1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Profile picture for pmrsuzie

Do you still have your gallbladder?

Posted by pmrsuzie @pmrsuzie, 1 day ago

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 24. I'm 77. Way back then it was a big deal, my incision is 7 inches and I had hundreds of gallstones. They did a cholangiogram during surgery to detect any stones in bile ducts, also removed my appendix. Was really sick. Was readmitted to the hospital two weeks later with stabbing pains when I breathed. They decided I had pleurisy.
Since then, I have worried about taking medicines that could affect liver function or are metabolized thru the liver. I know too much Tylenol elevates my liver enzymes. I declined nethotrexate. Not sure what biologics would do. The profile back then for gallbladder problems was 'female, fat , and forty', I weighed 105 pounds. Imaging techs laughed when I showed up for the test, think it was a floroscope.
Diet for post gallbladder removal is to eat not much of anything. I started researching how not having a gallbladder might come back to haunt me in these later years and I wonder if I'm being overly cautious.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

Profile picture for bettebaldwin
bettebaldwin | @bettebaldwin | 18 hours ago

I recently started working with a Clinical Nutritionist to help improve the inflammation/auto immune problems underpinning the onset of PMR ready to begin weaning off Prednisolone. They talked to me a lot about my gallbladder op 15-odd years ago and it’s likely contribution to the development of a fatty liver/visceral organ fat which produces the hormones/cytokines that lead to inflammation that leads to PMR. So - a lot of the nutritional changes are going to do with making my liver healthier.
I’m 74 and there was little guidance just 15 years ago - told to stay of fats for first month post op and then eat pretty much normally. Fine if it works but it seems most people do have problems developing fatty livers which in turn gives rise to inflammation which in turn gives rise to autoimmune conditions like PMR.
Good Luck @loyd1957

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for pmrsuzie
pmrsuzie | @pmrsuzie | 12 hours ago
In reply to @bettebaldwin "I recently started working with a Clinical Nutritionist to help improve the inflammation/auto immune problems underpinning..." + (show)
Profile picture for bettebaldwin @bettebaldwin

I recently started working with a Clinical Nutritionist to help improve the inflammation/auto immune problems underpinning the onset of PMR ready to begin weaning off Prednisolone. They talked to me a lot about my gallbladder op 15-odd years ago and it’s likely contribution to the development of a fatty liver/visceral organ fat which produces the hormones/cytokines that lead to inflammation that leads to PMR. So - a lot of the nutritional changes are going to do with making my liver healthier.
I’m 74 and there was little guidance just 15 years ago - told to stay of fats for first month post op and then eat pretty much normally. Fine if it works but it seems most people do have problems developing fatty livers which in turn gives rise to inflammation which in turn gives rise to autoimmune conditions like PMR.
Good Luck @loyd1957

Jump to this post

@bettebaldwin
Thank you for sharing your experience/thoughts. I am not 'nuts'. All this time, since I was 24, I have filled out numerous patient history/surgeries questions to have no one ever make/try to make a connection between the current problem and my past.
I am curious what kind of nutritional changes you are making for a healthier liver.
I have always had a reasonably healthy diet and avoided alcohol and smoking. I went thru a period of having a glass of wine with dinner but gave it up - alcohol just does not agree with me.
You have given credence to what I have been thinking.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.