Do I, or don't I?

[Dastardly]

I was due to have a Cholecystectomy in June 2022, but it was cancelled because of a possible heart condition. I had to be signed off by a Cardiac Consultant before I could go back on the list. You can imagine how long that process took. Anyway, I then developed breathlessness and was told to be signed off by a Respiratory Consultant. Finally, I am ready to go, and my surgeon is talking about the operation in March 2024.

Now, here is a little bit about me. I am 77 and am just coming up to 5 years with advanced prostate cancer (the type that will kill you if nothing else gets you first.) In addition, I have atrial fibrillation and it is the interaction between my cancer and AF drugs that causes the breathlessness. The pain in my right side from the gall bladder is not blighting my life too much and, if it doesn't get any worse, I can deal with it. The thing is, will it get worse?

The various treatments I have had over the years tells me that the side affects are often as bad, or worse than the condition being treated. So, the question to those who have had their gall bladder taken out is, was it worth it? Do you have any regrets, and, if so, why?

I would appreciate any input you care to make. I am leaning towards non-intervention at the moment, but am open to any advice.

So, thank you for reading this far, and maybe even responding.

Lets all hope 2024 will be a good year for all of us. God knows, we could do with one.

[Givemecoffee]

Hi. I only had my gallbladder removed a few weeks ago, so may not be the best person to respond, but for what it's worth - so far, I have no regrets. My recovery has been easy, once the post-op pain settled. Laprascopic, so wounds are tiny and heal quickly. I haven't had any bowel urgency so far, which was my main worry. All that being said, though - if you aren't having severe gallbladder attacks, and can maintain a low fat diet to keep it under control, it's probably best to avoid unnecessary surgery if you can. The benefits should outweigh the risks.

[Dastardly in reply to Givemecoffee]

Thanks for your response. I guess the killer is that, if the phone rang tomorrow and they gave me a date for surgery, I wouldn't be jumping up and down with happiness. At this stage, I could quite easily do without it.

[larkat99]

My mother had her gallbladder removed at 88 (no choice), and she has no regrets or any side affects (she is close to 90 now). Everyone is different though.

[Dastardly in reply to larkat99]

And there was me thinking 77 was a bit too old for the operation. Hats off to your mum for dealing with it so well.

Many thanks

[larkat99 in reply to Dastardly]

Thanks. She's is good shape for her age.

[Buddythezhu]

I had my gall bladder removed February this year, I have AIH, after the surgery I had awful bloating, biopsy showed was the right thing to remove it but I did have a side effect from removal. July diagnosed with bowel cancer, surgery and illiostomy. Weirdly after the cancer surgery my gall bladder after effects have disappeared but been told when I have my illiostomy reversed gall symptoms could return. I’d say if it’s not vital to remove your gall bladder , I’d leave it.

[Dastardly in reply to Buddythezhu]

So sorry to see that you have had a hard year. 2023 has not been kind to me either, so I hope we both find 2024 to be much friendlier.

Thank you for your opinion. I belong to the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" school, but I can't resist a bit of tinkering every now and then.. On this occasion, I think I will keep both hands in my pockets.

Many thanks for your help.

[Contra21 in reply to Buddythezhu]

How did you know you had bowel cancer? I had mine removed in July and feel so dizzy

[Buddythezhu in reply to Contra21]

I didn’t know I had a tumour in my bowel, my Hepatologist asked me if I’d ever had a colonoscopy and I said no, he booked me one, they found a 2cm plolyp, said it was benign, 2 weeks after biopsy came back was cancerous.

[Contra21 in reply to Buddythezhu]

Maybe they saw something? When doing gallbladder surgery do they see the bowel and intestines,?

[Buddythezhu in reply to Contra21]

No when the gall bladder is removed it’s a fairly quick keyhole procedure, nothing else is investigated. My cancer was only found because my Hepatologist thought I should have a colonoscopy, due to my age, no other reason, they initially thought the polyp (tumour) was benign, only after biospsy was found to be cancerous.

[Anthonysmate]

I was on the waiting list for gallbladder removal for 12 months, so i know about the waiting, initially I was very upset because of the two infections I had when first diagnosed, I can only describe the pain as 10 on a scale of 1-10. But eventually they stablized it, infections became less frequent, and of course as already advised by others, avoid certain fatty foods to bring an attack on, they increased pain killers and vastly increased, latchelose intake, and gave me senna at night to keep me regular, something that definitely helped. Late November I was given a review, followed by removal on the 4th of this month, pathology reported huge stones, causing intermittent blockages. Happy it's gone, although digestion seems a whole lot different.

