spasm of the sphinter of oddi

[sanni]

I had my gall bladder out about 10 years ago. I was told that it was full of sludge after it's removal I suffered for several months approx 3 times a week of severe abdo pain. I had several tests and it was discovered several months later  that I suffered with spasm of the sphincter of oddi. The specialist at the time told me there was nothing he could do for me and I would just have to manage the pain but assured me that it would reduce over time. 10 years down the track I still have episodes about 3 times a year they come in clusters I will have 2to 3 episodes over a week at a time I need pethideine at these times. I have discovered that over time I have been able to acurately know when my stomach is going to go into spasm as my stomach bloats and I look like I am 9 months pregnant I have discvered that it is affected by certain foods and certain alchol, avoidance of these foods has helped to reduce the episodes

However the foods that seem to affect me the most are good foods such as fruit and vegetables especially apples. My delima is that I cannot loose weight because as soon as I start to eat well, this flares up the situation, I also cannot take things such as vitamin B  and I find it frustrating as I am constantly tired and bloated My question is do you know of any diets that are specifically designed for sphinter of oddi pain and is there ant furthur break throughs in the treatment of this dabilitating condition.


This discussion is related to after gallbladder removal pain is back with added symptoms.

[boron]

Spincter of Oddi dysfunction may be treated with meds (ones which lower the pressure of sph. of Oddi, and ones which dilute the bile). Surgery, or a  procedure done during upper endoscopy is a permanent solution though.

http://intmed.muhealth.org/gast/patient_resource/commondisorders/sphincteroddi.html

Sludge means more dense bile, probably containing more cholesterol. General advice about diet is to avoid as much fat as possible, avoiding any estrogen pills or steroid drugs - anything what results in higher cholesterol excretion from the liver and building up the sludge.  

[sanni]

thanks for that could you tell ne if you have had the operation and what the outcome was as I was told there was a serious risk with this operation I am from Australia and the only surgeon that does this op is in Sydney and I live in Melbourne, So I would have a very lenghthy trip, Fortunately for me we have medicare here which means I will not have to pay for the medical care just the gap fees but I may have to wait a long time for the surgery but it would be worth it if there is hope

I have tried repeatedly to go on a low fat diet and it has resulted in my condition worsening where I would have it every day and I am only a ;ittle bit overwieght so I tend to not want to go through that if I can avoid it

[boron]

I haven't had this operation.
Here is a lot of discussion about SOD:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/search/68?query=sphincter+of+oddi&camp=

There are risks with this procedure, even deaths were reported, it's hard to be smart on this, it's you who will decide.