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Be careful what you put in your body.

Old 04-12-17, 09:44 AM
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Be careful what you put in your body.

Last January I started taking a beetroot supplement. It can lower your blood pressure by fifteen points and it aids in staving off lactic acid in the muscles. Unfortunately there are side effects. It has a profound effect on the gallbladder. I was only taking half the recommended dose and at the end of March I ended up in the emergency room with a gallbladder attack. I am certain it was brought on by the beetroot. They did a blood and urine test as well as a Cat Scan and nothing obvious showed up but I got a call from a doctor the next day who told me to get an ultrasound on the gallbladder because of my symptoms. The ultrasound revealed gall stones which I believe were not there before the beetroot. I have an appointment with a surgeon on Monday. I am feeling much better since discontinuing the beetroot and I am going to lobby the surgeon to see if this issue will resolve on its own. If the surgeon insists that my health depends on the removal of the gallbladder then so be it. Learn from me.
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Old 04-12-17, 10:02 AM
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I doubt that the beetroot caused the stones, which where probably there a long time before. It's possible that they somehow triggered the attack, or it's simply coincidence.

It's also possible that your symptoms will resolve on their own, with or without the beetroot, and unless there's a serious blockage or contraindication, I'd prefer to give it a chance to clear before having a procedure.

FWIW - beets are often used as a natural way to treat gallstone issues, and actually enjoy a decent success rate.
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Old 04-12-17, 10:08 AM
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^ Yup. Google "beetroot gallstones" if you don't believe it.
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Old 04-12-17, 11:48 AM
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I'm 70 so I suppose those gallstones could have been lurking there for awhile. But I have never been one to eat a lot of fatty foods. My dad had his gallbladder out at 55 so I guess I can't complain too much. My brother and two of my daughters are missing theirs as well.
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Old 04-12-17, 12:46 PM
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I've been on a beet root supplement for about 2 months now. I will say this, I have never felt better on the bike. last year I was having shortness of breath and a real rough time on the bike. So far my BP is lower and I feel like I can ride for days without losing my breath. Had to start my wife on it because she can't keep up with me. She typically kicks my behind.

Hope your gall bladder issues get fixed soon.
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Old 04-14-17, 04:43 PM
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Any lower BP and I'd be DOA. At least my resting HR is up to 38bpm from the 32bpm it was before my cancer issues because now I just can't do what I used to do.
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Old 04-15-17, 07:18 PM
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+1 that vegetable juice, including beetroot, is not among the causes of gallstones, nor likely to trigger an attack.
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Old 04-15-17, 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Ray9
I'm 70 so I suppose those gallstones could have been lurking there for awhile. But I have never been one to eat a lot of fatty foods. My dad had his gallbladder out at 55 so I guess I can't complain too much. My brother and two of my daughters are missing theirs as well.
It sounds like you have a family history of gallstones.

Probably just coincidental, although one can never be sure.

You had surgery, right? So go ahead and take all the supplement you want
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Old 04-15-17, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Ray9
I'm 70 so I suppose those gallstones could have been lurking there for awhile. But I have never been one to eat a lot of fatty foods. My dad had his gallbladder out at 55 so I guess I can't complain too much. My brother and two of my daughters are missing theirs as well.
Don't you think a genetic link might be more of a factor than the beetroot?

Anyway, these take time to develop, so it's hard to chalk them up to any recent change.
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Old 04-16-17, 08:20 PM
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For me, it's eggs. Eggs set off my gallbladder.
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Old 04-17-17, 01:48 PM
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I saw a surgeon today and he said it's a 50-50 shot that the beetroot triggered the attack. The good news is that there is no inflammation in my gallbladder. He said I probably passed the stone the same night I went to the emergency room. The stone gets stuck in a bile duct and can raise havoc with the gallbladder if too much pressure builds up. It can lead to infection and fever. He said I should have it out and I said I want to wait until the fall. I told him I will avoid fatty foods and if I get any symptoms I will have it out right away. He said "you're the boss". He also talked me into getting another colonoscopy.
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Old 04-17-17, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Ray9
I saw a surgeon today and he said it's a 50-50 shot that the beetroot triggered the attack. The good news is that there is no inflammation in my gallbladder. He said I probably passed the stone the same night I went to the emergency room. The stone gets stuck in a bile duct and can raise havoc with the gallbladder if too much pressure builds up. It can lead to infection and fever. He said I should have it out and I said I want to wait until the fall. I told him I will avoid fatty foods and if I get any symptoms I will have it out right away. He said "you're the boss". He also talked me into getting another colonoscopy.
Welcome to the wonderful world of being a cash cow.

Hopefully, this will be a dim memory come the fall.
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Old 04-17-17, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
For me, it's eggs. Eggs set off my gallbladder.
My daughter had hers out and she still can't eat eggs. Eggs don't bother my gallbladder but pizza is what set off the attack.
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Old 04-17-17, 05:36 PM
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There are quite a few sites that tout beet root and beet juice as a cure for gall stones. My BP was about155/95 and after a week of 100% beet juice cut with lemon juice it was down to 130/80 where it has stayed. About 4 oz a day. Never felt better.
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Old 04-19-17, 05:34 AM
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I'm going to go ahead and say that it's pretty silly to blame a vegetable for these issues and warn others about it. I've had beets and/or beetroot powder in smoothies all the time for years. Along with kelp and seaweed and carrots and spinach and all sorts of stuff that would taste nasty eating on their own.