[Dastardly in reply to Anthonysmate]

Thanks for your reply. My pain is nowhere the level you suffered, and I hope you are now feeling an awful lot better. I suppose my main concern is to do with digestion and diet. I am now all about quality of life, and I don't want to spend lots of time worrying over whether I should or shouldn't eat something. The swingometer is staring to veer towards "leave it".

Best wishes and take care

[PeterP54]

I had my gall bladder removed sometime in the 1980s by the traditional open surgery method. One of my aunts had hers removed at about the same time using the minimally invasive method. My recovery from the op was quicker. Age may have been a factor I guess. I know all about the pain. I don't think the medics really thought I had gall bladder issues as I didn't fit the "fair, fat, forty, flatulent, female" model. I would go for it.

[Dastardly in reply to PeterP54]

Thanks for your response. I'm pretty sure I don't fit the right profile for gall bladder problems either. You obviously had a lot more pain than I am having at the moment. My only concern is whether it will get worse. There is no way of knowing that, of course, so, damned if you do, and damned if you don't. I think I might go back to being "a glass half empty" sort of guy.

Many thanks and best wishes

[Frananncru]

I too have had a miserable year due to ongoing gallbladder problems( gallstones and infection ) have been hospitalised 3 times this year . Eventually following a 6 week admission had key hole removal of my gallbladder 5 weeks ago . The procedure was complicated by adhesions and scar tissue from all the infections I have had .

I was home 3 days postop , and have gradually improved .

It’s a massive relief not to be anticipating the pain after eating or exercise.

To be honest , I am surprised how this chronic unpredictable pain has affected negatively on my mental health . My mood is quite low which is definitely not like me .

My best advice would be to take the advice of your surgeon , I’m really glad to be rid of my gallbladder .

No wound problems , back to driving , appetite slowly returning .

Good luck and wishing you well in the New Year

[Dastardly in reply to Frananncru]

I'll bet you're glad to have got rid of your gall bladder, and I hope you will now have a much better quality of life. I'm not particularly concerned about the surgery, but more about what happens afterwards. I have no intention of going on a diet with food I can't stand the sight of, especially if the operation doesn't dramatically improve my quality of life in the first place.

All the best to you, and take care.

[andy-g]

I suffered awful pain from gall stones and removing them took that pain away. I didn't realise their removal would result in my liver problems being discovered. I have since had a liver transplant, so in my case it saved my life.I too now have stage 4 prostate cancer which will possibly get one day, but right now I am outrunning It. I wouldn't wish the pain from my gall stones on anybody. Simple quick operation great result.

[Dastardly in reply to andy-g]

Obviously having your gall bladder taken out has made a huge difference, and identified serious problems you weren't aware of. I'm glad it turned out well for you. Then you find you have prostate cancer on top of all that! Sounds like you're a survivor though, and I certainly wish that 2024 brings you happiness.

Many thanks, and take care

[andy-g in reply to Dastardly]

Thank you. I hope all goes well for you. I am half Irish half Scottish , STUBBORN!!

[Bluecat19]

For me, it was the case that my gallbladder was seriously malfunctioning and kept getting infected. This was to do with gallstones irritating the lining and crowding the gallbladder out. I was relatively young, in my 50s but the consultant surgeon said the state of my gallbladder was the way he’d usually see it in elderly gentlemen! If it’s not bothering you much, maybe you can ignore it. I ignored mine for ten years before, when it was just a bit uncomfortable. When it got to the point where eating felt like Russian roulette, between agony and vomiting, I decided it was time to wave the white flag! Do I regret letting my gallbladder go? A bit, because there are some side effects. But I could not have carried on like that and been content. And the consultant said there was a strong chance of either gangrene, or my gallbladder breaking up and leaking acid into my stomach, thereby injuring it. So - I think I made the right choice, despite having issues with some pain still in that area - which may relate to gastritis. Good luck with your decision!

[Dastardly in reply to Bluecat19]

Sounds like you have been through the mill but, hopefully now have a much better quality of life. My consultant seemed quite keen to take my gall bladder out having seen gallstones on my ultrasound scan. I haven't considered that the gall bladder itself might become infected, so that's something to think about. I think I will ask him what happens if I don't have it out, and see what he says.

Many thanks for your input, and all the best for the future

[rk6496]

Sir, Consult with your doctor if ERCP would do good for you. If stones are located in the convenient locations for ERCP procedure and if number of stones are very few, that would help you to dodge knife. In ERCP with a stent they would be able to kick out the stone.. If it's in not possible , then in your case it's a tough call. Discuss all aspects with your Doctor.

[Dastardly]

I had to look up ECRP as it was a new term for me. I couldn't pronounce the words after a drink or two. A very interesting alternative to having the gall bladder taken out, and one that my consultant did not discuss with me. I will obviously need to have a conversation about this, but my first thought is that the operation might be simpler. Nevertheless, I thank you for your suggestion and send you my best wishes