I have had 4 tests over the years for gall bladder all negative, yet I still have
"attacks"...

What remains is "sluggish bile"... and this can respond to the amino acid taurine. I use 500mg a day to control this, and it seems to be working.

Most gall stones are cholesterol based. Taurine complexes the cholestrol that is eliminated by the gall bladder, and helps it move thru and out, instead of concentrating in the gall bladder and forming stones.

This is inexpensive and has no side effects that I am aware of.
500mg a day to start, but some people use 1000mg in divided doses.
It is worth a try. I get mine at Puritan's pride.

There is another thing you can do if you think you have gall bladder issues.

1) avoid garlic (and large amounts of onions) -- this is a trigger for bile duct pain

2) avoid opiate pain relievers....these can cause biliary spasms.

2) watch your diet for gassy foods: Cabbage in all its forms, carbonated drinks, celery, pickles and cukes, etc.
Some normal foods high in fructose, will become gassy if your GI bacteria are out of balance. They will ferment things and create gas. Overuse of acid reducing drugs will lower digestion of protein, and lead to gas and fermentation in the bowel...this can come up and reflux painfully.

There is a new diet for people with bacterial imbalance...it is the FODMAPS diet.
http://www.ibsdiets.org/fodmap-diet/fodmap-food-list/
Some items on this new medically approved diet can be eaten in small quantities occasionally by some people.
I myself think that apples and apple juice are awful, as well as cabbage. Those two things can make me miserable.

Gas pains can be confused with actual GI pathology... so doing some research and food juggling on your own, may reveal some intolerances which you can fix and thereby reduce your discomforts.

Woke up with nausea, it's back. Headache too. Just getting up for a while, taking my anti-motion sickness pill and some Tylenol for the headache should calm that down. I sit up for a while then try to go back to sleep. Sometimes it works, sometimes it gets worse, I don't know. Another day down the drain.

Hi Wiix,
Bummer!

Have you tried keeping a food diary?
Maybe include foods eaten, time of day?
Maybe include periods of nausea and other symptoms?
Maybe also include your sleeping patterns?

Diaries can be very useful in helping us to recognize patterns we may not otherwise recognize.

I understand the issue may not be low blood sugar; yet, I wonder if low blood sugar interrupts your sleep, since you awaken at 4 am to eat? The earlier posts in this thread re: blood glucose levels, etc., may be helpful with getting your sleeping pattern squared away?

Are you eating meals of protein and complex carbs?
Have you tried smaller meals, more frequently throughout the day, with a small snack of protein (and complex carbs) before you go to sleep at night?

Is the food you are eating upsetting your stomach?
I used to be able to tolerate more types of foods than I can tolerate now.
A food diary had helped me to identify foods which give me symptoms.

Have you looked at the FODMAPS diet, as suggested by mrsD?
I know of many people utilizing this diet for GI issues, with success.

I am hoping keeping a diary and possibly modifying your diet will help you to feel better. As always, consult your physician. Report symptoms/info. to your physician.

I hope you recover quickly and can enjoy your day!


DejaVu

Nope, just woke up from nap #1 and still have nausea.

You're right. Maybe it's something I ate yesterday.

I eat only bland food. Balanced meals and snacks.

Do have a problem with constipation though. Go very infrequently or not at all.

Using a new laxative called Smooth Move. It's a tea. Had some yesterday and it worked, well, sort of. But overall hasn't change anything. First time I used it it worked just fine. It's made of all natural herbs.

Going to go lay down now and will probably fall asleep again. So goes my days.

Maybe it will be gone on the next shift.

Oh. Sorry you are not feeling better.

I have found many bland foods I used to tolerate are now problematic.
I do not digest them well and/or they give me symptoms.

The key to using stool softeners and/or laxatives may be in using them more consistently, in cases of chronic constipation.

Some find altering diet to include more fiber and staying hydrated very helpful. Adding a healthy oil and regular exercise may also help. I don't know if you are able to tolerate a higher fiber diet or not.

Many swear by their daily prunes. There are lemon-flavored dried prunes which many find more palatable. There was a good recipe on a former forum. I cannot recall the recipe. I think it made a prune-based paste-like remedy, which was eaten. Many found the recipe helpful.

I have heard of "Smooth Move" tea. I have heard people say they like it.

Rest well. feel better.


DejaVu

Here's an idea. Do you think massage might help? I feel horrible anyway. It might make me feel better and get those lymph nodes working. I want to exercise but I feel so tired all the time and hurt in some places. Maybe it'll loosen me up a bit. What do you think?

Hi Wiix,

It's quite possible massage may help you to feel better, overall.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-li...e/art-20045743

I hope you can see this link?
It lists types of massage, potential benefits, potential risks, etc.

I used to get regular massages. I had friends practicing for their massage licenses. They had to log so many hours for "practice." Frequent massages were very helpful to me.
I personally feel massage/bodywork is important.
(I just have so many other medical bills to pay first.)

I hope you can see the link?
Massage is contraindicated in some conditions. I hope you can see the list?

DejaVu

Does anybody take Zantac? I am wondering if it's ok to take it when I first wake up, in the morning when my symptoms are the worst. I hesitate because it makes me sleep all day but feeling the way I do there isn't much else I can do.

Hi Wiix,

I used to take Zantac before I was switched to Zoton (Lansoprazole) many years ago.

If you can manage the side effects it is best to take it when it will be most effective. I know before the switch I relied on multiple doses of Gaviscon every day to supplement the Zantac. The Zoton I am on comes in time release capsules and is infinitely more effective.

Dave.