Gall stones id'd as part of stroke investigations

[Chinkoflight]

Has anyone had another problem identified as a consequence of a heart or stroke condition? My GP has referred me on to a specialist for gallstones problems with the view better out than in rather than face complications at a letter date. It's a bit extra to take in and think about. I see the specialist on Monday,only diagnosed this week so all a bit sudden. The problem was diagnosed as a consequence of blood samples to test for impact of drug regime showed raised bilirubin levels. Note I have very low cholesterol. In addition I will have a 7 day holter fitted on Tuesday as no obvious cause for the stroke clot yet been determined. Any thoughts really appreciated, especially around what I should ask the specialist.

[Hidden]

Hello

Through having tests when I had my heart attacks they found a nodule on my lung luckily it was nothing

I imagine plenty will reply saying yes they had a similar experience to you when they see your post

I suppose in a way even though we do not want a heart condition or a stroke but the tests we get can detect other things which we may never have known we had until we had problems so it is good in that respect as like they have said they can sort this before it gets any worse

I hope you get it sorted soon and wishing you all the best x

[Chinkoflight in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I'm trying to think on the positive reassuring side. I've geared up on my knowledge of strokes then the swerve ball comes in!

[Hidden in reply to Chinkoflight]

Hello

I know it feels like everything happens at once when you have not even come to terms with one thing but at least they can get this sorted and please let us know how you get on x

[jeanjeannie50]

I was having a scan for something different and the person doing it asked if I knew that I had gallstones. I answered cockily that no I didn't, but knew that it was normal for a lot of older people to have them and they were not necessarily a problem.

When my gallstones first kicked off I thought I was having a heart attack and dialled 999. The pain from them is excruciating and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. The attacks continued for months after, then stopped for several months. I started wondering then if I didn't need the op to remove them. I spoke to the consultant asking for advice and he said, "If you don't have it done now it will probably show up again a few years later, then you'll say you wish you'd had the procedure to remove them earlier". I was told that one of my stones was particularly large and could envisage a later attack happening.

The op to remove them was straightforward for me. I felt a little sore afterwards for a few days and then was completely fine. My sister had hers removed about a year before me and she had pain for a few weeks afterwards. I think I struck lucky with the consultant I had.

Gallstone consultants - the experts on the subject, will know if you need to have yours removed. I'd put my trust in them.

Jean

[Chinkoflight in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That's great to hear, the GP said if I wait for a problem down the track it might be a more challenging intervention hence his advice for the referral. Like you the scan was following the stroke, no prior knowledge of stones. The GP said I had a lot of stones from 6mm to 19mm but the smaller can be more likely to move and cause problems elsewhere. I think I'll have the op if offered.

[Chinkoflight in reply to jeanjeannie50]

PS thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated.

[Andian]

I am in hospital the moment having had a Heart Attack last Sunday, now waiting here for Pacemaker maybe tomorrow. Apparently I have a very large Hiatus Hernia which is news to me, although I have had problems for a while did not know of this. By the way for people waiting for procedures having al this done for me at the moment I can now understand people who have their procedures cancelled etc. It’s people like me take their spot. So apologies to all maybe I took your spot.

Good luck

[Chinkoflight in reply to Andian]

Hi Andian, thanks for taking the time to reply. Sorry to hear about the HA but glad your getting the help and advice needed. Hope all goes well. Don't feel guilty by the way, emergencies are the priority and hopefully getting it sorted will prevent you going back. I was blue lighted on a Sunday morning 5 months ago following an out of the blue severe stroke, and I'm aware I queue jumped for the necessary CT scans etc to determine the type of stroke I had. But because all of this was done quickly I was thrombolised and walked out of hospital a few days later. Following this shock I'm doing my bit now to improve my personal health and fitness as much as I can. I've had precious little contact with the NHS up to now but have contributed all my life. The NHS was there when I needed it - a huge thank you all round.

[Andian in reply to Chinkoflight]

I did actually go down the private route as up to 40weeks wait after referral to consultations. So had been started on tests etc. First diagnosis Left Bundle Branch Block. Which has other underlying causes. As you say when an emergency kicks in it’s all systems go service second to none.

Hope all goes well for you and yours

[HHH2017 in reply to Andian]

So sorry to hear you are in hospital right now! No need to apologise, we've all been there, just get well soon ❤️‍🩹

[Qualipop]

Years ago I h ad a scan for something else which showed up dozens of gallstones. I was simply told. most people have gallstones and just never know because they never cause any problems. As far as I know mine are still there. Never had anything done.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Qualipop]

Thanks for the reply. I suppose because I'm now taking antiplatelet meds that any emergency should there suddenly be a problem might compromise surgery a bit which I suspect is the reason for referring me now even though I was unaware of having gallstones. The GP said take 100 people off the street and 10 will have gallstones without knowing. I guess you must be rattling!😉. I may still end up being managed and not have an op if that's what the consultant recommends. GP referring me on precautionary principles!?

[Qualipop in reply to Chinkoflight]

Definitely just a precaution; consultant's decision but if you did need surgery they could work round the anti platelet meds.

[Qualipop in reply to Qualipop]

If you do need them removing don't hesitate. I almost lost a friend recently from a gall bladder infection. He was on his own and ignored the pain thinking it was just a tummy upset. When his wife couldn't get him on the phone she got neighbours to go round and they found him almost comatose and incoherent. His gall bladder was so badly infected it had adhered to his liver so they couldn't remove it. He was in ICU for quite a while. OK now but it was seriously touch and go. I should be possible to stop your anti platelets for a couple of days or to give a drug to counteract the effect. Often a stone blocking the exit can be blasted without surgery.

[marypw]

If the doctors say you need your gall bladder removed, I would recommend you get it done promptly, before you get a gall stone obstructing your bile duct. Believe me, that is pretty unpleasant! I had to get rushed off to UCLH for an ERCP to remove it and then hang around for a while on nil by mouth and then very low fat diets before getting my gall bladder removed.

I did once have a liver scan which showed I had kidney stones and it was a renal consultant who noticed a heart murmur which turned out to be mitral regurgitation.

So yes, it's pretty common for other conditions to be found, but it definitely feels like you're being attacked from several directions at once! Best wishes.

[Chinkoflight in reply to marypw]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm sure I will take the advice of the consultant and you're circumstances are precisely what the GP said I should avoid happening, the complications all sound very painful and I'm a whimp! I hope your health outcomes are all good.

[HHH2017]

Hi, its a tricky time being told you have another problem when coming with a heart issue, I do feel for you.Mine was a large cyst on my liver. It is scanned yearly now to check its growth (was 9cm now 11cm in 4 years).

At first it was overwhelming and i found it hard to accept a secondary disgnosis, then a 3rd of fibromyalgia! Id suggest making notes of questions/concerns and of anything medics tell you too, as its hard to remember everything with so much going on. Do ask about timescales as you probably need time to recover before further surgery. Good luck.

[Chinkoflight in reply to HHH2017]

Thanks for taking the time to reply and I hope your health issues are manageable. Nail on the head comes to mind and it's a useful reminder re making notes as I see the specialist this afternoon. I have been sort of diarying my progress and issues with notes I keep on the exercise programme I started following the stroke but I think I will have to record this separately.

[HHH2017 in reply to Chinkoflight]

Hope appointment this pm goes well. I have to write everything down!!! Head & sieve if you know what I mean 😂 I have a 'new normal' now which I've adjusted to and am happy with, so ticking along ok 👍🏽 thank you.