Alternative to Surgery--Gallbladder Flush

[Dianne]

I have been experiencing constant pain in my right back side for some time now.  The pain increases after eating.  Also, I experience severe pain & burning sensations if I drink an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, mixed drink, the type of drink does not matter).  I rarely drink, but if and when I decide to have one, I usually experience quite a severe burning sensation that does not provide any relief from antacids such as Riopan.  

Recently, I had an ultrasound performed to check for gallstones.  The ultrasound did not show any stones.  My doctor then scheduled me for a hepatobiliary test which apparently shows how the gallbladder is functioning.  A radio active dye is injected in the vein and the patient must lie still on back for 1-1/2 hours or more while a large camero over the abdomin (abdomen) takes pictures about every 5 minutes to monitor the flow the of radioactive dye.  My doctors office called me a few days after the test to let me know the test showed some gallbladder dysfunction and they scheduled me for a consultation visit with a surgeon. No discussion, no alternative solutions, just SURGERY!  NOT!!!!!!

I really do not want surgery, so I started doing to some research to see if there are any alternatives.  I realize the medical community or industry does not usually look favorably on holistic medicine (no money in herbs I guess), and this is something I have never been involved with.  However, after reading quite a bit about the process called "gallbladder flush" (which aids the body in passing gallstones), I am inclined to give this a try.  

If a patient has an undiagnosed weak liver or sluggish liver, then removing the gallbladder because of stones really isn't solving the root of the problem that caused the stones in the first place is it?.  If the gallbladder is removed it seems to me like it would become more congested because the bile storage is now gone!  Granted the bile still flows from the liver, but the liver does not contract or squirt the bile out like the gallbladder does therefore contributing to backup of bile in the liver (hence more development of stones??).  This would explain why so many people still have problems with the same types of food. If the gallbladder is removed because of stones, where do the stones come from that afflict many patients with blocked bile duct after the gallbladder is removed---the liver that is now congested or has been congested all along?  It appears to me that the stones begin their develop in the liver and then eventually over time collect in the gallbladder.  So what does removing the gallbladder really solve?  Did it increase the health and vitality of the liver?  

Why not offer the gallbladder flush to patients?  If the body can naturally expell the stones or the majority of stones by this means, why not offer it to patients before the drastic measure of surgery?  My father had his gallbladder removed after suffering for years....and you know what?....he still suffers from pain and experiences problems with certain foods.  Wow what a solution to his problem.

The "gallbladder flush" I am referring to consists of virgin cold-pressed olive oil and the juice of fresh lemon.  There are also herbs available that one can take for about a month prior to doing the flush that help break up and stones for easier passing.  
  
Do you or have you ever discussed the "gallbladder flush" with your patients?  Have you done any research on this natural alternative?

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Dianne,
I suggest that you check our archives to learn more about the different tests to assess gall bladder function.  Our archives are also replete with stories from patients who had their gall bladders removed for atypical pains (there is a characteristic type of pain for gall bladder problems.  Many of these patienys had the same pains after surgery.

Pain solely with alcohol is not suggestive for a gall bladder problem.  Talk to your doctor again regarding other possible explanations for your symptoms as well as his thoughts regarding the benefits of surgery in your case.

You are correct that gall bladder flushes are not part of the diagnostic options that doctors consider.  A weak or sluggish liver is not a result of gall bladder problems or surgery.  Although we are learning more about the beneficial roles of various natural substances, the medical establishment usually requires proof of efficacy.  This means treating to groups odf patients (one with the natural substance, the other with standard therapy).  IF the natural product is as effective as the established treatment, then there is a basis to use the natural approach.  Testamonials of efficacy by some individuals do not mean anything.  As far as I know, the gall bladder flush has not been studied to determine whether it has any benefit for patients.

[Brenda]

Are the stones for gallbladder first formed in the liver then transfer to the gallbladder?

[Brandon]

I know the Grand Master of Qi Gong who can help you.
Email me at ***@****

[Dianne]

I am really not sure.  According to some things that I have read, if a person has a sluggish or congested liver, the stones can be developed in the liver.  Regarding the gallbladder, since the bile is in a more concentrated state, certain chemistry changes creates favorable environment to develop stones in the gallbladder.  I made an appointment with my doctor for Monday, January 17 to get more detailed information on the liver, gallbladder, and stones.

