Shocker!! Galllbladder screwed up...seeing surgeon

[Tinker]

Well, what's next???  My whole body is falling apart.  Since I've had nausea of eating for such a long time, I mentioned this to my neuro and he sent me for the gallbladder u/s. 
Nurse called yesterday and tells me my common bile duct is 10 mm and they are sening me to a surgeon.  Now, I've done some reading on this......I'm thinking more tests should be done before I submit to surgery.  Right?  Second opinions are always good.

What scares me is there is  no sign of a stone.  Maybe sludge but no stone.  what I read is that either a stone has already passed or the opening is blocked with a stone, tumor, or    With my history of breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer in my young cousin who died, I'm a little nervous.

This surgeon is a gen. surgeon.  He may be the greatest but don't you think I should see a GI guy?  What is he gets in there and finds a tumor?  He could screw it up worse.
I might feel better but after my experinece in the hospitl 2 wks ago I'm not anxious to go back.  It's the most frightening thinng I can think of. 

Question:  Who has had their gallbladder removed due to nausea and an enlarged common bile duct with not stones seen? I can't eat much and have to eat small meals.  Can't eat anything spicy ...it has to be baln.

[Tinker]

That's bland...couldn't see what I was writing as I was using too much space.  I can't see very well anywy after night time meds.  sorry

[BonusMom]

Tinker-

When I first had symptoms of gastroparesis, the Gi did an abdominal xray that showed one stone.  He sent me to a general surgeon because he said the stone would never dissolve on its own and I was a sitting duck for a gallbladder attack. Plus, it might alleviate the feeling of fullness after eating a couple of bites and the nausea and vomiting I was experiencing.

The surgery was, by far, the easiest procedure I've ever had.  Surgery done as outpatient on Thurs. and I was back to work on Monday.

Unfortunately, the gallbladder had nothing to do with the gastroparesis so removal didn't alleviate my symptoms.

There's no reason to see a GI prior to having the gallbladder removed. If it is diseased, the surgeon can explain to you why he feels it best to take it out vs leaving it in.

Please don't  panic.  Removal of the gallbladder is very common.  I understand your relative's having had pancreatic cancer, but I don't think cancer of the gallbladder is common, whereas gallbladder disease is VERY common.

[Daisy1234]

Hi Tinker:

I had the same experience as Bonusmom.  I had my gallbladder out under a Laproscopic procedure which is day surgery only, but I too only had a couple of very small stones, but since my symptoms were being caused by Gastroparesis and Spasms of my Stomach and Esophagus and so they did not improve after gallbladder removal.

I was back to work in a week after the surgery and found it overall a very easy procedure to undergo.  I would suggest that you tell the anesthesiologist that you have Sjogrens so that they put something in your eyes and your mouth to keep it from getting too dry during the procedure and during your recovery.  As well, I always tell the anesthesiologist to add something into the anesthetic so that I don't get a sick stomach from it and that I have found very helpful as well.

Try to take things if possible as they come not as they might be.  I too have a family history of cancer and heart disease, as well as early mortality and am currently having a biopsy in a couple of weeks to check for lymphoma so I understand the "shoes" you are wearing right now and am empathetic.  Will be pulling for you that all goes well.

Hugs,
Daisy

[Scottietottie]

Hi Tinker 

I have a sister in law with various autoimmune conditions but not SjS. She did, however, have problems with her gallbladder. She felt nauseous frequently - she got pain and over a period of time it got steadily worse.

She was scanned - no sign of stones - so she was advised to change her diet a bit and get on with it. She got sicker and sicker and eventually her daughter insisted she went to A&E/ER to be seen to.

They did an exploratory op to see if they could work out the problem and had her permission to remove her gallbladder via keyhole surgery if it looked necessary. In the event the gallbladder was considerably bigger than they expected it to be and wouldn't fit through the keyhole.

They took it out leaving her with a bigger scar than she had bargained on! Apparently it was full of sludge - no stones - no cancer - but not functioning. She has felt soooo much better since its removal.

Good luck with yours.
Take care - Scottie 

[Seeker]

G'day Tinker.  The Gall Bladder it the turbo charger of the digestive system.  It injects extra bile into your digestive tract when needed.  When the Bile ducts of the Gall Bladder get blocked, by stones, sludge or other reasons, all sorts of problems can happen.  One of the most common ways to solve the problem, is removal of the Gall Bladder.   

It use to be considered a major surgery, because you had to be opened up.  It also left you with a large scar.  Plus you had to spend several days in the hospital.  Now its an easy procedure with minimal complications.  They will biopsy the tissue to make sure there is no hidden problems.  You may need to watch your diet, but you should notice a world of difference.  Hope every thing will go well.

Seeker

[Cheryl]

Tinker,
I had no stones, just a sudden severe attack.   My surgeon said the gallbladder was "acute," whatever that means.  Removal gave immediate relief.   Good luck!
Cheryl

[Tinker]

Thanks, everyone.
I am the one with the cancer history...breast 11 yrs. ago.  Everything credible site I read said I should have additional tests run.  I'm not crazy about getting cut on again.  It seems I just get out of one mess and into another.  Ugh. I am hoping that if I do need surgery, that the nausea will go away.  I'm really nauseated right now and tried peppermint but it didn't work.  So, took 12 mg. promethazine and that didn't help either.  Gonna give it some more time.

