Existing gallstones and Mounjaro

[MerryChristmasYaFilthyAnimals]

Ive tried searching through the threads to see if this has been posted but I can't find it.

I've already got gallstones, I suspect from a previous attempt at 1:2:1 diet. I had an episode of biliary colic and thought I was dying, I've never known pain like it. I was scanned for stones but got a rubbish consultant who just talked over me and said remove my gallbladder. But it's not triggered very often. I had a bout last week but it's generally fine no matter what I eat.

I know I can start on Mounjaro with gallstones, but obviously a side effect is it worsening with taking it.
I'm just wondering if anyone has started this already being in a position of having gallstones and how it's gone for you?
I'm so close to going for it, I'm feeling miserable with my weight currently, but just wanted to ask for people's experience.

I don't think you can start with gallbladder issues as it's one of the questions they ask to rule out customers who may have potential bigger side effects and end up in hospital.

(I could be wrong, sorry if I am).

I was already taking it and then my gallstones were found. I don't know if it triggered it.
I have stopped the injection now as it just felt too risky.

Your gallstones wont go away and they'll only cause you more and more problems, so the surgeon was only suggesting what they always do, surgery to remove the gallbladder.
And weight loss in any form makes them worse.
I couldn't live with the fear of another biliary colic episode, so was only too glad to get it removed.
I don't think you'll get it prescribed with existing gallstones.

I've gone through all the question sets. You can take it with gallstones. (Or that seems to be the case so far), I got to the ordering part. But I may be wrong.
@Snozzlemaid i do know they will get worse, but at the moment they are less than a few occasions a year and only twice have been agony. And I haven't changed my diet as in I still eat fatty things etc.

I have just triple checked. You can have it so long as BMI is over 27, which mine is. I'm at 40.

I just wondered if anyone else had started with them.
@Sunshineandrainbow thats a massive shame for you.

I'd be wary of doing it so that it doesn't trigger a bad episode since it's already one of the side effects. However you can try if you really want to and just stay aware of any bad reactions and stop immediately or go to the hospital.

Thanks @InItToLoseIt I think they recommend staying on a lower dose and doing it more gradually. Which I'd be fine with.
I think in reality my gallbladder will get removed at some point anyway, bonus for the surgery if I'm a couple of stone lighter, but equally biliary colic is so so painful.

I have existing gallstones and honest in my answers, I had a bmi of 39. I was prescribed it, no bother. I have been taking it since September and losing at a rate of 2 to 3 pounds per week. I think losing at this steady pace and no big loss each week, has contributed to experiencing no pain with gallstones. Good luck

I'm not sure that anyone will be able to give you any useful anecdotes because it's one of those situations where it could go one of a number of ways and they're all about as likely as the other.

The absolute shitty irony of gallstones is they can get worse if you lose weight and they can get worse if you gain weight, both have the same level of likelihood of worsening the situation.

I they become an emergency if they move and block your bile duct and won't come loose, but that could happen at any given moment and with no defined trigger.

I ended up having my gallbladder out on an emergency basis a few years ago because the one great big stone that I'd got became thoroughly lodged in place and caused an infection.

Thanks @Diarygirlqueen that's really helpful. Do you mind me asking what dose you are on?

@InfoSecInTheCity i get that completely, I suppose I'm just working out if everyone who starts with them ends up in a mess (whilst it's not scientific) it makes me more likely it will happen. Ultimately I'm rubbish at dieting and if I don't do this then I'll likely do 1:2:1 again which is not ideal either. I've definitely had a couple of stones pass through and they are agony so I feel pain.

I have a gallstone. I think I had two attacks pre diagnosis, about 10+ yrs ago. Now and then he might have given me a little sensitivity and a gurgle but nothing more in all that time. I have been on MJ since Aug and have had no issues with my gallbladder. I am sticking with 5mg pens for as long as they work.

I'm now on 7.5mg, will move up to 10mg in 2 weeks. Very little side effects and no pain from gallstones, touch wood.

Hi, try to, as already mentioned lose weight steadily and not fast. Avoid fat and keep your fibre high.
You should be okay.

Please excuse me for asking but how would someone know if they had gallstones? Is it a specific type of pain or are there other signs?

