I’m guessing there might be members without a gall bladder …

[Espeegee]

Having had my gallbladder removed nearly 40 years ago, I’ve wondered a time or two if it had any bearing on my weight gain and my inability to shift it. I’ve tended to blame it on my probable thyroid problem but having read an article about the gall bladder on another website I was moved to look for a connection and found this research paper. It seems there is every chance that my missing gall bladder could be the key, I’d no idea of the relationship it has with both digestion and the liver. I tick most of the boxes, NAFLD, pre diabetic etc so I thought I’d share it.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your post 3 months ago strongly suggests you are hypothyroid and likely to benefit from starting on levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

presumably you have been taking B12 and vitamin B complex since last post

Retest again BEFORE booking any consultation with endocrinologist

ALWAYS test early morning, ideally before 9am and only drink water between waking and test

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors

[e-mail]

[Espeegee in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, I was retested by the GP, onlyTSH and T4 of course but the T4 which had been 12.2(12-22) in March 23 via Blue Hoizon was then tested by GP in June 23 and had dropped to 10.7 (11-23) below the bottom of the range was re-tested 8 weeks later and had gone back up to 12(11-23) so I was “normal” again! I was surprised as I didn’t think it could go back up. I followed the test protocol that you have described.

I been taking Igennus B complex since then but not a separate B12. As I’m sure you’re aware I am unlikely to get any Levo via the GP whilst still in range, I have been trying since 2015, my B12 has dropped in every test since but still not far enough for them to acknowledge I am deficient. I’ve seen 3 different Endos along the way, all of whom sang from the same hymn sheet, in range, not hypothyroid or needing B12. Tbh, I’ve given up and as I am not feeling too bad I’ll just keep going.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Espeegee]

so you need to self supplement to maintain OPTIMAL vitamin levels and continue to do so indefinitely

Retest thyroid levels in 4-6 months after being on OPTIMAL vitamin levels

Meanwhile Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors

[e-mail]

[userotc]

My dad had his gallbladder removed ~30y ago. He hasnt suffer significant problems and was able to lose and sustain ~2st weight loss via a Nutritional Therapy protocol ~4y ago. But euthyroid.

[Espeegee in reply to userotc]

I have read that some people are ok after removal and don't have problems, some lose weight and others gain. What is Nutritional therapy, another name for dieting or a specific method?

[userotc in reply to Espeegee]

NT is much more than dieting, very scientific and so it's underpinned by science. Its based on improving nutrition and lifestyle. See below link for further info including how a qualified and regulated Therapist operates.

theanp.co.uk/therapies/nutr...

[Espeegee in reply to userotc]

That looks interesting, thank you.

[Icicles]

Thank you for this. I’m now feeling very angry, because for years I have been told that gall bladder removal was a neutral act which had no impact (good or bad) of itself, and which was necessary because I had a massive gall stone. I stopped bothering to try to find out because no one ever said anything different. I maybe have to take my never ending weight loss problem in another direction knowing this stuff, so thanks for sharing.

[Espeegee in reply to Icicles]

You're more than welcome. I feel the same way and am looking at how I might be able to help myself. Dr. Mercola wrote an article about it which is what spiked my initial interest and the desire to look further. Some recommendations are to consider taking ox bile, digestive enzymes and possibly Betaine hydrochloride. I'm going to try the first two and see if they help. I've often wondered why I've struggled so much with my weight and have felt there was something much more to it than the old mantra of eat less and move more! I'm hoping this might be the missing link so to speak.

[Icicles in reply to Espeegee]

I started taking Betaine recently and thought about trying that ZOE thing which focuses on improving gut microbiome. Looking at this paper it would appear that impact on gut microbiome is significant, so I may well give that a try. Good luck!

[Espeegee in reply to Icicles]

I've done the Zoe thing, it was interesting but they never asked about whether you still had a gallbladder so it's not taken into consideration yet it's clearly important. I didn't lose any weight and my biggest complaint is that having finished the course I decided paying £43 a month wouldn't be necessary. I cancelled and was promptly locked out of the app, all the info I'd carefully inputted was lost to me and they were adamant that to access it I'd have to rejoin. I was both angry and upset but they wouldn't budge. Might be worthwhile and a lot cheaper just to buy the glucose monitor to see what if anything, impacts on your blood glucose as insulin resistance can be a factor in weight gain and of course T2D which apparently is another little bonus of being hypothyroid.

[Brightness14]

I had my gallbladder removed back in 2006. It was full of only calcium stones. It was caused by very very low Vitamin D.

I have never been overweight and still weigh the same as in 2006 just 2 lbs heavier maybe.

I am sorry not to have been more help.

[guysgrams]

Thanks for the article. Interesting., Mine was removed when I was 23 so 50 years ago. Weight gain did not really happen for me for another 15-20 years after I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. One thing I did have was over range triglycerides quite frequently. I happened more frequently over the last 10 years or so than prior, but once I started on a combo of T3/T4 though my triglycerides have remained well under the top of range. Since diagnosed hypo my weight went up 25-35 pounds. I have managed to shave some of that off in the past 7 years but not as much as I would like and doubt I ever will. I take digestive enzymes now , started them about 4 years ago.