Low carbing without your gall bladder

[jbmoore]

:wave:
I had posted this in a different place earlier, but not much response, so I decided to post my question here too.

Just wondering if any low carbers here have had their gall bladder removed, and if so, how has it affected your diet and weight loss?

Looks like I'll be losing my gall bladder Monday due to gall stones, and I'm just curious about what to expect afterward. I am truly hoping to keep going with low carb/intermittant fasting.

I've been fairly low carb for years, but like many, I've "gone off the wagon" at times. I lose weight very slowly (hypothyroidism) and have just started the IF about 5 days ago which seems to really be working for me.

I noticed my gall bladder attacks happened when I'd eaten too many carbs and sweets, during the holidays, or taken my vitamins on an empty stomach. Just eating fat, or fat and protein doesn't seem to affect me.

I would really appreciate hearing anyone's experience with this.

JB

[Dodger]

I've been low carbing for about 5 years without a gall bladder. It's never caused me any problems.

[Kisal]

I've been lc for 4 years. I had to have my gallbladder removed when I was 25. I haven't experienced any problems at all from not having one. :)

[jbmoore]

Dodger and Kisal, thank you both for your replies. It looks like you both are pretty successful low carbers.

[Songwriter]

I had mine out 8 months ago. I'm doing okay. I had a jittery feeling in my stomach before it was removed and I still have it and that bugs me, I wish I didn't have it. Also, every once in awhile, if I eat several pieces of bacon, I can have trouble. I wish I knew how to prevent that... cramps, diarrhea from the bacon fest. I have to eat several for it to happen, though.

[jbmoore]

Thanks Songwriter. Did you have gall stones? I don't get a jittery stomach, but quite a hard pain all the way around my midriff that lasts for hours. But the attacks didn't seem to be caused by all the fat - it was mixing a big dose of carbs in with the fats (during the holidays).

I do eat quite a lot of fat in the form of butter, cream cheese and heavy cream, fried stuff. Maybe I should proceed cautiously - especially with the bacon. Thanks again for the tip.

[KiaKaha]

I had to have mine out after fabulous success L/Cing last time (gall stones can come about/ become critical following rapid weight loss).

I used to get really terrible upper abdomen/ lower chest pains and I guess they must have been bad because they got me in within 2 weeks of diagnosis. One of the most painful things ever - so painful I was retching each time.

No problems with lo-carbing - the very fatty stuff - say moussaka for example does go straight through and on L/C you may get intermittent diarrohea but not so bad you cant make it to the toilet in time as with people taking xenical/ Fat Blockers.

For about 3 months after the operation, when I had a high fat meal I would sometimes feel a bit unwell - nauseous and sweating but it only happenned once or twice and I soon grew out of it.

[liddie01]

i had mine out when I was 18, so thirty years ago, I have no problem with Atkins at all.

[emily30]

I've been LC for almost 3 years with no gallbladder and absolutely NO problems at all.

If I were a betting girl, I would say that all those years of low fat/high carb is what caused me to lose my gallbladder in the first place.

[Songwriter]

Thanks Songwriter. Did you have gall stones?

Yes, I didn't mention the pain. Worst pain I've ever had. Had it several times over several years. They finally diagnosed it.

They tried to do mine arthroscopic. Couldn't do it once they got in there, said the GB as too diseased. Cut me wide open. Man, that was tough to get over, took a few months. Hope your surgery went well.

[Tarlach]

I've been LC for almost 3 years with no gallbladder and absolutely NO problems at all.

If I were a betting girl, I would say that all those years of low fat/high carb is what caused me to lose my gallbladder in the first place.I agree. One of the reasons that I have gotten into Paleo was the removal of my gall bladder. Who knew that eating bad stuff could hurt you! ;)

When I found out I had gall stones I did a couple of liver cleanses. Liver cleansing can sometimes get rid of gall stones. The amount of liver stones I got was quite shocking! It's amazing how much rubbish builds up in your liver and I'm pretty sure it was due to the low fat/high carb/high sugar diet. However, I didn't get the gall stones out, so I had my bladder removed. I guess I should do the cleanse again and see how much I now have in my liver now.... :rolleyes:

In medicine, gallstones (choleliths) are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. They are made primarily of cholesterol. Cholesterol stones are usually green, but are sometimes white or yellow in color and account for about 80 percent of gallstones. - Wikipedia

It seems that the cholesterol lumps in the liver can migrate down the bile duct and occasionally get caught in the gall bladder with the bile (that is made in the liver also) when one of these softish cholesterol lumps gets caught in the gall bladder it may slowly harden due to calcification (bilirubin and calcium salts).

The gall bladder squeezes and empties out the bile when you consume fat. If you have low/no fat for a long time your gall bladder does not empty and the stones accumulate and or get harder, resulting in them getting stuck! :eek:

The cause of gall stones is not usually attributed to the liver stones and it's only after seeing the physical evidence that you are sure this is the issue. The liver cleanse is not popular though, as it's not a fun task.

I showed a pic of the stones I passed to my GP and he said "they are gall stones!" even though they couldn't all fit in my gall bladder and I still had the problem. The bright green color also indicated that they are from the liver. I have pics that I can post if anyone is interested
(it's gross only if you think about know how I got them ;))

It would be interesting to find out where all of this cholesterol is coming from that the liver is scrubbing out. I would be money on it being related to CHD and cholesterol build up in arterial walls (what happens when your liver can't scrub any more out?). It has something to do with diet and I'm betting that carbs/sugars and or transfats are the cause.

Some info on the cleanse:
http://www.curezone.com/gallstones/

I can also post the method that I used, if anyone cares.

Sorry about the brain dump....I was just going to say I agree :p

[jbmoore]

Had the surgery Monday. It went great. I was up and around just a few hours after surgery, came home and even fixed my own supper (chicken noodle soup). Just a little sore, but not near as bad as an attack.

Thanks for all your advice. I'm back on the diet.

JB

[Nancy LC]

I showed a pic of the stones I passed to my GP and he said "they are gall stones!"
LOL! I bet patients bring their doctors weird stuff all the time. I wonder if any bring their poop in and show it to the doctor.

[emily30]

LOL! I bet patients bring their doctors weird stuff all the time. I wonder if any bring their poop in and show it to the doctor.
As a nurse in a nursing/retirement home, I have had more samples brought to me or left for me to see on more occassions than I could ever count.

The sample is not as startling as what they bring it to me in.... bread plate, flower vase. :)

[emily30]

Tarlach,

Thanks for the detailed information!! :thup:

[Nancy LC]

As a nurse in a nursing/retirement home, I have had more samples brought to me or left for me to see on more occassions than I could ever count.

The sample is not as startling as what they bring it to me in.... bread plate, flower vase. :)

LOL! My Mom was in a nursing home for 1.5 years and I can just imagine...