Why get your gall bladder cut out if it’s something you need? It is an important organ. Besides that, no surgery is a simple surgery!
People die every day across America after going through “a simple outpatient surgery”! No thanks. If I can keep myself healthy and do things naturally, that’s what I’m going to do 100% of the time.
The liver makes bile. Bile travels to the gall bladder where it is stored and concentrated up to 10 times.
In the gall bladder, bile is made to be more acidic which is what helps you emulsify and digest dietary oils and fat.
Why Do I Have Watery Diarrhea?
This is why one of the most common side effects of a cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) is a condition called steatorrhea. Steatorrhea is a foul smelling watery diarrhea that occurs after eating a fatty meal.
Steatorrhea is caused because the digestive system can’t break down the fats without the proper concentration of bile acid.
Last month, I had a new patient start his care on a Monday. His wife said, “We won’t be able to be here for his Wednesday appointment because I am scheduled to have my gall bladder taken out”.
She went on to explain that she had gall stones and was going to have her gall bladder removed. She asked me if there was anything that I might be able to do to help her keep her gall bladder. I described the functional medicine work that I do and how I help patients become healthier.
I told her that I knew I had a chance of helping her keep her gall bladder. I also told her how I have family members who had theirs taken out and wish every day that they hadn’t.
Can Hypothyroidism Cause Gallstones?
I went on to explain that we needed to do some labs and take a look at a complete thyroid panel (9 tests) to see is she was having some thyroid hormone conversion problems.
You see, if someone has a sluggish thyroid (hypothyroid), the metabolism will be slow. The gall bladder is a muscular pouch. Bile collects in it and when the metabolism is slow, the gall bladder will not squeeze out its bile and gall stones can form over time.
She decided to go for it and became my patient. She told me that within 3 days, she felt better than she had felt in a very long time. I performed lab testing and found some nutrient deficiencies.
She decided to go through my 14 Day Blood Sugar Boot Camp to get her liver cleansed and also did a gall bladder flush that I prescribed.
In her follow up, she lost over 20 pounds, her complexion looks better and she said that she feels great. Her husband also went through my nutritional protocol and lost 30 pounds! Both of them are so much healthier and happy.
What are Possible Side Effects of Having A Cholecystectomy?
Another major issue with gall bladder removal is that it can cause bile to back up in the liver which causes liver toxicity and congestion.
It’s also important to realize that people who don’t have a gall bladder can still have gall stones! Yes, it’s true. The liver still makes bile even when you don’t have a gall bladder.
Gall stones can be different colors and shapes (often jagged). So, they can still get lodged in the bile duct and cause a blockage of bile – and poor digestion/malabsorption.
Can I Still Have Pain After My Gallbladder is Taken Out?
Many of my patients who have had their gall bladder taken out describe that they are really sensitive and have a lot of pain on the right side of their abdomen just up under the rib cage where the gall bladder used to be.
That is because the gall bladder sits right behind the liver and when it is gone, the liver keeps making bile. The bile basically collects in that area and remember, bile is acid.
Over time, the acidic bile can inflame the liver and cause other health problems such as elevations in liver enzymes or even other digestive problems.
What about Fat Digestion?
From a neurological perspective, your cell membranes are made up of fat. Nerve cells are insulated with fat. Fat produces energy in the body.
Therefore, poor digestion and absorption of fat can lead to many catastrophic health consequences over time such as decreased neurological function and poor cognition.
Fat Soluble Vitamins
One last thing about the gall bladder: If you don’t have one, then you most likely are unable to digest and absorb fats as I said above. This can be a contributing factor to nutrient deficiencies of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
Vitamin A is for the eyes (especially night vision). Vitamin D has profound effects on the body including sleep and anti-cancer properties. Vitamin E helps your blood vessels stay slick so that you are less likely to develop plaques (that can cause a stroke or heart attack) and Vitamin K is involved with how your blood clots but can also be a contributing factor in osteopenia and osteoporosis. So, not being able to digest fats can have far reaching consequences.
What About Thinning My Bile?
There are natural ways to thin bile so it has less of a chance of collecting in the bile duct and creating stones. This is true for people who still have their gall bladder and those who don’t.
I’ve also had great reports from many patients about a dramatic decrease in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), aka: Acid Reflux, Heart Burn, Indigestion.
At least there is good news that there is something that could possibly be done to help most people that is natural and safe. Wouldn’t it be great if you could possibly keep your gall bladder and possibly stay much healthier.
If you have had your gall bladder removed, it’s not too late to still get healthier. I analyze my patients lab tests and look for markers of nutrient deficiencies. Once identified, I will provide specific recommendations for you in order to help you achieve the best health possible.
Health is Happiness,
Dr. Keith Currie
