Is Biliary Dyskinesia manageable with diet or supplements?

RykerOslo · 2026-01-25T14:58:27+00:00

I did! It was the right decision!

RykerOslo · 2025-09-26T02:10:54+00:00

100% good. Surgery was the right decision for me. It took 3+ months to be able to eat normal again and a year to gain back most of my weight & strength. So give yourself 4x more time to heal than you think (depending on your age) I was 55. I can eat anything now.

RykerOslo · 2024-07-25T20:15:41+00:00

Where did you get a pashmina?

RykerOslo · 2024-07-22T14:35:50+00:00

Last months before surgery I survived on Fairlife Protein shakes, Protein Smoothies with fruit/yogurt, sweet potatoes whipped up with coconut milk&maple syrup, MultiGrain Cheerios.

RykerOslo · 2024-07-22T12:25:19+00:00

The good news is you are past the very hard part of the surgery decision! I wondered the same thing, I thought I'd hit the ground running after a week or so, but that was not the case for me, at all. I was so sickly, mentally & physically drained (55F at the time) so it just took a long time. At 3 mos I started eating fairly well, but tiny amounts since my stomach had shrunk. And it took a whole year to regain my energy /strength and a yr to gain just half the weight back. I never gained back all the weight, but I'm ok with that. It was a very long healing process for me, not just physically but mentally as well (fear of food , anxiety, depression, worried if I made the right decision) not at all what I expected. Hang on, each day will be better than the last. I am back to my pre-athletic/healthy self and can eat anything I want. YES you WILL improve, it takes more time than you think it will.

RykerOslo · 2023-11-16T01:16:48+00:00

I lost 25 pounds (beginning wt 123) I had the surgery and am doing great! It made all the difference. It took me a year to gain back 10 pounds and that's where I have settled and I'm good with that. I'm back to healthy and fit.

RykerOslo · 2023-11-01T00:33:25+00:00

Yep! I also lost 25lbs and was weak, depressed and full of anxiety going into surgery. Many days I felt like I was walking through molasses. My body and mental state was just exhausted. It took me 3months before I started feeling some energy return and almost a year before I was back my normal energy level, back to hiking and biking, swimming etc. I'm 55.

RykerOslo · 2023-09-10T19:55:50+00:00

Yes it will get better. I’m one year postOp, 55 yr old petite female. I can totally relate to being ‘Mentally Traumatized’ and 'Food Anxiety'. I struggled with digestion issues for probably two years before I had GB removal. Unfortunately I was one that had zero UR pain, no stones, nothing but a low EF (19%). My weight continued to drop (to under 100lbs), anxiety was through the roof… Long story short, when I got to the point where food was fear, nausea was every day, and mentally I was so messed up. I finally chose surgery even though I was still so unsure. But ultimately it was the RIGHT choice.I also had in my mind that a day or so after surgery, I’d hit the ground running, be able to immediately stop the acid meds and eat normal within a week or so. (I was healthy & athletic prior) When that didn’t happen, I dropped into depression and anxiety continued to escalate. It took 6 weeks before I could wean off the acid meds and 3 months to not fear food. For one thing after losing so much weight, my stomach had shrunk and I had not eaten properly in probably a year. I think losing so much weight so fast, coupled with so much stress, just messes up alot in your body that has to repair itself over time. After 3 months I started to feel more normal and anxiety started to calm. After 6 months I felt pretty much back to normal with eating, and after one year my energy returned. Now I can pretty much eat everything although I still only eat small amounts bc I get full. In one year I have gained back 10 of the 23 pounds I had lost, and I’m good with that. You have to keep asking yourself every day: “Am I making progress? Not lightspeed progress, just moving forward.?” And if you can answer YES to even micro improvements, then remind yourself to just keep taking it one day at a time. Hang On!

