I recently started having terrible gallbladder attacks. I had a HIDA scan done and they determined it to be Chronic Gallbladder Disease.
I’m a little worried about the cause…I read it’s usually caused by gallstones, but I had an x ray and ultrasound done and they found no gallstones. I know Lupus can affect any organ of the body so could it be the cause of GD?
I am waiting to hear from the referrals dept at the clinic to know when my surgery will be. Is there anything I should mention to the surgeon about SLE (since I don’t have an official diagnosis yet-a long story)? Has anyone on here had the surgery? What should I expect?
You can have gallbladder disease without stones being seen- first of all you may have already moved them but also a 'sludge' in the GB will also cause problems. The surgery is most often done laparoscopically so much less traumatic than the olden days when they did open abdominal surgery
I can surely talk to you about GB. It took 20 years of misery before a Hida scan showed mine to be totally dead, at this point I was in the OR within 48 hours. Mine was done with a scope and it gave me instant relief and was easy to recover from, but the dead GB had adhered to my liver and it took a couple of years or milk thistle, recommended by my Chiropractor, for it to show as normal on blood tests. GB was not enlarged, no stones were present, so nothing showed as abnormal on any of the other tests. The hida scan shows function, it is supposed to open and close like your hand, mine did not.
I do not have a full lupus diagnosis either, mine is what the Internist referred to as 'Overlap Syndrome' where you have at least 2 symptoms of several autoimmune diseases without having full evidence of actually having them.
I would surely mention this loud and clear. The more they know about you before a surgery the better they can care for you.
Sweet November, I went thru this two yrs ago. No stones, hida scan showed function but I was in incredible pain. For three mos. I sipped broth, lost 30 pounds cause digestion was too painful. Gastro said leave it, a surgeon consult said take it out…l after trying to heal it naturally and give the inflammation to pass. I woke up with a super painful attack and called the surgeon to take it out. After removal, surgeon noted and tests revealed inflammation, infection. I felt better almost immediately. Two yrs later I just went thru the exact same thing with my appendix. Although this time, it was a matter of about three days. There is no waiting on an appendicitis. I luckily had the same surgeon. Done laparoscopically on both. Better drugs these days makes for less complications post surgically, so not like the old days of having reactions or going into shock after my past surgical experiences. Very nice by an invasive procedure kind of way… I digress, my surgeon said my appendix looked like my gallbladder did, inflamed, bordering infection. I’m glad I followed my intuition. No one knows our bodies better than us. I should also mention, no one in my family has lost a gallbladder or an appendix. My rheumy and I believe it is my disease that caused both. I wish the best in resolving your discomfort. ((hugs))
A few years ago I had appendicitis and got it removed. Like you, no one in my family had ever had problems with their appendix (nor gallbladder). I think it must have been caused by Lupus. Ugh…
I’m glad to hear you got quick relief!
kK said:
Sweet November, I went thru this two yrs ago. No stones, hida scan showed function but I was in incredible pain. For three mos. I sipped broth, lost 30 pounds cause digestion was too painful. Gastro said leave it, a surgeon consult said take it out...l after trying to heal it naturally and give the inflammation to pass. I woke up with a super painful attack and called the surgeon to take it out. After removal, surgeon noted and tests revealed inflammation, infection. I felt better almost immediately. Two yrs later I just went thru the exact same thing with my appendix. Although this time, it was a matter of about three days. There is no waiting on an appendicitis. I luckily had the same surgeon. Done laparoscopically on both. Better drugs these days makes for less complications post surgically, so not like the old days of having reactions or going into shock after my past surgical experiences. Very nice by an invasive procedure kind of way.... I digress, my surgeon said my appendix looked like my gallbladder did, inflamed, bordering infection. I'm glad I followed my intuition. No one knows our bodies better than us. I should also mention, no one in my family has lost a gallbladder or an appendix. My rheumy and I believe it is my disease that caused both. I wish the best in resolving your discomfort. ((hugs))
I’ve had multiple doctors say they think I have Lupus, I have 4-5 of the 11 criteria, but none of the doctors have given me an official diagnosis. I know it’s quite frustrating!
I didn’t even know it could adhere to your liver! Wow! I’m glad you were able to get it taken care of. I will remember milk thistle if I wind up with that problem!