Last edited by rubiksoval; 04-19-17 at 05:39 AM.
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Old 04-19-17, 07:13 AM
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While I don't think beetroots attributed to the issue, I do think that your statement "be careful what you put in your body" is very relevant. So many people blindly take unregulated dietary/nutritional supplements. It's very common to have supplements contain ingredients that they shouldn't or don't list. There have been many examples where you buy something, but that ingredient isn't even in the product at all! Supplement companies are solely on the honor system, and consumers blindly put that stuff in their body.
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Old 04-21-17, 06:03 AM
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I am always wary of what I use and the supplements, I got offered a free sample of this yesterday () but never heard of it. Do people know what it is?
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Old 04-24-17, 07:46 AM
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I had another attack Saturday and this time developed dark urine-a sure sign your gallbladder is limping. I'm seeing the surgeon Wed. to sign the consent forms. I am rejecting the beetroot as the primary cause as there is a family history of gallbladder issues in my DNA. I wanted to hold off but there is no sense in just getting worse. My gallbladder will probably be gone before the weekend.
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Old 05-05-17, 06:27 AM
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The gallbladder is gone. It was the wisest move. I was meticulously managing my diet and feeling good the day of the surgery but the alternatives were less than convincing. He asked when I wanted it out and I said asap. He fit me in eight days later. The stitches are not giving me any pain by my right shoulder hurts because as the nurse told me the gas they inflate you with for laparoscopic operations irritates a nerve in the shoulder. Oxycodone and Motrin are working but the Oxy knocks me sideways.
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Old 05-07-17, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by rubiksoval
I'm going to go ahead and say that it's pretty silly to blame a vegetable for these issues and warn others about it. I've had beets and/or beetroot powder in smoothies all the time for years. Along with kelp and seaweed and carrots and spinach and all sorts of stuff that would taste nasty eating on their own.
I don't know if the beetroot caused his problem but it's a fact that people react very differently to the same food. Some people are deadly allergic to peanuts - even a trace amount, others can scarf them by the handful with no problem.
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Old 05-08-17, 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Robert P
I don't know if the beetroot caused his problem but it's a fact that people react very differently to the same food. Some people are deadly allergic to peanuts - even a trace amount, others can scarf them by the handful with no problem.
So again, silly to say "it's this" and warn other people to stay away.

You don't typically get on a forum and tell everybody to stay away from peanuts because you had a problem with them.
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Old 05-08-17, 07:38 AM
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I'm giving it a 50-50 shot that the beetroot may have dislodged the stones that were in my gallbladder. It's irrelevant now but the surgeon told me that a significant portion of the population has gallstones with no symptoms. I may even start using the beetroot again because it has blood pressure lowering effects. I'm 70. Those stones were probably there for decades.
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Old 05-08-17, 09:33 AM
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While I highly doubt any correlation between beets and gall stones, I suppose anything is possible. If you go to a surgeon for advice, they will almost always recommend surgery for treatment.
My experience with beets has always been positive and there are many health reasons to eat or drink beets. Some include high fiber, BP reduction from the "nitric oxide" relaxing the veins and carry more O2 to the muscles.
Beets are also natures Viagra, and might help those that are having problems. I have found the best way to enjoy beets is to eat them as a salad with apple cider vinegar dressing. Google ACV and see how that can help your body naturally.
Ray9, please continue to post your post surgery results and adjusted diet. Removing the gallbladder means diet restrictions to many.
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Old 05-16-17, 09:35 AM
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I saw the surgeon today for a follow-up on my gallbladder surgery on My 4th. Age: 70, Ht.: 5'5, weight: 140, PR: 47, BP: 120/80, Oxy content: 99%, Temp: 98.6. I made the nurse write it all down. I'm kind of anal that way and my wife who was in the examining room with me rolled her eyes. The surgeon looked at my stiches and said they are healing well. He poked around on my gut to see that I had no painful spots and said I'm doing fine. He looked at my reducible inguinal hernia on the right side and said if I was twelve he would recommend operating but because it gives me no pain and I have had it for a long time it's better just to wait and watch.

I told him I want to ride my bike and he said to wait another week because riding a bike uses the core and it still needs some healing time. He said it's ok to ride my seated indoor incumbent though because my back is supported. I've decided to heed his words so even though I really want to get out there in the fresh air I have a fan in front of the door while I ride. I started taking the Beetroot again as well.

The first week all I wanted to do was sleep and the surgeon said that is normal because that's how the body heals. I'm feeling much more energetic now and the rest of the week it is going to be in 80's and 90's. I recorded the Tour of California and will watch it while I ride today. I started taking the Beetroot again as well.

Last edited by Ray9; 05-16-17 at 09:49 AM. Reason: added content.
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Old 05-16-17, 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Ray9
I saw the surgeon today for a follow-up on my gallbladder surgery on My 4th..........................
A bit longer waiting and then back to biking.
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