Gallbladder removal

[Guest guest]

I am being sent back to the GI specialist in San Francisco who

aspirated my pseudocyst. When I was there last I asked him what the

next step would be if I didn't feel better after my pseudocyst

procedure. He told me that perhaps taking out my Gallbladder might be a

good idea. I'm not so sure about this. They have not found any stones

or sludge in any of the tests they have run.

I guess what I'm asking is: have any of the people in the group who had

their gallbladder removed, seen a marked improvement? I just don't want

to have this surgery and not see a huge improvement. I would really

appreciate your input.

Thanks

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonday,

Personally I didn't get a marked improvement after having my

gallbladder out...but then my pancreatitis was caused by a

surgery gone bad so it was a stretch to think that it would. The

surgeon had palpated numerous stones in my gallbladder in the

emergency abdominal surgery that I had but he was unable to

remove it at the time due to the infection in my abdomen. He

advised that I have it removed as soon as I recovered sufficiently

to take a third sugery. Then when I didn't recover as expected, he

really pressured me into having the surgery. I do not really regret

it because it was just one of the steps that they had to do to get

to the the proper diagnosis of having a sick pancreas. I just wish

that it didn't seem so barbaric to remove one organ at a time to

see what the result will be........

I think there is a recent poster here that was helped quite a bit by

having her gallbladder removed after being in considerable

distress for a year or more (I think it was Jen in Canada but I do

not want to speak for her, I just mention her name because

maybe she will respond to you if I am correct in thinking that she

was helped).

It is not unreasonable for your doctor to suggest having your

gallbladder removed as tests for stones and sludge may not be

100% accurate. That is, finding sludge by imaging studies or by

collecting bile fluid for microscopic analysis is prone to false

negatives so sometimes the only thing your doctors have to offer

you is one of those " let's do it and see what happens " type of

advice. Seems crude but oftentimes that is all they have to offer.

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

No, I didn't get much improvement from having my GB removed, but we

think that a messed up GB surgery caused my pancreatitis...which went

undiagnosed for 3 years. We now know I was suffering from SOD before

hand so with me it's hard to tell what really went wrong first. But I

have known several people who had their GB removed and only 2 people

never had another problem again. But both those people had it removed

the old fashioned way. Big scar and all. Sorta wish thats the way they

did mine after all this time.

Who is your doctor in SF?

Sandy in Ca

Rhonda wrote:

>

>I guess what I'm asking is: have any of the people in the group who had

>their gallbladder removed, seen a marked improvement? I just don't want

>to have this surgery and not see a huge improvement.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Your docotor may be trying to find the easiest solution to a difficult

problem. Often removing the gallbladder is the first line of defense

and can eliminate a possible cause. I have had mine removed and it

didn't help. However I do know many people who have had it removed and

received a tremendous amount of relief. Yes, Jen from Canada was one.

My brother in law had a terrible acute pancreatic attack, had his

removed 10 years ago and has not had a bit of trouble since. A

girlfriend of mine is another. aka: goutbuster is right also, a

lot of gallbladder problems can not be seen on the standard testing.

While they are in there maybe they can get a visual of your pancreas as

well. Possible biopsy.

Hope this helps,

He told me that perhaps taking out my Gallbladder might be a

> good idea. I'm not so sure about this. They have not found any stones

> or sludge in any of the tests they have run. I guess what I'm asking

is: have any of the people in the group who had their gallbladder

removed, seen a marked improvement?

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I've had my gall-bladder removed which had a significant number of stones and

was the cause of my severe acute pancreatitis. Since its removal, like the

doctors said, I'm doing fine and back to the normal life; i just sometimes have

mild digestive problems, however i strictly dont drink alcohol and try to

consume as low fat diet as i can.

I've found your problem different than mine; i didnt have cysts, So, i'm not

sure if removal of gall-bladder helps or to what extent but i've read some of

the stories where i've found people doing better after removal of their gall

bladder.

Please ask your doctor how does removal of gallbladder help, take advice from

other members of this board, and other informative sources and make a perfect

decision.

I wish you to have better days ahead.

Rupesh Parajuli

Nepal Chapter

Pancreatitis Association International (PAI)

Post Box No: 13946, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-4479627, Fax: 977-1-4476878/4460560

Mobile: 977-9851078750

rupesh_parajuli@...

www.pancassociation.org

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I started on my surgical journey back in 1977 when I had my Gall

Bladder removed during exploratory surgery. This was performed due

to

the symptoms I was complaining of while all of the tests I underwent

at the time

failed to show a problem. Once it was removed however, they did fine

that my Gall Bladder was " diseased " and needed to come out. They

also

thought that this would relieve my symptoms, but as you already know

this was not the case since I had Chronic Pancreatits this entire

time. Yet, my Gall Baldder did need removing so, did I do the right

thing at the time? Who knows.

