Similar story here. Age in early sixties, and over roughly the past two years I have had two or three bouts of pain and bloating, the symptoms were rather textbook for gallbladder attack, right down to the location of the pain. The worst one began, I think, right after a particularly rich Christmas meal.
This is not medical advice, it's just relating my own history for curiosity's sake, (the curiosity of of my fellow eccentrics here.) After the meal, I went to the doctor, got definitively diagnosed with gallstones with an ultrasound, and got sent for a consult with a surgeon. He was nice enough, with more of an old-school, single practitioner vibe (not a big practice all focused on the bottom line.) But I turned down his recommendation that I have it removed. "I think I'll opt for a more conservative approach," I said. He replied that he thought surgery was the more conservative approach. I guess it is, if you earn your living that way....
I've lost a bit of weight since then, and I've been doing intermittent fasting once or twice a week, on average. Perhaps coincidence, but it really seems to have helped with the feeling bloated in my stomach. I've also taken milk-thistle for about a month two or three times over this period, with long pauses. Herbalists and some European doctors claim it is excellent for the liver. (My thinking was that increasing bile flow might help reduce the gallstones.) Also more bitter greens and radishes to stimulate bile flow.
I am rather pleased to report that it's been about 16 months since my last gallbladder incident. Who knows if all the vitamins I've been taking for immune support may have helped as well. I watch the fat a bit more carefully, but still believe that it's a crucial part of good nutrition and don't avoid fat, I just try to get good sources of it.
*Of course, you should consult with your doctor before trying any of these outlandish, things. These are just notes from an eccentric.
Re: Prayer Request -- Gall Bladder issues
This is not medical advice, it's just relating my own history for curiosity's sake, (the curiosity of of my fellow eccentrics here.) After the meal, I went to the doctor, got definitively diagnosed with gallstones with an ultrasound, and got sent for a consult with a surgeon. He was nice enough, with more of an old-school, single practitioner vibe (not a big practice all focused on the bottom line.) But I turned down his recommendation that I have it removed. "I think I'll opt for a more conservative approach," I said. He replied that he thought surgery was the more conservative approach. I guess it is, if you earn your living that way....
I've lost a bit of weight since then, and I've been doing intermittent fasting once or twice a week, on average. Perhaps coincidence, but it really seems to have helped with the feeling bloated in my stomach. I've also taken milk-thistle for about a month two or three times over this period, with long pauses. Herbalists and some European doctors claim it is excellent for the liver. (My thinking was that increasing bile flow might help reduce the gallstones.) Also more bitter greens and radishes to stimulate bile flow.
I am rather pleased to report that it's been about 16 months since my last gallbladder incident. Who knows if all the vitamins I've been taking for immune support may have helped as well. I watch the fat a bit more carefully, but still believe that it's a crucial part of good nutrition and don't avoid fat, I just try to get good sources of it.
*Of course, you should consult with your doctor before trying any of these outlandish, things. These are just notes from an eccentric.