[debbie]

I am 29 years old and 140 lbs/5'8" tall, I had my gallbladder removed February 98 in London, Ontario (where I lived).

I first noticed pain one day in August/97, it came on so fast I fell to the floor...it felt like very bad hunger...just below my breast bone...this continued for about a half hour and then I got another one.  The next day I went to the Doctor and she said it was an ulcer...without doing a blood test first!  She wanted to start me on medication...but I wanted to wait for the test.  It came back negative.  

In September/97 I had another 5 attacks, I went back to the Doctor and she said it was stress....hmmm, I thought...ok...it could be.  So I took anti-stress seminars...didn't help!  Then the attacks started to last several hours at a time.  They were very intense, no highs or lows, and it was difficult to breathe, walking made it worse, so I sat at the kitchen table for hours, praying for it to go away. Stress???

So I went back to the Doctor again in October...she said it was stomache acid!  ok...I thought.  I avoided chocolate, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus etc. still it didn't help.  She finally sent me for an ultrasound in November/97.  It came back positive for multiple gallstones.  She said it's minor surgey and not to worry about it!

So when I went to see the Surgeon in December/97 he asked me how many attacks I have had so far...I said 19 (I didn't think anything of it)  he was astonded and ordered surgery asap!  That didn't take place until Feb/98!

I did learn finally at the time of seeing the surgeon, that fat causes the pain....I lost 22 lbs before the surgery.  I was terrified of eating anything, as everything gave me pain.  I was scared to go out anywhere for having the pain in public.

After the surgery, when I was at home...I must say that the incisions (4) were REALLY sore!  It took me 2-3 months to be able to sleep slightly comfortable.  It was very sore to walk, laugh, reach up, down, turn door knobs, sit on the couch...getting up from the bed or couch was a real chore!

That was nothing, until one day in March when I had my first post-surgery gallbladder attack!  Yes it can happen afterwards!  The surgeon didn't believe me...come back when you have had 5 attacks....!!!  5 came and went...he did nothing...  I was really mad at this point...I'm not waiting months again for someone to do something....

I ended up visiting the ER MANY times throughout the next 2 months.  I had another 16 attacks....these all lasted 4-5 hours each!  They finally refered me to a Gastroenterologist, he did an ERCP after many weeks of waiting on the list on May 27/98.  It came back negative!  

Since then it has taken a long time (Aug.99) to be able to eat anything I want to.  I have no pain, no attacks, no cramps, and no diarrea (diarrhea).  I had several months of heartburn and reflux...but everything seems to be fine now!

Hmmmm.....how delectible brownies are again!!!!

***@****

[Denise Larick [e-mail]]

I have just gone through the same radio active test and my results was a non functioning gallbladder.
I am unsure as to have surgery or not. In the past I had hepititis B and really would like to know how this could effect me.
Im only 37 years old and I live in a remote part of Alaska, so medical needs are not always there for me. I have to travel quite far to see a doctor.
I would also like to see a reply to your question. And my own question, what do you normally do with a non functioning gallbladder that shows no stones.


                         Thank You

[Valorie]

I would like to know more about the "gall bladder flush"  I have sludge in my gallbladder and would like to try a homeopathic way before opting for surgery.
Thanks
Valorie
***@****

[Julia]

I have similar discomfort in right upper quadrant radiating to the back, always after oral intake, regardless of type of food, so after reading your comment about a "gallblader flush" I became interested in finding out more;i.e how much of olive oil and lemon? when, before or after meals? What herbs should one take? Please reply' Thanks.

[Response to Julia]

Hi Julia!  There are some very good web sites that describe the gallbladder flush.  Please check out www.sensiblehealth.com.  This is the site where I ordered herbal tinctures to take prior to peforming the flush.  I just started taking the Gold Coin Grass and Curcuma.  It will probably take about a month before these are finished.  Then my husband and I plan to do the gallbladder flush.  In addition to the web site I mentioned earlier, you can do a web search of "gallbladder flush" and find other sites about this subject. Some of the recipes vary slightly in the amount of olive oil and lemon juice, but they are all very similar.  Another good site which has step by step instructions for the flush is:  www.holisticmed.com.