Rhonda, don't always go by the tests that the doctors have developed

to

determine what is wrong with an individual for I've come to learn

that

these tests are seriously flawed in some cases. If I were going

strictly

off

of my test results over the years, I'd still have all of my organs

but

doubt that I'd still be alive for, if the illness wouldn't have

killed me, I

would have done so. A person can only live with so much pain,

especially when he is the only one who belives that he is

symptomatic, which was the case with me until I received my diagnosis

of Pancreas Divisum in 1988.

Rhonda, good luck with your decision and let us know how things

progress.

Andre'

>

> I am being sent back to the GI specialist in San Francisco who

> aspirated my pseudocyst. When I was there last I asked him what the

> next step would be if I didn't feel better after my pseudocyst

> procedure. He told me that perhaps taking out my Gallbladder might

be

a

> good idea. I'm not so sure about this. They have not found any

stones

> or sludge in any of the tests they have run.

> I guess what I'm asking is: have any of the people in the group who

had

> their gallbladder removed, seen a marked improvement? I just don't

want

> to have this surgery and not see a huge improvement. I would really

> appreciate your input.

> Thanks

> Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I'm beginning to think I have SOD, but I'm not sure. How did you know

you had SOD?(symptoms, tests etc).

My Dr in SF is Dr Binmoeller he works out of " California

Pacific Medical Center " He's the one who drained my pseudocyst. I go

see him on May 4th. The Dr I am/was seeing in Redding is Dr Spinka.

(I was not very impressed by him) Why did you think it would have been

better to have the big cut to remove your GB?

Thank you group for the great input.

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

The only people I know that have a GB removal and come out of it

unscathed (without any bouts of pancreatitis) are the ones who didn't

have the GB removal laprascopically. I think that some things are meant

to be done a certain way for a certain reason.

I think someone else on this board sees a doctor out of CPMC. I have

heard good things about there. Unfortunately, my medical doesn't allow

me to go there. I am seeing Dr. Ostroff at UCSF. He's arrogant and I

really do not care much for him but from what I understand and from

doing research, I almost can't have a better, more knowledgeable doctor

than he, within my medical plan. But I do admit that I only see him now

when I absolutely HAVE to. We do not see eye to eye on treating CP and

that bothers me that he will only treat you the way he wants and not the

way you also decide.

I was sent to Stanford to confirm CP and it was there during an ERCp

with monometry that it was confirmed I have SOD. I am having a slight

attack right now but am handling it well. It feels different for

everyone but I get a tightening in my chest and my back, sorta like a

mini heart attack. I feel like I want to burp (as if that would really

help) but you just feel the need to. It also feels alot like colic.

Laying down is BAD for this. I like to sit up and rock. I have also

found out that drinking something ICE cold helps with this pain as well

as the pancreatic pain. There are many more symptoms that I am not

saying at this moment but right now those are the ones bothering me the

most. Until it starts making my pancreas hurt. If this doesn't subside

I will have to take a pain pill in a bit.

I have been lucky to only have CP and SOD. I haven't had problems with

cysts...yet. I just posted that I passed my three year anniversary. No

hospitals, surgeries or ER visits. I wondered how many other people

have gone this long. And I wonder how much longer I will be able to

stay away from those places. I have daily pain. Some days MORE painful

than others.

Thursday my best friend took me to lunch. I thought I ate ok. About 20

minutes later the pain started. Every few minutes I was gasping during

a sentence or grabbing my pancreas or stopping in the middle of walking

because the pain was that intense. Now, my friends know to stop

walking if I have to because of pain, but they know to keep on talking

to help me focus on something else and not the pain. But the pain was

bad. So my friend said, " Thats it!! I'm not feeding you anymore. Only

water. I can't handle this pain! " LOL!!! It lightened the moment for

sure and made me giggle.

She never knew what this pain REALLY was like until she started pharmacy

school and asked her professor about CP. She called me that same night

and apologized to me for not realizing just how intense and painful this

really gets. That has only happened 1 other time when my husbands aunt

(a retired nurse) had her first acute pancreatic attack. She also

called and apologized to me for not understanding the depth of this pain

and what we go through. That meant so much to me, it made me cry.

Didn't mean to go on and on. Talking and typing helps during an pain

attack. Hope some of what I said helps. If you are going to have an

ERCp, then ask for a monometry to be done as well. They are already

there and it doesn't take that much extra time. If they find you have

high pressure readings, they will do a cut to relieve them. It is

supposed to be a 80-90% pain reduction or symptom free way of making

that better. Sometimes it lasts for as long as ever, and sometimes the

SOD returns. I enjoyed a 1 year hiatus from this but it did come back. I

choose NOT to have anymore surgery unless it's life threatening so I can

spend as much time with my son as possible. Thats what is most

important to me at this time.

