Chance (San Diego, Ca) on 08/31/2012
Since improving my health by exercise, choosing fresh and homemade foods, and taking magnesium supplement, my frequency of "attacks" (what I think are gallblader attacks) is very low to what it used to be. Ocassionally I'll still indulge. Unfortunately when I do, it still triggers an attack about 20% of the time. Usually after eating fast food, red meat, or something dairy-rich.
My definition of attacks is: a horrible pain in my upper stomach that can become so intense, I can barely manage to straighten my torso. I'm doubled over constantly, walking hunched if I can muster the will to walk around. The pain radiates up my sternum and into my upper back between the shoulder blades. It feels like a gigantic pair of fists are shoved into my chest and stomach, squeezing and twisting in opposite directions so that nothing can go further in or out. My upper stomach will feel a little hard or rigid too - like it's all tensed up.
Sometimes I get my boyfriend to pound his fist into my upper back, like he's punching back for me! I'll grind my fist into my back too and sometimes that pressure helps minimally but only while I'm doing it. I know, totally bizarre of me. But it's what makes sense at the time. In the past for attacks, I've taken carrot juice which I read helps digestion and/or a cup of my powdered magnesium supplement (called Natural Calm -it's amazing! ) which takes the edge off. Once, I chewed raw ginger I cut right off the root in pure desperaton. All these things have helped (although carrot juice stopped being as effective for some reason).
The attacks last an hour to several hours and can be mild or severe to where I'm panting and squirming all over the bed, moaning in helpless pain. Sometimes there's oh so ladylike belching involved but if it's bad, it doesn't matter how much my body tries to do this, it doesn't alleviate anything.
I had an attack that woke me up very early this morning. :( It's my fault. I even thought it might be coming last night. I was SO tired last night I didn't want to cook, even though that little voice inside my head said I should do it. I didn't listen and got a chicken burrito from a taco shop on the way home thinking chicken is a mild choice. It didn't even end up being that good - it was gross and had unexpected amount of greasiness like it was cooked on an uncleaned surface that had been used for red meats. I only ate half feeling how heavy it was getting in my stomach. Less than 2 hours later, I could FEEL like this attack was coming. In preperation I found this page with all the great reviews about apple cider and apple juice working. I was hopeful and meant to go get apple juice and the apple cider from the store but fell asleep with my phone still on my chest, this page still on the screen when the attack woke me up.
It was a milder attack so I took the magnesium, then drove to the grocery store for the apple cider vinegar and apple juice. It got worse at the store but it's so close to my house that I made it. Like described here, I took the suggested 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (the Heinz brand) mixed with a glass of apple juice (Simply Apple brand). It took me 10-15 minutes to finish drinking it. I was a little taken aback a little at the burny feeling in my throat and through my stomach but I thought of that as working magic. The burn is nothing really unpleasant or harsh - nothing compared to the pain of the attack at least! :)
As I took the last few sips I had already started feeling the pain subside. My stomach softened to the touch and the little swell the rigidity creates sometime went away. About an hour later, the pain was pretty much all gone and just some minor discomfort and remnant soreness was all that was left! THIS is the best pain remedy for the attacks I've EVER tried. I've never had the pain go away as rapidly or as close to complete as this before. Now I DID start with the magnesium supplement but it's help was minimal (it's MUCH better for preventative than reactive purposes).
It's drained me though. These attacks take nearly everything out of me. I've mustered the energy to write this post because I want it to be read by people looking for experiences of other people who go through it and what has worked for them. I'm telling you it works! If you're having an attack, my say is try it.
Thank you to Earth Clinic and all who took the time to post their experiences too. I would not have turned to the apple cider/apple juice concoction and gotten my quick relief if not for you!!
Replied By Debbie (Rsm, Ca) on 04/06/2013