Gallstones

[Hengsters]

Hi my husband has liver cirrhosis and now gallstones, he is in agony most of the time but they won't remove the gallbladder, he's at the end of his tether and now drinking more because with the codeine it's the only thing that slightly dulls the pain. It's a huge strain on out relationship. Just after any helpful advice really.

[Hidden]

Hi Hengsters sorry to read of your husband's cirrhosis and gallstones so he really should not be drinking at all. Seeing as it is only slightly dulling the pain along side the codeine, it seems theres no reason to anyway. Speak to your GP about a change in pain relief perhaps?Best wishes.

Laura

[Richard-Allen]

Hello Hengsters, Is there a reason as to why they won't remove the gallbladder please?

Cirrhosis is when the liver begins to struggle to work. The next stage is end-stage liver disease and this is where other medical conditions will start to appear. (That's if they haven't already.)

The problem with gallstones is that they can find their way into the bile duct and block the flow of bile from the liver. This can then backup and may become infected.

This, including the alcohol would cause an already struggling liver far more damage. Because your husband is still drinking, a liver transplant would most likely be ruled out.

He really needs to stop drinking, and to find out why they are refusing to treat his gallbladder.

[Hengsters in reply to Richard-Allen]

Hello thanks for replying. He's an alcoholic (,functioning) and can't just stop as he gets the DT's etc. They've said it would be too risky to take out gallbladder. In the process of trying SDAS (Somerset alcohol and drugs) but they want him to do courses but due to working full time this is impossible. He can't have detox unless he is admitted to hospital with alcohol related emergency. Catch 22 and going around in circles.

[Hidden]

Ah so it's a slightly different story. He's addicted rather than just drinking to dull the pain. He is going to become seriously ill before very long then he won't be able to work so why not take the time off now to get help to stop drinking rather than wait for the whole host of serious and debilitating symptoms to begin? Believe me watching your husband go from being a functioning alcoholic to a non functioning alcoholic is far from pretty and will probably be the hardest thing you will ever have to cope with. For both your sakes, please act now.

All the best.

Laura

[deanw41]

I too have cirrhosis and gallstones. They won’t take my GB out because of the portal hypertension. My gallbladder has been giving me problems for years. I know the pain, thankfully mines not too bad these days. I don’t take any pain killers or drink cause of the liver. It’s a difficult one isn’t it, because it is painful. I think there is a procedure that deals with the stones with removing the GB. Good luck 👍

[Richard-Allen]

I think dean41 makes a good point. If your husband is suffering with other associated conditions like that of possible varices due to portal hypertension, then a gallbladder removal might be considered too risky at this time.

Does your husband want to stop drinking? I ask this, because no amount of detox or alcohol support is going to work, unless he wants to seriously give up alcohol.

I feel that long term, a liver transplant might be the best solution as this would improve his quality of life. However, before any of this can be considered, his mindset towards total alcohol abstinence must be in place first.

Support is out there, but the health service aren't going to waste their time and money on someone who continues to abuse and compromise their body.

Laura is right, and sadly we have both seen and lived with this before. Both Laura and l have lost our partners to alcohol. This can be a long painful road. Your husband is going to need a lot of support and encouragement. These are life changing times, and a lot of hard decisions need to be made. If he's still driving then this might become an issue both now and later on.

I'm sorry if l'm painting a depressive picture here, but these are serious times, and some hard decisions need to be made. You'll find plenty of help and support on here, so don't give up. Be strong, and have a serious chat with your husband.

Don't nag, but be constructive and supportive.

Good luck to you both

Richard

[Hengsters in reply to Richard-Allen]

He does want to stop drinking which is good, it just seems like an endless battle getting the help.

[Hidden]

Well SDAS has been offered to him but there's nothing they can do if he has decided it's impossible to attend. How much does he really want to quit? It's easy to keep making excuses, much harder to make that commitment, but that is typical of an addict.

[Kurtrules2018]

I have cirrhosis owing to alcohol, and have had episodes of biliary colic (pain caused when the stone gets blocked in the bile duct) for a few years now. They won't take out my gall-bladder, as it was mentioned that there is a 40% risk of bleeding out.

The pain happens at times (once a month on an average) but it is manageable with pain killers.

I was in the same boat. Couldn't stop drinking even after being diagnosed and drinking to mellow the gallstone pain. Then I joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and have been sober for 14 months now.

Perhaps you can introduce him to AA. Drinking will only worsen the issues he's facing.

[Hidden in reply to Kurtrules2018]

Brilliant. Well done !

[19581979]

Hi. I don't envy you the position you are in. It isn't easy for your husband either.

Alcohol and any meds are not a good mix. I have NAFLD and cirrhosis. I also have GERD, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and spinal canal issues. I'm lucky about alcohol not being an issue for me, I truly admit that, but everything I have heard is that alcoholism is the same as any other addiction you have to really want to stop, be strong enough to cope with the withdrawal effects, take yourself out of the environment that triggers the desire for the drug,alcohol etc.. This can often be a stressful job or a socialising environment like colleagues who get together for business lunches, there are lots of reasons that might be the triggers. having supportive family around helps. From what I can gather that is hard for families because being supportive and not nagging when you are scared what is happening to someone you love isn't easy. Even if he won't go to an alcohol support centre you could. You need to find out what is local around you. All of the family and friends need to be consistent in their approach.

With regard to codeine, I had to ease myself off of it. I wasn't addicted to it, I know that because I could have it for weeks then stop it for months without withdrawal symptoms, but it was the easy one to turn to as it was more effective. I found long term use have me other issues toileting in particular and stomach problems,needing a painkiller to help me take the codeine was a sign to say stop it.

I found watching what I eat, not having spicy food,restricting dairy produce and virtually cutting out fatty and processed foods (treating sausages,bacon etcetera as rare treats) and watching the sugar intake helped more. Funnily enough similar things that help the liver.

If I could, I would go out for gentle walks with my husband and learn to appreciate what nature has to offer, but I can't. A wheelchair being pushed doesn't help relax in the same way. But if you can learn to relax that way it is exercise and mentally a switch off.

what I do is boring, it's hard graft, and makes me feel a real party pooper, but the result for me is managing my pain more effectively with a reduction in chemicals. I have to ignore what outsiders see and think of my choices. My family needs me,and that in itself is a pressure. I had to give up a job I loved because it wasn't helping me. It has put us in a very low income bracket. But doing so was essential, if I wanted to live for as long as possible.

Life choices are not always easy, only your husband can ultimately decide his personal priorities.

Good luck to all of you

Gill

[WayCas]

I had fatty liver disease which has lead to cirrhosis. The cirrhosis then caused HCC. Since the cirrhosis diagnosis I have had multiple bouts of gallstones. The gallstones have caused severe pain and 3 bouts of sepsis. They have not been able to remove my gallbladder because of bleeding problems and I had a failed laparoscopic procedure. The best treatment I have received has been ERCP done by the gastroenterologist. I've now 7 ERCPs with stents placed and I am having very good results with reduced pain and no sepsis. Check with your gastroenterologist if you are an ERCP candidate. Good luck. Wayne