Gallbladder stones and other random questions for the brain's trust

[bananafeet]

So I resolved my fatty liver (MAFLD) through the use of semaglutide and weightloss. My liver was moderately infiltrated with fat in Nov 24 now it's of "normal appearance and size" and all my LFT are normal.

However I've become the proud new owner of "multiple mobile gallstones".

My question is as follows:
Has anyone had any luck getting rid of these little buggers? I've looked into UDCA but my doc didn't want to prescribe them.

Supplementary question:
Does anyone know for a fact if reflux on a GLP1-RA is due to LOW or HIGH stomach acid. Taking one of those basic tablets resolved the reflux so does a protien pump inhibitor BUT I'm concerned it could be doing long term harm.

The final question I have is:
Could low/high stomach acid (with reflux) cause accelerated formation of gallbladder stones?

I didn't know what a gallbladder was until last week and I'm not really impressed by the organ to be honest.

 

[gainslol]

Have you looked into TUDCA as opposed to UDCA? That one doesn't need to be prescribed.

I'm trying to figure out the stomach acid thing myself, I suspect it's high stomach acid. The slowed transit is giving me several issues.

 

[Photon]

So I resolved my fatty liver (MAFLD) through the use of semaglutide and weightloss. My liver was moderately infiltrated with fat in Nov 24 now it's of "normal appearance and size" and all my LFT are normal.

However I've become the proud new owner of "multiple mobile gallstones".

My question is as follows:
Has anyone had any luck getting rid of these little buggers? I've looked into UDCA but my doc didn't want to prescribe them.

Supplementary question:
Does anyone know for a fact if reflux on a GLP1-RA is due to LOW or HIGH stomach acid. Taking one of those basic tablets resolved the reflux so does a protien pump inhibitor BUT I'm concerned it could be doing long term harm.

The final question I have is:
Could low/high stomach acid (with reflux) cause accelerated formation of gallbladder stones?

I didn't know what a gallbladder was until last week and I'm not really impressed by the organ to be honest.

Buy UDCA raw powder and cap them yourself. Q sells UDCA tabs if you dare buy from him. I bought quite abit last year.

You can also get TUDCA which may be superior, but more pricey. I would also get raws for those and cap myself. Raws are less than 1/2 of retail prices.

India pharma also has UDCA but not cheap.

PPI should not be taken long term.

 

[bananafeet]

Have you looked into TUDCA as opposed to UDCA? That one doesn't need to be prescribed.

I'm trying to figure out the stomach acid thing myself, I suspect it's high stomach acid. The slowed transit is giving me several issues.

I just take the anti acid

Buy UDCA raw powder and cap them yourself. Q sells UDCA tabs if you dare buy from him. I bought quite abit last year.

You can also get TUDCA which may be superior, but more pricey. I would also get raws for those and cap myself. Raws are less than 1/2 of retail prices.

India pharma also has UDCA but not cheap.

PPI should not be taken long term.

I don't take ppi unless it's really bad. I usually just have some anti acid tablets.

I've looked into UDCA. Waiting to hear from the public hospital re the surgery. Maybe they will offer it as an alternative

 

[lessthanhalf]

Reflux is stomach acid going up into the esophagus, it causes symptoms like heartburn, and sometimes makes it to the mouth where you can taste it. It can also damage the lining of the esophagus, causing ulceration and sometimes bleeding and if severe over decades makes cancer more likely.
GLP medications make the stomach empty more slowly and cause nausea, both are likely to increase reflux. And reflux is a common side effect from them.
If there is symptomatic reflux like heartburn it is safer to treat it with ppi or the older h2 blockers, than to not treat it. Proton pump inhibitors do have some increased risks long term over years especially in the elderly ( mainly increased chances of pneumonia and hip fracture ), but untreated heartburn has risks as well, so the advice to only take them if really needed is not really ideal. if it is causing pain then it is also doing damage, medications like ppi's don't get rid of the reflux they just stop your stomach from making acid so it does not burn other tissues like the esophagus. If you are concerned about the quite small long term risks of ppi therapy then h2 blockers like ranitidine are safer but not as effective.
Gallstones are not related to stomach acid or ppi therapy. They are a very common problem in anyone over about 40, but are extremely common with major weight loss, with chances of getting them of 10-20%. GLP medications increase the chances of this happening as they cause weight loss. Gallstones cause severe pain if they get stuck in a bile duct ( biliary colic ), and can also cause cholecystitis if they block off the exit of the gall bladder, and can also cause pancreatitis. I am not up on the research on trying to dissolve them, generally removing the gall bladder with the stones is going to be needed to prevent the more severe complications and pain from biliary colic.