Are gallbladder problems a common secondary symptom in ME/CFS ?

[Kiristar]

I've just been diagnosed with this today after a long period of what we thought was gastritis and I wanted to know whether it's likely related or unrelated to my underlying ME ?

It's odd because I eat a low fat diet.

 

[forestglip]

I think the title and post are missing the symptom.

Edit: I see you put cholecystitis as a tag. I assume that's the symptom.

 

[Chestnut tree]

What kind of symptom with your gallbladder, do you have?

I was told by a dr I had an issue with my gallbladder (because of nausea and vomiting). Don’t know if this was correct.

I have heard about ME ptnts who had issues with their gallbladder. Do not know how common that is.

 

[Trish]

I think gallbladder problems are pretty common in the non ME population, so it's hard to say whether there is any link just because we may know a few pwME with gall bladder problems.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Yes, gallbladder problems are common. I know of nothing to suggest a link to ME/CFS.

 

[MrMagoo]

They are very common in women over 40

 

[NelliePledge]

Yes common nowadays- linked with obesity and one of the reasons given for slow & steady weight loss being preferable is that for anyone who is on a diet where they lose weight rapidly there is higher risk of gallstones

 

[Trish]

I know two women who had gallbladder problems in middle age and had it removed. Neither was overweight.

 

[Kiristar]

They're saying gallstones. I'm far from obese and eat an extremely healthy and low fat diet, so none of the normal risk factors that I'm aware of apply.

Eta other than my age

 

[MrMagoo]

They're saying gallstones. I'm far from obese and eat an extremely healthy and low fat diet, so none of the normal risk factors that I'm aware of apply.

Eta other than my age

Apparently slow digestive transit can lead to gallstones. They can be linked to cholesterol too, which can be genetic as well (healthy people can have high cholesterol despite good diet).
It’s possible to get them if you’re slim, it’s just a higher risk/more likely if you’re overweight etc.

 

[Arnie Pye]

I've just been diagnosed with this today after a long period of what we thought was gastritis and I wanted to know whether it's likely related or unrelated to my underlying ME ?

It's odd because I eat a low fat diet.

A low fat diet is possibly causing your gall bladder problems in the first place. The gall bladder needs to be used or it can block up. And if the body rarely needs to digest fat it can cause problems.

Another comment, not related to the gallbladder, is that there are three macronutrients in the human diet - protein, fat, and carbs. The only one you can live without, if you really feel the need to restrict your diet, is carbs. Fat is an essential component of a healthy human diet, as is protein.

 

[Kiristar]

A low fat diet is possibly causing your gall bladder problems in the first place. The gall bladder needs to be used or it can block up. And if the body rarely needs to digest fat it can cause problems.

Another comment, not related to the gallbladder, is that there are three macronutrients in the human diet - protein, fat, and carbs. The only one you can live without, if you really feel the need to restrict your diet, is carbs. Fat is an essential component of a healthy human diet, as is protein.

My comment was relative. Fat is included in my diet. Its not an extreme or fad diet, just a healthy one which does include healthy oils like olive oil, coconut avacado, just not to excess. I don't get chips or takeaways, fatty cheese or red meat, for example.

I've heard that argument in favour of a keto diet before which I started to try at one point, but I was not convinced that there was a sound scientific evidence base for it.

I then met multiple people who reported they lost their gallbladder because of it and I reverted to my regular healthy diet. I've never had any problems before.

 

[Kiristar]

Apparently slow digestive transit can lead to gallstones. They can be linked to cholesterol too, which can be genetic as well (healthy people can have high cholesterol despite good diet).
It’s possible to get them if you’re slim, it’s just a higher risk/more likely if you’re overweight etc.

Ah, I do have a *very* slow transit so perhaps that is the trigger. My cholesterol is not high.

Ironically my mother is in hospital with sepsis from a gallstone infection following a fall at the moment but she is 83 and never had issues before . None of the women in my family tolerate fatty foods well so I wonder if it is a genetic sensitivity.

 

[MrMagoo]

Ah, I do have a *very* slow transit so perhaps that is the trigger. My cholesterol is not high.

Ironically my mother is in hospital with sepsis from a gallstone infection following a fall at the moment but she is 83 and never had issues before . None of the women in my family tolerate fatty foods well so I wonder if it is a genetic sensitivity.

Well slow digestive transit would be a possible “link” to ME as many people have issues with that as they become more severe.