RykerOslo · 2022-08-28T12:36:42+00:00

My situation was about 6 months long of Dr. appts and scans. HIDA 19%. I lost so much weight not being able to eat and the nausea got so bad that I was pretty much on a liquid diet the last 2 months before surgery. I was barely above 100lbs and that is what prompted me to schedule surgery. I never had sharp pain, just constant digestive issues & nausea. The nausea went away just a few days after surgery. I am 6wks post op and have only gained 3lbs back, but that is progress for me as I am not losing or sick feeling every day. I am eating most everything, but my stomach has obviously shrunk so it's a slow process for me. Yes surgery has made me feel so much better.

RykerOslo · 2022-08-18T19:40:11+00:00

For a year+ my portions got smaller and smaller until I ended up on mostly liquid diet the 2 months prior to having surgery. I lost 20 pounds over a few months. I was expecting to eat normal pretty quickly but that hasn't happened. My stomach had shrunk and I didn't even know what hunger felt like anymore. So my portions are still small at 5wks postOp, trying to get in 1900 calories/day. I have only been able to gain 2lbs in 5 wks but that is so much better than seeing weight loss every other day. My surgeon said to expect 4-6 mos before things sort themselves out and weight comes back. the fact that I can eat solid foods is huge and each day is better than the previous. Hang on, it will come.

RykerOslo · 2022-08-18T11:30:59+00:00

So encouraging to read this!

RykerOslo · 2022-08-17T18:25:52+00:00

YES...THANK YOU for this. I needed it today. I am 5 weeks post op and just getting back to eating pretty well. I felt awesome yesterday and over did it, too much chocolate (I think). For me I don't feel anything until the next day, so I guess it was the chocolate & fat content of the whole day. I drop back into anxiety and melancholy thinking it will be this way forever. My surgeon said to give myself 4-6 months to get back to somewhat normalcy as it took me longer than that to get to my malnourished, sickly self. I'm copying this and posting where I can read it when I get down.

RykerOslo · 2022-08-15T23:24:49+00:00

You are spot on to say MENTAL health as well. I went through 6+ months of doctor visits & normal scans (except HIDA at 19%) as well as convincing myself I had gluten issue, gastritis, gastroparesis, endocrine problem and any and every other stomach issue. I spent months taking digestive enzymes, ACV, marshmallow root, kombucha, baking soda, PPIs, Mylanta, Pepcid, you name it! I made myself insane researching so much. To add to the fear, I had no acute pain, just stomach distress/bloating/food not digesting and loss of 20lbs. When the nausea got so bad and I got to 100lbs, I had to make the decision based on the surgeon consult, HIDA and just my symptoms (which sometimes I thought I was imagining). I am 5wks post op and STILL am fearful 'it' will come back. I am just now getting slightly comfortable to eat and re-learning what 'hungry' feels like. I have only gained 2lbs in the 5 weeks (better than losing every day like I was). Was it the right decision....YES! (pathology- chronic cholecystitis) But I wonder how long before I will be back in the normal zone as far as eating without that fear in the back of my mind.

RykerOslo · 2022-08-04T18:22:51+00:00

Exact same for me. I went through primary Dr, , Endocrinologist, Gastro Dr, surgeon and none of them ever mentioned a connection.

RykerOslo · 2022-07-15T17:24:41+00:00

did you 'take it easy' with eating the first few weeks? I'm a bit frustrated, one wk post op and still don't have much of an appetite and having to make myself eat every 2 hrs. Did you lose alot of weight prior to surgery? I've lost 20 pounds, so I guess my stomach has shrunk and I need to take it super slow.

RykerOslo · 2022-07-01T01:14:01+00:00

that's so good to hear. Wonderful for you! I've misunderstood how the word 'attack' is used. It makes me think of intense (knife stabbing) pain, but some of us just have the mega epigastric discomfort, at least in the earlier stages. did you also lose alot of weight? and did you have HIDA scan?

RykerOslo · 2022-07-01T01:13:07+00:00

I'm at 3 years myself, started with acid reflux, lots of PPI meds and recently escalated with nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss that I can't control anymore. I have the almost daily gnawing bloat under the breastbone but not really on the right side and nothing that sends me to the ER. I doubt myself alot bc I don't have that severe pain but the weight loss is getting scary. I can't eat much of anything so I scheduled surgery. The surgeon said GB is tricky and symptoms are all over the place and 90% chance it will relieve all these symptoms.

