So I did this thing....
...going back to the vampire doctor for another blood draw where they take a goodly amount of blood, test it and send the results to the medical clinic where they tell me my numbers are too high and I have a fatty liver, so I did the cutting back on sugars and fats, generally eating smaller portions and losing twelve kilograms (13 now) and hoping the numbers are better.
WELL!!
Disappointingly the numbers are not better, not even the same, but worse! WORSE!!
I was shocked. I gave up ice cream and chocolate for nothing??
The doctor did tell me something I never knew, one possible reason for all those high numbers not going down is gallstones. She said it's often gallstones that keep the cholesterol higher than it should be in spite of taking the required medication that is supposed to lower it. Apparently gallstones are little lumps of solidified cholesterol.
Have I ever had an ultrasound? Yes of course, but that was years ago when a mammogram technician saw something she didn't like. Turned out to be a fatty cyst.
There's that word again, "fatty". I sense a theme here..
Anyway, I have an ultrasound booked for Friday midday, I have to fast for at least 6 hours, more if possible (me-of course, no problem) but not even water is allowed. (me-yikes!) That's this coming Friday the 23rd. Probably the clinic doctor, who is just across the driveway from the radiology department, might have the results by Saturday.
I'll let you all know as soon as I know. Or maybe a few hours later. I'll admit I am a bit worried. Will this mean surgery with removal of gall bladder? Can the stones (if there are any) be removed any other way? We'll find out won't we? How will I be without a gallbladder? Will I be a sweeter person without that bag of bile?
I hope everything goes well with the ultrasound!
ReplyDeleteMy friend has had her gallbladder removed with a laser for years,
she needs a diet at first, but I don't see her having any particular problem.
I enjoyed your article and you used words very well, definitely well written.
I haven't had time to write lately and that's making me sad!!
Katerinas Blog; I've herad there may be some diet restrictions following gall bladder removal and that worries me a bit. Most of the foods dieticians want me to eat are things I don't like and will never get used to.
DeleteI really don't know anything about gallstones. At least I now know what they are. Hopefully they are like kidney stones, which I think generally are blasted away now.
ReplyDeleteAndrew; I knew they existed and that was all I knew. Charlotte below us here says they can only be removed by removing the gall bladder, so we'll see soon enough what I am in for.
DeleteMy beloved is a radiologist. He tells me stories like this very often.
ReplyDeleteI hope it goes well
Hels; I hope all goes well too. We'll know more soon enough.
DeleteGall stones can only be removed by removing the whole gall bladder. No crushing of stones here. I had it done January 2024. It was not nice, but not bad either. Four small holes in my stomach skin and two hours of my life - and of course a gall bladder filled up with stones - was all I lost.
ReplyDeleteI feel nothing now - well except from the absense of painfull gallstone attacks! THANKS - only if I eat a really huge, really fatty meal I get nauseated and have an upset stomach, but then again not much worse than before the removal (it's not a thing I do often, but hubby is a great cook!)
The gall bladder is essentially just a container for bile. Without it the bile slowly drips into you intestine instead of being ready to be squeezed out in times of need. Thus larger, and more so fatty meals migth be a problem.
Good luck!
Charlotte; thank you. I didn't think I'd ever had a gallstone attack, but there have been a few instances of unexplained sharp "hot" pain that lasted a few minutes, thankfully they were rare happenings and maybe that's what they were, gallstones on the move. I haven't had one in over ten years and it worries me that I might have had stones that long ago and no doctor ever mentioned them to me.
DeleteI hope I won't have to give up butter. It's about the only "fat" thing I eat, since I don't like fatty foods for meals.
How disappointing that being so good didn't bring your numbers down - though that is an impressive weight loss.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on Friday - and thank you for keeping us posted.
Elephant's Child; It was very disappointing, but if removing the gall bladder is the answer, that's what I'll do. I might aske the surgeon to keep it and the stones so I can see them before they dispose of them. Thanks on the weight loss, still have a few more kilos to drop.
DeleteI had a stone to bring home ;) It was huge! I think I'll bury it in my garden this summer, I'm done with looking at it. 13 kilograms are a lot. I would be better for losing that as well.
DeleteCharlotte; define huge please. Marble sized? Tennis ball sized? Ha Ha.
DeleteGreat weight loss - well done! I hope answers and solutions can be found on Friday and the problem resolved quickly.
ReplyDeletejabblog; thank you. I have a suspicion myself it might be gallstones; more surgery.
DeleteSo you went through that not eating certain foods and found out it 'maybe' your gallbladder/stones.
ReplyDeleteI've had mine out, husband too years ago, no problems at all, eat anything as well.
Margaret D; thank you, this is comforting to know.
DeleteI had gallbladder removal way back, the old fashioned surgery, big incision. And once I'd recovered I felt great. A lot of pains and aches never came back, and I had no dietary restrictions. I think it had been dragging me down long before gallstones were diagnosed. It takes a while for your digestion to settle, but I was very glad I did it.