Good luck.  I hope your further research into this method proves to be helpful for you.  

[jbelava @home.com]

Please EMAIL me the "gallblader flush"regime as soon as you can.I need to know the names of the herbes , and ratio of olive oil to lemon juice and the frequency . Thanks.

[Julia]

Thanks for the websites, please ignore my previous message re:  emailing more info.

[wendell]

To All:

The gallbladder acts as a bile reservoir where bile is concentrated, and then is secreted by the liver to help the body digest fats. Those who have had GB removal may always experience varying ranges of discomfort after consuming certain types of foods. Many of the postings over the past months, were from people who wish they had never had the operation as they were no better afterwards, and many were, worse with not a bright outlook.

I have an excellent book on "Nutritional Healing" which has a section on GB and lists some wonderful herbal recommendations for those without a GB and also for those who have not had the removal operation and really don't want to!

I can tell you that a big part of the problem is people's diets! Another, is the fact (diet related) that our bodies are too acidic, which provides the very best environment for disease to breed and flourish. Take away the host environment, and the disease will leave!

I'd be happy to send some info. to anyone who wants to contact me, on some of these recommendations. They would include ways to balance the body's pH and make it more alkaline; digestive enzymes to provide proper food breakdown for better assimilation and utilization by the body (i.e. Lipase enzyme helps breaks down fats & oils) and another herbal which helps improve liver function.

E-mail me if I can help!

Wendell  [ ***@**** ]

[Andy]

To those who are interested:
I've used the Liver/Gallbladder Flush very successfully in the past and have done it upon a number of occasions. It saved my life before I had gallbladder surgery in ' 95, and it really does seem to clean out the liver & gallbladder. For me, it provided lengthy periods of relief. I must warn you, however, that the procedure is not particularly pleasant. Still, compared to how you probably feel now, 1 or 2 days of discomfort is a small price to pay. I recommended it to a friend who was told by her doctor that she would probably need gallbladder surgery, she tried the flush once & never had problems again (that was approximately 6-7 years ago). Anyway, there are several variations, but this is the one that I used:
  Day 1: No food. In the morning, when you arise, squeeze some juice from a fresh lemon into a glass of warm water & drink it. The rest of the day, throughout the day, you may only drink unfiltered apple juice. Try to drink a full gallon. This may seem like a lot, but when you realize that you aren't eating anything or drinking anything else (except water if you wish), it really isn't totally unrealistic. Plan this for a day when you can stay home, because the apple juice is a powerful laxative & you'll need to be near the potty. Continue>>>>>

[Andy]

