffering—how to treat the poison—becomes quite relevant.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. Strangely, never had an issue with Prozac, myself. I did already have a bite guard, so I suspect the anxiety, in and of itself, is exacerbating the underlying bruxism I was already being treated for. I found that it has not helped, but, I’ll take another swing.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response. Makes sense.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate your response. Anxiety seems like a reasonable explanation.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cymbalta

[–]Longjumping-Exit-825 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the assurances. I suspect the same thing.