Please let me know what your doctor says on your appointment.

Sandy in Ca

Rhonda wrote:

>Sandy,

>

>I'm beginning to think I have SOD, but I'm not sure. How did you know

>you had SOD?(symptoms, tests etc).

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I have been considering going to Stanford. How did they treat you

there. Did you feel like another sheep being herded around or was it

more personal than that? If the Dr in SF doesn't give me the answers I

need I may wind up going there.

I really appreciate your input.

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

Besides it being so far away, if my medical would have let me I would

have stayed there forever!! It is out of network for me but UCSF

couldn't get me into to see anyone for something like 6 months.

Stanford got me in right away. I was diagnosed with CP and suspected

SOD before I ever got there from the records and tests that were sent

ahead. I loved being at Stanford.

Sandy in Ca

Rhonda wrote:

>Sandy,

>I have been considering going to Stanford. How did they treat you

>there. Did you feel like another sheep being herded around or was it

>more personal than that?

>

>

[Guest guest]

> Rhonda,

>

> The only people I know that have a GB removal and come out of it

> unscathed (without any bouts of pancreatitis) are the ones who didn't

> have the GB removal laprascopically.

Sandy and Rhonda,

I for one am the exception to this rule. I had my GB out the old

fashion way back in 1989 (before Lap choles were the norm).

After that surgery I never got better. Had continued pain and elevated

Liver function test. Local Drs could not come up with any thing and

after so many years, I finally gave up and went to MUSC, I was

diagnosed with SOD by having ERCP done. Had a flare of Acute Panc.

after 2 different ERCPs so know I have CP.(Dx in 2002)

Was the GB surgery the reason? Who knows ? But just wanted you to know

that there is an exception to the rule.

Hope that you are doing well.

Take care,

Cyndi in York, SC

[Guest guest]

I has the exact same problem. i had prancireatitis

since i was 4 years old but doctors didn't diagnize as

pancreatits. usally i had stomache and back pain for 2

or 3 days and it goes aways for 6 months or so.

after i came to south dakota usa. docter i went see

said i have pancriatitus and it's the problem with the

Gallbaldder and then removed the gallbalder i was ok

for about 6 months and i got the pain again. now it's

much wose than before now i have back pain all the

time and it doesn't go away no i take pain medication

all the time.

my new docter did another ercp and found out there are

some stone in my pancratic dock and i am planning to

do shock theorpy to remove stones.

i think removing my gallbadder make things wore in my

case but don't know for sure.

Thanks,

Hiran

--- Jannello wrote:

>

>

> > Rhonda,

> >

> > The only people I know that have a GB removal and

> come out of it

> > unscathed (without any bouts of pancreatitis) are

> the ones who didn't

> > have the GB removal laprascopically.

>

>

>

> Sandy and Rhonda,

>

> I for one am the exception to this rule. I had my GB

> out the old

> fashion way back in 1989 (before Lap choles were the

> norm).

>

> After that surgery I never got better. Had continued

> pain and elevated

> Liver function test. Local Drs could not come up

> with any thing and

> after so many years, I finally gave up and went to

> MUSC, I was

> diagnosed with SOD by having ERCP done. Had a flare

> of Acute Panc.

> after 2 different ERCPs so know I have CP.(Dx in

> 2002)

>

> Was the GB surgery the reason? Who knows ? But just

> wanted you to know

> that there is an exception to the rule.

>

> Hope that you are doing well.

>

> Take care,

>

> Cyndi in York, SC

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Sandy and Ronda

I had a lap Choly and I have never recovered have had pancreatitis for

6 years,

sandy I had 2 ercps with spincterotomies. Is there a way that they can

test me to for SOD as you describe excatly what i get and I have to

eat mylanta and gaviscon to counter it.'''

debs

[Guest guest]

All of my GI woes began when I, too, had my gallbladder removed.

The procedure was a surgical success, but I just never got better.

In fact, I went into a downhill spin for years.

[Guest guest]

Ellen

what happened after you gall bladder removal? and what do you mean you

never got better?

Debs

[Guest guest]

Although my procedure was a success in that my gallbladder was removed

without incident or surgical complication, I was not able to leave the

hospital for nearly ten days because of uncontrollable diarrhea, one

of the problems with which I was admitted. Again, that was twelve

years ago.

And, after those twelve years, I'm still dealing with abdominal pain,

nausea, vomiting and the awful runs.

I was told that the gallbladder surgery would end all of that.

It never did. And my health has been deteriorating over the years

because of the pancreatitis.

That chronic pancreatitis has been taking a huge toll on my

bone marrow. The years of constant inflammation have led

to a chronic anemia and iron malabsorption for which I

have been uner treatment for a very long time.

-Ellen

I rely on myriad medications to " manage " all of that.