<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Thanks for all the posts regarding gallstones and CD. I got a variety of
responses from home remedies for discomfort to a recommendation to have
surgery as soon as possible.

THE QUESTION:
I have an intact gallbladder with stones and strongly suspect CD. Does
anyone have any experience with or information on the gallbladder possibly
healing after going on a gluten-free diet?

THE RESPONSES:
* One wrote, "There are a number of reports [of people who had their
  gallbladder symptoms clear up on a GF diet] in the peer reviewed
  medical literature. I have read one or two where they tried injecting
  CCK, which resulted in relief for celiac patients with gall bladder
  distress ( I don't remember if they had stones)."

* "Yes.  According to Dr. Braly's Food Allergy and Nutrition Revolution,
  almost all gall bladder problems are caused by food allergies.  He had
  a doctor write to tell him that once he figured out this connection, he
  hasn't had to send 1 single patient to the surgeon.  Braly doesn't think
  everybody has celiac disease that has allergies, but I'm not so sure."

* "Yes i have experienced no gb problems as long as i stay away from
  wheat, oats, barley, rye and chocolate..I have been symptom free for
  6 months as long as i stay off those grains..hoorah!!!"
  [I queried this poster if she had actually had stones; her response:]
  "Yep disappeared after going gf."

* One who had mild discomfort with stones said, "When I did feel some
  discomfort I followed my doctors' advice and took a large
  drink of water. The discomfort went right away."

* Another had a friend whose doctor (MD and ND) said, "drink 2 teaspoons
  of apple cider vinegar each day, and the stones will go away. This
  worked for [my friend] - when I started having the same symptoms, I
  started on the apple cider vinegar. That's been years ago - no problems.
  I drink it every day in juice."

* Another with GB pain said an ultrasound showed her gallbladder seemed
  to be "full of mud." After an endoscopy, she went GF and her GB pain
  is now gone. "I think my body has been repaired itself."

* One recommended an MD who specializes in nutritional and
  metabolic medicine and might be able to help.

* One who did NOT have stones wrote, "Gallbladder attacks and CD attacks
  must feel a lot alike!  Before I was diagnosed with CD, my MD sent me
  in for a gallbladder ultrasound.  (The ultrasound came back normal and
  showed no stones.)"

* Finally, one concerned poster wrote, "Gallstones are nothing to
  fool around with.  They are very dangerous and can become an emergency
  condition.  I have never heard of diet curing them.  If I were
  you, I would bite the bullet and have the darn thing removed."

Thank you to everyone!

Carma in Phoenix
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