Day 2: Same as day one. Warm water with lemon juice in the morning. One gallon of unfiltered apple juice throughout the day. Stay near potty.           Day 3: Same as days 1 and 2, except just before bedtime, you will drink 4 oz. of unfilterd (cold-pressed) olive oil mixed with 4 oz. of citrus juice of your choice (orange, grapefruit, etc.) This is the most unpleasant part of the entire procedure. I find it best to put the mixture into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, shake real well, pour into a glass, and DON'T BREATHE OR SMELL IT WHILE YOU ARE DRINKING. Just drink it right down. Have your toothbrush & toothpaste ready and waiting in the bathroom & some mouthwash in a small cup already standing by. Head right for the bathroom, still trying not to breathe the smell in too much & brush your teeth & rinse your mouth. If you don't do this, sometimes the smell & taste of the olive oil will make you nauseous. Then head right to bed. Lie on your right side with your right knee drawn up toward your chest for 20 minutes. This will help the solution to drain properly from your stomach. The following morning , you may very well see what look like gallstone-type masses in the toilet. These were always yellowish-green, crystalline, and waxy looking for me. They vary in size from grape seeds to cherries. Invariably, my liver/gallbladder area felt better after these flushes & my symptoms would disappear for quite awhile. However, you may feel a little wiped out or nauseous during the night & following day of the flush. Eat lightly, bread or toast will help, fruit, oatmeal, etc. until the feeling passes.  The theory behind the flush is that the acid content of the apple juice helps to dissolve the bonds between these solid masses of bile components & the olive oil stimulates the gallbladder to powerfully contract & expel them. I've also found that drinking  1/2 to 1 full bottle of citrate of magnesia (as directed on the label) about 1 hour prior to the juice/oil mixture can be helpful, because the magnesium content in the citrate helps to relax the bile ducts, so that solid particles can more easily pass through.        A NOTE OF CAUTION: This procedure should not be undertaken by anyone who has any serious health problem like diabetes or heart disease. Don't choose grapefruit juice for this procedure if you are taking Propulsid. In fact, I'm not sure that I'd recommend anyone on Propulsid to use this procedure, since that medication has such a history of negative side effects. You may feel rough and sore over the liver area for a couple of days afterward, but this procedure really helped me considerably. If you get a great many "stones" out the first time you do this, you may need to repeat again in 2 weeks. Then try it monthly or every 3-4 months until you see no stones in the toilet, or until your symptoms disappear. Listen to your body. I found the procedure less difficult each time I did it  as I got fewer and fewer stones out.   I hope that this helps anyone who wants to try it.  Good luck.  If you do try it, post your results.

[Joey]

is vicaprofen a good way to control pain for mild pancraetitus

[DJ]

I have gallbladder surgery scheduled for April 12,2000. I had a major gallbladder attach in Feb. The ultra sound was negative so a pipata scan was done. 0% of the bile was excreated from my gallbladder. I was told that it was DOA and that it would cause me more trouble in than out.
Can a gallbladder start functioning after it has stopped???
I really would like to avoid surgery if I can.
Any suggestions?

[Gina Dowling gdowling@cityofsacramento.o]

I tried the gallbaldder flush many years ago just because I WAS a health nut.  It worked for me just as Andy stated above.

[Gina Dowling gdowling@cityofsacramento.o]

I tried the gallbaldder flush many years ago just because I WAS a health nut.  It worked for me just as Andy stated above.

[Gina Dowling gdowling@cityofsacramento.o]

I tried the gallbaldder flush many years ago just because I WAS a health nut.  It worked for me just as Andy stated above.

[Fat aggravates cholecystitis, olive oil]

Bile is an emulifier.  An emulsifier is like laundry detergent (in fact there are emusifiers in detergent),  bile is one of the few things in the body that has a hydrophobic (avoids water) end on one side, and a hydrophilic (loves water) end on the opposite side.

What this means is that it can mix with water and also fats.

If you eat any fat at all, your gallbladder will be triggered to release the proper amounts of bile into your stomach so that the fats will mix together with the water.  If not, then you can get a raging case of diarhea (diarrhea).

People that eat a high fat diet (dont' most of us?) overwork our gallbladders (pregnancy has a big effect on the gallbladder too).  So, if you eat a lot of high fat meals, then you will aggravate your cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder).

Also, if one's gall bladder forms stones easily (stones are made from cholesterol, the cholesterol crystallizes), then you will be more prone to cholecystitis, so adding high fat meals to a gall bladder with stones is double trouble.

Olive oil is a fat, yes it might have more of the healthy types of fat, yada yada health food store mumbo jumbo, but bottom line, olive oil IS A FAT!!!!!!

Therefore, you are aggravating your cholecystis rather than helping it.

To help your gallbladder and to hopefully prevent surgery (if possible), one needs to cut fat as much as possible from their diet, also eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day will help.  Should you be absolutely craving a particular fatty food and just HAVE to have it, maybe you could eat it on an empty stomach and only a small amount of the fatty food.

But, should you notice that your attacks are increasing in number of times they occur, or the intensity of the pain, you should consider having the surgery to remove your gallbladder.

Inflammed gallbladders can get "sick" and release their toxins into the peritoneum (just like a ruptured or leaking appendic) and cause peritonitis.  This is BAD, you will need 3 or more days in the hospital on IV antibiotics and have very, very high temperatures, and feel awful!