SK said:
Hello SweetNovember,
I can surely talk to you about GB. It took 20 years of misery before a Hida scan showed mine to be totally dead, at this point I was in the OR within 48 hours. Mine was done with a scope and it gave me instant relief and was easy to recover from, but the dead GB had adhered to my liver and it took a couple of years or milk thistle, recommended by my Chiropractor, for it to show as normal on blood tests. GB was not enlarged, no stones were present, so nothing showed as abnormal on any of the other tests. The hida scan shows function, it is supposed to open and close like your hand, mine did not.
I do not have a full lupus diagnosis either, mine is what the Internist referred to as 'Overlap Syndrome' where you have at least 2 symptoms of several autoimmune diseases without having full evidence of actually having them.
I would surely mention this loud and clear. The more they know about you before a surgery the better they can care for you.
Recovery was a breeze for me. The propofal (?) Ie, Michael Jackson milk… Very good sedation that left me feeling great in a refreshed kind of way. Then they give me a lil narcotic to keep my body temp right so I did not go into shock, like before. Then anti biotics for good measure both surgeries . Aleve and vicodin for pain.
For me, on both occasions after surgery I felt really good and positive for a couple of Weeks afterwards. Then, back to my same painful life I’ve lived with for three yrs straight now… unfortunately, I cannot seen to find my way out of this flair.
Just make sure you find asurgeon you like first. If in San Antonio,TX …Dr Abbate is your guy! A dozen yrs in. Harvard, mayo clinic… Does most of surgery for a large Gastro group here and can operate at most hospitals here. I went in search of who my docs would have do their surgery. Like this disease isn’t hard enough to navigate thru… Problems with my eyes and brain, not sure if all this makes enough sense. Hope it helps someone.
I have gallstones filled in gallbladder only had one attack, which resulted in discovering the gallstones. But, I don't have any pain beyond the one time. The surgeon said I should have the surgery, not to cause problems later on, but the second opinion GI doctor stated the gallstones are calcium and not dangerous and as long as I don't have pain then leave it alone.
Has anyone had a similar experience?
kK said:
Sweet November, I went thru this two yrs ago. No stones, hida scan showed function but I was in incredible pain. For three mos. I sipped broth, lost 30 pounds cause digestion was too painful. Gastro said leave it, a surgeon consult said take it out...l after trying to heal it naturally and give the inflammation to pass. I woke up with a super painful attack and called the surgeon to take it out. After removal, surgeon noted and tests revealed inflammation, infection. I felt better almost immediately. Two yrs later I just went thru the exact same thing with my appendix. Although this time, it was a matter of about three days. There is no waiting on an appendicitis. I luckily had the same surgeon. Done laparoscopically on both. Better drugs these days makes for less complications post surgically, so not like the old days of having reactions or going into shock after my past surgical experiences. Very nice by an invasive procedure kind of way.... I digress, my surgeon said my appendix looked like my gallbladder did, inflamed, bordering infection. I'm glad I followed my intuition. No one knows our bodies better than us. I should also mention, no one in my family has lost a gallbladder or an appendix. My rheumy and I believe it is my disease that caused both. I wish the best in resolving your discomfort. ((hugs))
I’m glad it hasn’t given you much trouble!
I don’t know what I’d do in that situation… Sort of unrelated but my mother had a small freckle-sized place on her neck; just a small painless bump. Her dermo said to leave it since it wasn’t causing trouble, but it is now the size of a half-dollar and painful to even the slightest touch. Point is, I would hate to let it go and in the end cause myself more pain.
I wish you the best in your solution!
Unshoreandscared said:
I have gallstones filled in gallbladder only had one attack, which resulted in discovering the gallstones. But, I don’t have any pain beyond the one time. The surgeon said I should have the surgery, not to cause problems later on, but the second opinion GI doctor stated the gallstones are calcium and not dangerous and as long as I don’t have pain then leave it alone.
