Rolling with a bad gallbladder

[MSeltz]

Hey folks, I finally had my first two bjj classes this week. No gi, but planning on adding in gi next week. It's awesome!

About two months ago I woke up with a terrible pain in my right side, and working out made it spread to the right side of my back. I went to a doctor a few times, and she diagnosed "sludge in my gallbladder". I guess it's something less serious than gallstones, and that as long as I keep my diet clean I'll be good. And yes, she gave me the green light to work out.

Working out since then hasn't been a problem, but after each of my two bjj classes I've felt pretty bad back pain in the same spot. Has anyone had to deal with this before? I assume it's from having knees actually sitting on my gallbladder and from all of the rolling on my back. Just wondering if anyone has any good ways to deal with this, or will my back just start to get stronger as I keep doing it?

Thanks for the info folks!

 

[MSeltz]

Sorry for the bump, but I'm still hoping someone has an answer.

 

[toolshed]

I use to get gallbladder attacks (from stones passing) and the pain was in the center of my chest and sometimes I could feel it in my back too. Fortunately I got my galbladder removed.

I am not a doctor but, I can't see the connection between the muscle pain you are experiencing from BJJ and the internal pain from sludge passing through your gall bladder. Is it possible you are mixing up soreness from rolling and constant mild gal bladder attacks?

Btw, despite healthy eating you can still get galstones.

 

[Einarr]

Sorry for the bump, but I'm still hoping someone has an answer.

It's probably not all that common. Are you going to have to have your gall bladder removed at some point anyway? If so maybe it's better sooner than later and you can train after the surgery without pain.

 

[MSeltz]

The doc said it wasn't bad enough that I'd need to get it removed, at least not for another 20 years. Maybe I should though, if it'll help.

I read a few places online, and the doc confirmed it, that lower back pain on the right side is common with gallbladder problems. It was pretty much completely faded but restarted again after rolling last week. It's not excruciating but it does suck. I'm gonna roll again tonight and just pop some ibuprofen before and after. Hopefully it's just something my body will adapt to as I get stronger.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[Livenlearn]

The doc said it wasn't bad enough that I'd need to get it removed, at least not for another 20 years. Maybe I should though, if it'll help.

I read a few places online, and the doc confirmed it, that lower back pain on the right side is common with gallbladder problems. It was pretty much completely faded but restarted again after rolling last week. It's not excruciating but it does suck. I'm gonna roll again tonight and just pop some ibuprofen before and after. Hopefully it's just something my body will adapt to as I get stronger.

Thanks for the advice guys.

HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! The more liquid your body has available, the less likely you'll have anything liquid in your body getting sludgy. 'Sides, even if that isn't the mechanism by which your particular stones form, staying hydrated is good for you.

If you think it is all the movement you are doing in class that is causing the sludginess to move, block a duct, and cause an attack, you might try taking two or three 5 min breaks during the day to exercise a bit. Hide in the bathroom and do some jumping jacks while no one is looking. The point being, maybe you can get that stuff moving before it can congeal and give you an attack during practice.

Also, isn't weight loss associated with causing attacks? Maybe this is a temporary problem that will go away when your body has gotten more used to jiu jitsu and your weight stabilizes.

 

[Einarr]

The doc said it wasn't bad enough that I'd need to get it removed, at least not for another 20 years. Maybe I should though, if it'll help.

I read a few places online, and the doc confirmed it, that lower back pain on the right side is common with gallbladder problems. It was pretty much completely faded but restarted again after rolling last week. It's not excruciating but it does suck. I'm gonna roll again tonight and just pop some ibuprofen before and after. Hopefully it's just something my body will adapt to as I get stronger.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Fingers crossed. Stop if it starts getting worse.

 

[MSeltz]

Also, isn't weight loss associated with causing attacks? Maybe this is a temporary problem that will go away when your body has gotten more used to jiu jitsu and your weight stabilizes.

