Gallstones and Pancreatitis

One of the leading causes of Acute Pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis is a gallstone or gallstones that create obstruction.

Obstruction occurs when gallstones travel down the common bile duct and get stuck in the Ampulla of Vater creating a blockage in the outflow of pancreatic juices from the pancreas into the duodenum. The backflow of these digestive juices causes lysis (dissolving) of pancreatic cells and subsequent pancreatitis.

The victim goes from unpleasant pain, nausea and possible vomiting due to gallbladder disease to an actual life threatening situation called acute pancreatitis.

This is why, if you are diagnosed with gallstones, it is a good idea to get rid of them; however, there are only a couple of ways to achieve this goal.

One way is to surgically remove the gallbladder. All surgeries carry risk and of course unpleasant side effects, from the surgery itself or the anesthesia. In fact the mortality rate for gallbladder removal in the elderly can be as high as 19% in emergency type surgeries.

My own father died on the table during a cholecystectomy (gallbladder surgery) due to cancer. They resuscitated my father but he suffered brain damage that he never quite recovered from before he died about one year later.

Another way, supposedly, to rid the gallbladder of stones is via a flush. I personally know little about liver, kidney or gallbladder flushes except that they sound unpleasant at best and potentially dangerous at worst, especially for someone already diagnosed with Pancreatitis.

Promoters of flushes say that flushing gallstones isn't like passing them normally and supposedly doesn't carry the risk of obstucting the common bile duct thereby causing gallstone pancreatitis but I personally don't have their confidence.

I have read where chemists have indicated that the passing of stones, using a flush, may not be actual stones but instead are small lumps of what is basically soap.

From what I understand the combination of oil, lemon juice and epsom salts produces a soap like formation that may look like someone is passing a soft stone but is actually passing a lump of soap.

If anyone reading this blog has concrete evidence, such as actually smashing the the so called stone with a fork (for example) to in fact determine its consistency and can actually testify as to the efficacy and safety of doing a gallbladder flush I'd like to hear it in the comment section.

I'd also like to know if there is any truth behind the usage of chanca piedra in order to dissolve gallstones. I have found some intriguing testimony for chanca piedra but I am always looking for more from those who use it versus sell it.

I have done some research and have found some intersting information in regrads to both but since I have no reason to actually do a flush or try chanca piedra it could prove valuable, to those with gallstones, to hear from those who have successfully used either remedy.

Leave a comment and let me know you are alive!