Has anyone had a similar experience?
kK said:
Sweet November, I went thru this two yrs ago. No stones, hida scan showed function but I was in incredible pain. For three mos. I sipped broth, lost 30 pounds cause digestion was too painful. Gastro said leave it, a surgeon consult said take it out…l after trying to heal it naturally and give the inflammation to pass. I woke up with a super painful attack and called the surgeon to take it out. After removal, surgeon noted and tests revealed inflammation, infection. I felt better almost immediately. Two yrs later I just went thru the exact same thing with my appendix. Although this time, it was a matter of about three days. There is no waiting on an appendicitis. I luckily had the same surgeon. Done laparoscopically on both. Better drugs these days makes for less complications post surgically, so not like the old days of having reactions or going into shock after my past surgical experiences. Very nice by an invasive procedure kind of way… I digress, my surgeon said my appendix looked like my gallbladder did, inflamed, bordering infection. I’m glad I followed my intuition. No one knows our bodies better than us. I should also mention, no one in my family has lost a gallbladder or an appendix. My rheumy and I believe it is my disease that caused both. I wish the best in resolving your discomfort. ((hugs))
That’s good to hear! (other than your flare) I feel like I’m in a constant flare, although I’m still trying to educate myself on the disease. I’m unsure of exactly when I’m having a flare or not. I always have symptoms…I just go by bad days and worse days.
kK said:
Recovery was a breeze for me. The propofal (?) Ie, Michael Jackson milk... Very good sedation that left me feeling great in a refreshed kind of way. Then they give me a lil narcotic to keep my body temp right so I did not go into shock, like before. Then anti biotics for good measure both surgeries . Aleve and vicodin for pain.
For me, on both occasions after surgery I felt really good and positive for a couple of Weeks afterwards. Then, back to my same painful life I've lived with for three yrs straight now... :( unfortunately, I cannot seen to find my way out of this flair.
Just make sure you find asurgeon you like first. If in San Antonio,TX ...Dr Abbate is your guy! A dozen yrs in. Harvard, mayo clinic.... Does most of surgery for a large Gastro group here and can operate at most hospitals here. I went in search of who my docs would have do their surgery. Like this disease isn't hard enough to navigate thru..... Problems with my eyes and brain, not sure if all this makes enough sense. Hope it helps someone.
That's good to hear! (other than your flare) I feel like I'm in a constant flare, although I'm still trying to educate myself on the disease. I'm unsure of exactly when I'm having a flare or not. I always have symptoms...I just go by bad days and worse days. :/
kK said:
Recovery was a breeze for me. The propofal (?) Ie, Michael Jackson milk... Very good sedation that left me feeling great in a refreshed kind of way. Then they give me a lil narcotic to keep my body temp right so I did not go into shock, like before. Then anti biotics for good measure both surgeries . Aleve and vicodin for pain.
For me, on both occasions after surgery I felt really good and positive for a couple of Weeks afterwards. Then, back to my same painful life I've lived with for three yrs straight now... :( unfortunately, I cannot seen to find my way out of this flair. Just make sure you find asurgeon you like first. If in San Antonio,TX ...Dr Abbate is your guy! A dozen yrs in. Harvard, mayo clinic.... Does most of surgery for a large Gastro group here and can operate at most hospitals here. I went in search of who my docs would have do their surgery. Like this disease isn't hard enough to navigate thru..... Problems with my eyes and brain, not sure if all this makes enough sense. Hope it helps someone.
I HAD GALL BLADDER SURGERY BECAUSE i HAD STONES. i RECOVERED QUICKLY, BUT NOW I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM ALMOST AS SOON AS i AM DONE EATING. I GO MORE OFTEN TOO. SOMETIMES 3-4 TIMES A DAY. nOT SURE IF IT IS THE MEDS OR NOT HAVING A GALL BLADDER.
Oh wow, I’m kind of in that boat now. I’m hoping it will improve post-op. I’ve heard people say that for awhile after surgery they had these issues and their bodies had to get used to functioning sans gallbladder. I’ve also heard some say that after their surgery, they cannot tolerate bread!
Anyone else have that problem?
Sobby802 said:
I HAD GALL BLADDER SURGERY BECAUSE i HAD STONES. i RECOVERED QUICKLY, BUT NOW I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM ALMOST AS SOON AS i AM DONE EATING. I GO MORE OFTEN TOO. SOMETIMES 3-4 TIMES A DAY. nOT SURE IF IT IS THE MEDS OR NOT HAVING A GALL BLADDER.
I had the problem of running to the bathroom for maybe a few months after, then it subsided. Tshe surgeon said that sometimes a nerve can be sensitive, but it fades. No problems eating bread for me.
unfortunately, I cannot seen to find my way out of this flair.