Cholecystitis and Cirrhosis

[Beauport]

Evening all - it's some time since I posted on here, the last time was probably to report my gallbladder problem. My problem remains unsolved and I'm now desperate for some advice.

I was diagnosed with cirrhosis about two and a half years ago, since when I've had regular six-monthly u/s scans - my liver remains compensated, blood results normal, everything going along swimmingly. Until, about 12 months ago, I was diagnosed with inflammation of the gallbladder. My consultant suggested a "wait and see" policy and stressed the risks of gallbladder surgery for a patient with cirrhosis.

To cut a long story short, after numerous excruciating episodes, I'd made up my mind to go for the surgery. However, today I saw a different consultant who terrified me with tales of bleeding to death on the operating table, portal vein rupture, damaging my nice, well-behaved liver, etc. He also told me cholecystitis is not life threatening, which I know to be untrue due to the possibility of gangrene or rupture.

I now have to wait another couple of months before I see my regular surgeon again, all the while on tenterhooks in dread of another attack.

Can someone please tell me just how great is the risk of gallbladder removal? Would I really be putting my life gravely at risk be electing to have the surgery?

Many thanks in advance for any advice/experience you have to share.

[Hidden]

Beauport I believe that only a doctor who knows your liver and co-morbidities knows the answer to your question about gallbladder removal.

I'm only answering because no one else did so yet. I have heard from someone without liver complication that he was not allowed surgery until his weight was drastically reduced. Prior to surgery during weight loss he drastically reduced the amount of fat and sugar in his diet because he recognised them as triggers for painful attacks. I hope this can be of some use, if only to say I'm sorry for the pain you have.

[Beauport in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. The problem is, of course, getting my liver specialist to communicate with the gallbladder surgeon, and vice versa! Considering that they both inhabit the same department ...... !!

[Hidden in reply to Beauport]

It seems that's a lost cause! Maybe it involves a shift or division of responsibilities, but I have mixed luck with getting 2 specialists to confer. Yet they manage multi-disciplinary team meetings. Good luck!

[Beauport in reply to Hidden]

I'm writing to both of them, asking them to confer. Then I'll badger their secretaries!

[Cats2018]

Hi Beauport,

I can only give the reassurance that I have NASH F3 and I had to have emergency gallbladder removal surgery on July 8,2019 because of acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. All went well and I went home the next day.

Good luck to you!