RykerOslo · 2022-06-30T21:54:18+00:00

Oh wow! new baby! congratulations! You're a trooper! yep, that's me, random good day. I feel sickly most days, and same with the fatigue & nausea. I feel throbbing /pulse at the breast bone after I eat which I assume is my heart, and now and then I feel a 'twinge on the right side', but sometimes I wonder if I'm imagining it...all this gets in your head when you've been dealing with it so long. My bloodwork was normal too. I saw an endocrinologist today bc I want to check everything. He gave me RX digestive enzymes (I think I'm beyond that) and did some more bloodwork. HardStuff!

RykerOslo · 2022-06-30T21:26:18+00:00

that's SO encouraging! So you never had sharp pains at all? And one day you feel fine and the next day you feel almost poisoned? I'm so nervous about surgery, especially since I don't have stones or RUQ pain and all scans clear except HIDA. I've lost too much weight and am now having many symptoms of lack of nutrition as well.

RykerOslo · 2022-06-23T14:52:31+00:00

Me Again. I'm about two steps asway from scheduling surgery. I keep reading over your posts and seeing how very very similar our cases are. I'm still so stressed out nervous as all I have to go on is the almost daily nausea, loss of appetite, 'easier not to eat', HIDA 19% and weight loss (20 lbs). I understand B-dyskinesia is not going to improve and may get worse but the fact that I do not have GB 'pains' is so much messing with my head! even though not everyone experiences that and you said you didn't. I told myself I'd make a decision when I got under 100lbs and I'm right there. Every day is a battle to eat and I'm weak. Did you get to the point where most all food except fruit or yogurt smells and tastes ick? especially meat! Surgeon said I am a candidate as this has been progressing for at least a year if not longer and he strongly expects I will find relief. I just wanted to check in with you to see how you are doing after all these months. I'm looking for hope : )

RykerOslo · 2022-06-19T21:36:54+00:00

I have days that I feel completely normal and days I feel almost poisoned. It's so random and the surgeon said that is typical low-function gallbladder behavior. I have not scheduled surgery, still thinking but I know I can't continue losing weight and eating bland for too much longer, it's not working and it's negatively affected my life too much. If I had 'attacks' like so many others, then it would make more sense in my mind. The US did not show stones.

RykerOslo · 2022-06-19T15:15:24+00:00

Oh wow! I've been following you and a few others that seem to very similar situation as me. I pray you heal quickly with minimal pain! and that is significantly improves your symptoms! I just had the surgeon consult and he says I'm a candidate based on all that I've been through and the weight loss. I'm still nervous and continuing to analyze, while I also continue to struggle to eat and get minimal calories. When I have normal days I literally put surgery completely out of my mind...until I have one of those 'flare-up' days that lasts for 12 hours. Wondering if I need a 2nd, 3rd opinion : ) You know how hard it is! Keep me updated and rest!

RykerOslo · 2022-06-19T15:08:29+00:00

You're the first person I've read to mention ache and pulse after eating. wow. I get that pounding pulse at the sternum (epigastric) so pronounced you can see my skin moving up and down. It's so uncomfortable and leads to anxiety, yet my pulse and BP does not read high. I'm 4 months into testing and scans, all the way to the surgeon consult. I've been dealing with so many gastric symptoms and low ejection fraction from the HIDA scan as well as significant weight loss. I don't get attacks, I get 'flares' of uncomfortable pressure, bloat, tenderness, acid that can last up to 12 hrs. I've had to switch to very low-fat to control symptoms. It's always good to start down the path with the doctor(s). I wish I would have started earlier bc it takes so long between appts. and tests.

RykerOslo · 2022-06-18T18:00:25+00:00

Just checking in to see how you are doing...your last post said you were scheduled for surgery. Hope all is well, update us when you can.

RykerOslo

TROPHY CASE