Also, if stones are one problems, a stone could move down from the gall bladder into the bile duct, which is shared with the pancreas.  If a large enough stone gets wedged into the bile duct, then you get a raging case of pancreatitis, which is very, very painful and has to be treated with antibiotics (IV) and often times a morphine pump the pain gets so severe.

Thirdly, gallbladders can become gangrenous, you really do not want this at all!  It is quite painful, makes the peritonitis worse then if the gallbladder was just infected, and also throws off your body chemistry, sometimes to the point of going into shock!

Real life examples:  my gallbladder had begun to turn to mush, as quoted by the doctor to my parents and fiance, this was one step away from becoming gangrenous.  My white cells had begun to elevate, I got in to the doctor's office just in time he said, otherwise I would have got peritonitis.

I had a patient that her gall bladder did turn gangrenous (her HMO kept denying coverage for the insurance to cover the costs), after the surgeon wrote up his report on the gangrenous gall bladder, the patient's husband already had a lawyer on the case and fully expected to win a large amount from the HMO.  She had to stay 5 days for peritonitus, on IV antibiotic therapy and had temps up to 103s.

This last example is about appendics rather than gall bladder, but relates strongly to the moral of the story.  Illegal alien from another country, scared to come in since she was illegal, her appendics ruptured (often times, after the rupture, there is a lapse in the pain).  She got peritonitis and a few days later became so sick, her family brought her in, no longer caring about her illegal status.  She was in the beginning stages of shock.  Her remaining appendics had also turned gangrenous, and dead tissues inside of the body can release very harmful things into the body which can lead to shock.  Shock can easily and quickly lead to death.  She was in the hospital for 8 days, we had to watch her VERY closely, we headed off numerous complications from her depleted health status.  She was very very lucky, at first the doctors did not expect for her to make it, but God must have had different plans for her.  This relates to any gangrenous body tissues, including gall bladders.

Please reduce your fat (all kinds, including the "healthy" kinds, because the gall bladder don't read the articles put out by the health food stores), and pay close attention to the frequency and intensity of your attacks and make wise choices.

Should any of you have to resort to the surgery (gall bladder removal aka cholecystectomy), please be aware ahead of time that you will not resort back to being able to tolerate fats right away.  If you take in too much fats, you will have painful, cramping diarhhea, belive me! LOL  Each of our body's will readjust to fats on a different timeline.  It took about 6 months for me to be able to tolerate fats again, my cousin took a year, and my coworker scarfed a pizza the next day without having the cramps.  I tested myself about once/week, and believe me, after my cramps and other unpleasentries LOL, you could put fettucine alfredo in front of me and I would walk away fast LOL.  I can eat it now, but not as much of it as I could before.

Good luck to all of you and may God bless you and yours,
Sherri

PS...really really inflammed gall bladders might have to be removed with the "traditional" larger incision, as opposed to the more current laproscopic incisions (commonly called laser or scope).  Postponing your surgery too long will increase your chances of getting the more invasive larger incision, more muscle is cut, therefore your recovery takes longer.  The longer recovery takes, the better chances of getting complications.

[Sherri again from above post]

As far as passing stones from the gall bladder in urine, I have not heard of this.  I will have to think this out, if the gall bladder releases it's contents into the stomach, how does it then get to the kidney's to get into the urine?  The kidneys pull the body's wastes from the blood stream in the kidney's glomeruli and the basement membrane filters of the glomeruli are typically small.  Kidney stones can exit, (albeit with some blood, guess from the tearing of the filter membranes to allow escape).  But, the stones originated in the kidney, not the gall bladder, they are not connected.

Kidney stones can cause severe flank pain and can radiate, perhaps this is what Andy might have passed, a kidney stone.

I fully advise that NO PREGNANT WOMEN follow this flush without the full knowledge of her ob/gyn prior to attempting the flush.

God bless,
Sherri

PS...I've marked this site, to follow this further should anyone be able to explain how the gall stones got into the urine.  Might be a round-a-bout explanation.  Just because I can't think it through doesn't mean it can't happen LOL

[Dee]

How do you build a healthy gallbladder.....not just prevent pain from happening.