ReplyDeleteBoud; this is encouraging, I have a few odd aches and pains and tiredness too, maybe they will all be fixed with surgery, which I think is a lot better these days with smaller incisions etc.
DeleteGood luck with all this.
ReplyDeleteJenn Jilks; thank you. Whatever happens I'll be writing about it later.
DeleteGood luck.
ReplyDeleteKathy G; thank you.
DeleteOh how disappointing when you worked so very hard at the weight loss. I know the struggle all too well. I hear the surgery these days is a breeze compared to times gone by. I think it's what they call Keyhole? Two friends had it and said it was easy compared with their mothers. (it seems to have a hereditary factor). Keep us in the loop and good luck with it all.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Wisewebwoman; "no-one" did mention it might be hereditary, my mum always had high readings. Keyhole surgery sounds much easier with regards to recovery time. I still have several kilos to lose to reach my target of 65.
DeleteI wish you all the best and will keep you in my thoughts ❤️
ReplyDeleteLinda's Relaxing Lair; thank you. I'll be posting here to let you all know what's happening.
DeleteGood luck with your test. I've had my gallbladder out, like Charlotte described above. Don't fear the surgery if you need it. Like Charlotte, I had the kind with the little holes. Very little, if any, pain afterward. Just some bruising. Didn't even need the painkillers. No special diet, just a recommendation to avoid fatty foods. In the beginning, you might want to stay close to a bathroom if you eat anything greasy or fatty. Your digestive system is in a rush to get rid of that stuff. It will adapt in future months. Congrats on losing 13 kilograms! Even though you didn't get the hoped-for results, you can be proud of that.
ReplyDeleteVal; thank you. I don't fear the surgery and knowing about the keyhole surgery is also reassuring. Avoiding fatty foods should be easy, I don't like greasy stuff and always cut the fat off my steaks. I worry about butter though, it's a fatty food and I can't see myself ever switching to margarine. I always stay close to bathrooms, most of the time anyway. I still have several kilos to lose to reach my goal weight of 65kg.
Deletei recently started with statins on account of some duff numbers that turned up in several blood tests - soon i have to have more blood tests to see if the statins are working - good luck, and sorry you're going through it...
ReplyDeleteArcticFox; I've been on the statins since before covid zipped around the globe and in the beginning the numbers did drop. If I need the surgery, I'm sure they will drop even more afterswards. Mostly with aging most people's numbers rise at least a little.
DeleteMy wife had her gallbladder removed a few years back. No big deal.
ReplyDeleteMike; I'm comforted by so many people here saying it is no big deal. Thank you.
DeleteWell, that's a drag! Lots of people have their gall bladder out and you'd do fine without it, but I can understand wanting to avoid that. Let us know what the tests show!
ReplyDeleteSteve Reed; I will keep everyone updated and if the gallbladder must come out I'd rather do that than wait and see. I'm not afraid of doctors or hospital or even surgery.
DeleteRiver, I'm sorry this is going on and I hope it's not a lot to have it fixed. I get being worried at this point. Sending love and huggs your way AND, I have to tell you, you wrote this blog in such a way that I feel everything you're saying. It's really really well done. Really captures everything.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk; thank you, I do try to write so that people can "feel" or "see" what I'm on about. After reading all the comments, I am no longer worried.
DeleteGall bladder removal is rather routine now when it's needed. I will keep you in my prayers for a good outcome for this, no matter if you need the surgery or not.
ReplyDeletemessymimi; thank you, I don't pray myself but I appreciate you doing it for me.
DeleteO conteúdo do seu blog é muito interessante.
ReplyDeleteJá estou entre seus amigos.
Venha se juntar aos meus amigos, agora nessa minha experiência na blogosfera.
Abraços 🐾 Garfield Tirinhas.
I know quite a few people had there gall bladder removed. I got my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteDora; thank you.
DeleteBig WOW on losing so much weight!!! I get so many ads that many (with, hahaha, age) have a fat-liver - it is age, do NOT worry!!!!
ReplyDeleteIngo had gallstones removed. Still fat-liver. Do not give up yum!
There are free meds against that, I take them, too! Cause I have a "fat-liver" as well. Yah. Cause I am old. Get old or die, as FIL always says.
No water?!!!!
When Ingo fell sick they said, no water, gave him nothing, not even lemon-sticks. He begged me. I got him water. He´s still around.
When the body cries it´s thirsty... I am no doc, but.... what harm can a bit of water do?
Can you get lemon sticks? That´s what my Dad got when not allowed to drink.
Fingers and toes crossed all turns out well!!!!
Sorry I am late. Internet problems AND studying "online"...
Iris; no water because they need the stomach and intestines completely empty so there is no pressure on the liver and gallbladder. That makes it easier for them to spot what is right or wrong. I will take a bottle of water with me and a snack so as soon as they finish I can drink and eat. It is really only a few hours, so I will be fine. I gave up a lot of the "yum" because I really did need to lose weight.
DeleteWhen Ingo first fell sick, I can understand no water being allowed in case they need to operate maybe and anything in the stomach might get vomited under anaesthetic which is dangerous.