@BrownJenkins for me I had a few pains on my right hand side, under my rib cage. Felt bloated and thought it was trapped wind etc. always happened around 1am for me. Had a time or two where nothing touched it pain relief wise and it eased up. Then one day absolute agony, far worse than when I gave birth, I was doing full pregnancy breathing through the pain, it radiated up between my shoulder blades. I rang 111 after a night of it, ended up getting scanned and it was confirmed. The pain is when a stone travels through your bile ducts. If it gets stuck it's emergency surgery. Mine passed through and oh just was tender for a few days. Had some minor grumbles but ibuprofen always sorts it. One episode last week that was agony for about twenty mins and fine since, so again assuming it's passed. I get shooting pains where my gall bladder is, and then pain into my back, diaphragm and shoulder blades.

I have gallstones but not had an attack for a couple of years. I’m 4 months in on Monjaro and at 7.5. Loosing at about 1.5 lbs a week ( 2 at beginning , 1 now) .
the low fat, low carb more protein diet I’m following I think will help as it was too much fat that set them off. I too refused the removal op ( about 14 years ago) and just cut down on fat. ( but not sugar so hence I started at 15 and half stone ) . I weighed in at 12 12 this morning a weight I haven’t seen for probably 20 years. .
As others have said go slow , go low Sat fat and keep on as low dose as possible that is effective. ( I’m staying on 7.5 next pen) .
good luck .

@MerryChristmasYaFilthyAnimals Thank you for taking the time to reply. It sounds awful. At least you can get relief with Ibuprofen.

I was diagnosed with gallstones around 12 years ago (I gasped at my ultra-sound - it looked like a grab bag of Maltesers!). I have never had an "attack", but the odd niggle now and again. I attribute my gallstones to too many low fat diets over the years - the gallbladder functions to manage fats in your diet. Healthy fats go hand in hand with a healthy gallbladder.
Anyway, I stick to keto these days - high fat, moderate protein and low carbs and no sugar. I take a lot of supplements to support my liver and gallbladder and so far so good on MJ (3 months, 30 pounds lost).
I am so upset that low fat diets were enforced upon me and I wish I had never gone down that route, but like so many, we were all told fat is bad!
For me, if I over-indulge on sugar or eat too many carbs, my gallbladder niggles - so it is a sure fired way to keep off the sugar! Hope this helps.

I've got gallstones and waiting for surgery for 2 years when I was diagnosed with them after an episode of biliary colic . I've been on Mounjaro since June and no issues with gallbladder pain or even niggles. I've lost 5 stone and due to start reducing my dose now as I get close to a healthy BMI. Which will make surgery less risky for me. I was having occasional flare ups before I started but no since.

Would you mind sharing what supplements you use please? That sounds really positive.

And I've just ordered my first pens now.

Hi @MerryChristmasYaFilthyAnimals
how are you getting on with the MJ?

@Inyournewdress I'm absolutely fine (touching wood!) I've been on it for nearly 15 weeks now. I'm losing 1lb per week steadily after the initial drop and I've nearly lost 2 stone. I get an occasional grumble from my gall bladder, but I had that before anyway and it's more of a twinge and gone.
I'm concious even at the height of suppression to eat regularly even it's small
amounts, and I've only gone up to a 3.75mg dose so far (which is luckily working great for me).
In reality the size/weight I was and with the diet I was eating I was likely to have an attack anyway, at least this way I'll be thinner if I get around to surgery.

I am so sorry, I realise I never replied to your question. Please look up "Stone Free" (Jarrow supplements). It is wonderful - read the reviews. Chanca piadra is also great (supplements or you can buy tea). I also take Milk Thistle religiously. Holland and Barratt do a great effervescent tablet that makes a lovely drink - making it easy to take it daily.

Anything good for the liver is good for the gallbladder. I don't eat bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc (I eat keto; plenty healthy fats, protein, lot's of veg...) I avoid sugar and that keeps my gallbladder in check while on MJ. Weightloss slowed down now, but am 3.5 stones down (roughly half a stone/7 lbs a month which I am happy with).

That’s great news @MerryChristmasYaFilthyAnimals !