Yeah, I'm expecting this to be laprascopic...not the full cut.  I want out of that place as soon as I wake up and see how the pain is.  I certainly don't want to spend the nite cause I don't trust them not to underdose or overdose me.  Ya know?

Thanks for all your help. 

[Scottietottie]

Hi Tinker 

I remember when I joined this site round about 2004 and I went into chat one night and was talking to a guy who had had his gall bladder removed THAT DAY!! He said he wa sfeeling pretty good under the circumstances.
I was amazed. I hope you don't need it out - but if you do - I know you will feel the better of it.

Take care - Scottie 

[irish]

Tinker, I don't know what tests you have had done, but if they do a scan of some type and can see that the lay of the land is not within the normal measurements they can be pretty sure that there is a problem. You might be full of sludge, you might have a gallbladder that isn't functioning up to par, etc.

The gallbladder is a hard organ to nail down sometimes. The scans don't always show anything but yet when the docs get in there they can see a reason for the symptoms. If you were told you need your gallbladder out and are being send to a general surgeon you can rest assured that he has removed a boatload of gallbladders.

Also, he is not going to take your gallbladder out if he doesn't think that it needs to be removed. He reviews the same tests/scans that were done. He may order more himself. The GP doesn't always order extra tests as he doesn't know just what the surgeon wants done. Every surgeon is different.

Go to the surgeon. Tell him your cancer history and your fears and just see what happens. Chances are this is a plain old fashioned gallbladder problem. There is nothing you can change by worrying. Gallbladder cancer is rare so just play it cool and do what has to be done and do the worrying later---if you,in fact, need to worry at all. Good luck. Irish

[JGiacinda]

Hi Tinker,

I had my gallbladder out a few years ago.  The gastroenterologist called it "biliary dyskenisia".  Apparently, bile was unable to pass through the bile duct when I had a HYDA scan with injection.  Eventually, I went to another gastroenterologist who discovered that I had a severe case of Irritible Bowel Syndrome that may have contributed to the gallbladder issues.  I was also in a major flare and had not been treated for my AI yet so I stayed two days in the hospital.  Despite that, it was so nice not to go through that kind of pain and difficulty with eating.

I hope you feel better soon!

Gia

[Tinker]

Thanks everyone.  Yeah, I'm not too worried about the surgery itself. The laparscopic method will be a piece of cake.  That's not really what's worrying me.  It just seems more tests should be run before I get cut.  I do have IBS, I do have a hx of cancer, but no pain that is typical of gallbladder pain.  Just nausea after eating. The only test I've had is an ultrasound that showed 10 mm enlargement of the common bile duct.  No stones.  So something is blocking the exit of the bile (either a large stone??? or a tumor, according to my research.) 

I was sent to a general surgeon by a neurologist...not a G.I. guy. I wonder what this gen surgeon might screw up if he gets in there and finds a tumor?

You guys don't know my terrible luck with medical issues.  I'm used to the worst but always hoping for the best.  I'm the one who had her breasts removed to prevent cancer after my 3 sisters and mom got cancer (3 died.)  Then, 4 yrs. later, I get cancer in left breast.  10 days later at final pathology,  it is revealed they found two tumors , couldn't go back in to get clean margins cause  2nd recon was done,  and it was the most aggressive kind of ca.   Also, got a major complication after 12 hrs. of recon surgery and had emergency surgery  (4 hrs.) at midnight to remove a blood clot in the new boob.  Got a major infection in the breast post=op. Just about everything that could go wrong did.  And there was the hysterectomy ...almost died due to an overdose of phenergan (pulse ox of 56)and my husband woke up and saved my life.  There's more....just hitting the highlights!  ha

Ok, maybe I've earned my stripes,  huh?  I'll try not to worry.  However, I must be prepared and not walk in blind.  Your experiences and advice are greatly appreciated.

Maybe I'll lose a little weight ....that would be nice!    lol

[irish]

There may not be any tumor etc blocking the bile duct. You may have a nonfunctioning gallbladder which is very common. Also, stones in the duct are notorious for not showing up on GB scans. It is so weird as you would think that a stone would be so visible.

There is a very long list of people with stones found in the duct after the surgery had commenced.

I have never had cancer, but because I am a nurse I always am somewhat prepared for the worst. Some people think I am borrowing touble. I tell them it really feels good to not have the worst happen and I feel so much better when things are over.

If you have a reputable, experienced general surgeon he will know cancer when he sees it. General surgeons see a lot of cancer as they get a lot of surprises when they open the abdomen/laps, etc. The thing is that there is no real test to see if there is cancer in a gallbladder except for doing a lap and then the surgery with a biopsy. Sometimes the cancer in the gallbladder is just on the inside surface of the organ. Sort of like coating the inside of the gallbladder with sugar.

So, you are planning to have a laproscopic surgury to take out the gallbladder and this is pretty much the same route they would take to do just a biopsy. I understand your fear so talking with your surgeon is really important. Ask around about the guy to see if he has a good reputation. Irish

[Tinker]

Thanks, Irish.  I'm just going to trust that everything will be fine.  You are right...sometimes it's better not to know so much!  Thanks for your input  as it always appreciatted.   I'll know something by Thursday pm  as that is when I see the surgeon.