Ya, I was kind of pissed when my doctor told me that. I kicked the workout and diet into high gear after the first of the year and lost a lot of weight really fast. The whole goal was to get myself into shape so I wouldn't die if I tried jiu jitsu. But ya, long story short, I lost weight too quickly and changed my diet too quickly, and because of that all the bad stuff tried to leave my body all at once when lead to the sludge in the gallbladder. I couldn't believe that even the good stuff I'd done for my body resulted in something rough.

 

[Livenlearn]

Ya, I was kind of pissed when my doctor told me that. I kicked the workout and diet into high gear after the first of the year and lost a lot of weight really fast. The whole goal was to get myself into shape so I wouldn't die if I tried jiu jitsu. But ya, long story short, I lost weight too quickly and changed my diet too quickly, and because of that all the bad stuff tried to leave my body all at once when lead to the sludge in the gallbladder. I couldn't believe that even the good stuff I'd done for my body resulted in something rough.

I think you take 'pain is weakness leaving the body' to a whole other level...

That being said, all the studies show that slow weight loss is better for your health, whether or not you have gallstones/sludge. Take it as an 'all for the best' situation. Patience is good for your jiu jitsu too.

How much weight do you have to lose to be in normal BMI range? Or are you already there?

 

[tenniswhiz]

I went to a doctor a few times, and she diagnosed "sludge in my gallbladder". I guess it's something less serious than gallstones, and that as long as I keep my diet clean I'll be good. And yes, she gave me the green light to work out.

Working out since then hasn't been a problem, but after each of my two bjj classes I've felt pretty bad back pain in the same spot.

Did you explain what BJJ is like and did she give the green light to do that?

In BJJ you get compressed, laid on, ragdolled, etc. Even having a better guy go knee-on-belly on you can be painful.

Are you sure the back pain is related to the gall bladder issues?

Just more questions to ask.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

Let your instructor know, so that if at some point during class you have to stop, he'll probably be okay with that. Aside from that, take your doctor's advice and proceed with caution until you're better.

 

[sword69]

DO NOT have your gall bladder removed unless it is a life and death situation. In 2004 I had part of my large intestine and rectum removed due to a cancerous tumor. In 2006 I had my gall bladder removed due to gall stones. In both cased the doctors told me I would have no complications post surgery and that my digestive system would just adapt. They could not have been more wrong!

There is just no way to tell how your body will react to having something removed. Some people quickly recover and some don't. If I could go back I would be opposed to any surgery unless it was the final option on the table. Best thing is just to get your body healthy and consult multiple professionals that can give you a range of options to get your gall bladder 100%. Don't take any one doctor's consultation as the gospel. Just like jiu-jitsu, there are black belts and then there are black belts. Look for people that are going to give you answers that you can put in to action.

Sorry for the rant guys. I just don't like the idea of being quick to cut stuff out.

 

[shunyata]

Step 1 get medical imaging.

If small stones, sand or simple cholecystitis, observe while making dietary changes.

IE no alcohol low fat etc.

 

[AzRich75]

Ya, I was kind of pissed when my doctor told me that. I kicked the workout and diet into high gear after the first of the year and lost a lot of weight really fast. The whole goal was to get myself into shape so I wouldn't die if I tried jiu jitsu. But ya, long story short, I lost weight too quickly and changed my diet too quickly, and because of that all the bad stuff tried to leave my body all at once when lead to the sludge in the gallbladder. I couldn't believe that even the good stuff I'd done for my body resulted in something rough.

It really isn't so much as the "good stuff" doing something rough to your body, but the much longer time you were doing "bad stuff".

 

[Livenlearn]

DO NOT have your gall bladder removed unless it is a life and death situation. In 2004 I had part of my large intestine and rectum removed due to a cancerous tumor. In 2006 I had my gall bladder removed due to gall stones. In both cased the doctors told me I would have no complications post surgery and that my digestive system would just adapt. They could not have been more wrong!

WHOA. What??? No complications for removing your rectum?

Sorry for the rant guys. I just don't like the idea of being quick to cut stuff out.

You, sir, have nothing to apologize for. You were more 'impassioned speech' than 'rant'.

 

[KarateFist]

you should sit it out until you're better, I don't want some guy to shit himself while I'm rolling with him