PBC Gallbladder removed

[Seybeaute]

Hello

I am new to this site and truly appreciate reading all of your questions and all of the support you give one another . I was diagnosed a year ago with PBC . I was confused then and I'm still confused .

Two years ago I developed this strange pain that was sporadic in my upper stomach area . Sometimes so painful I was hunched over in pain . It would last for a few minutes sometimes longer almost like a contraction . These episodes occurred maybe once a month . I kept saying I have to go to the doctor but I didn't have insurance and let it go. A year later I turned 51 and had insurance and went to the doctor and said please run every test you can blood work etc , full exam .

When the results came back he said your liver enzymes were high and ordered some testing . At which point then decided to send me to a gastroenterology doctor . That doctor decided to do more testing and came back with , "we need to remove your gallbladder because it's not functioning anymore". During that surgery they did a liver biopsy . That liver biopsy was sent to a specialty liver doctor who confirmed that I had PBC .

Two weeks after the surgery I had another upper abdomen attack . I hadn't had one in over 8 months . I was so frustrated wondering why am I stuck having these attacks as I call them . Once I went to the specialist he put me on two pills a day of Urso and two pills a day of omneprazole . That medicine has helped a lot . When I asked if the PBC caused my gallbladder to fail , the doc said no there is no relation . No relation ???? What ???? If my body doesn't process bile how does that not affect my gallbladder ?

Has anyone had their gallbladder removed ? And can clarify ? I'm in stage 1 .

Thank you for takin the time to read .

Best to you all

Claudia

[donna01]

Hi Seybeaute. I have an interesting story for you. I was having bad back aches and chills on and off (low grade fever) and went to doctor. I had no idea it as my gallbladder. He sent me for ultrasound and low and behold, said i had gallstones. Went for blood work, everything was normal! Nothing out of abnormal range whatsoever. The attacks became for frequent. Looking back, I wish I would have been given Urso then! The pain got so bad that I didn't care if they took my heart out. Anything to stop that pain. I elected to have it removed. 3 month check up, Liver enzymes slightly elevated, nothing to worry about.. another 3 months later, liver enzymes AND alk phos elevated. I myself am under the impression THIS caused my PBC. I was totally fine and ALL prior bloodwork which I can view online was ALL normal. Doc says he doesn't believe that gallbladder removal did this. Well,. why did God give us one then? To have it removed? I think more studies need to be done on it. I wish I could get a new gallbladder. I'd totally do it.

[Seybeaute in reply to donna01]

Yes I just feel like I have questions . Why did I have to have my gallbladder out ? If it wasn't functioning was it because of the PBC or the other way around ? And don't tell me they're not related .. I'm sorry you had to go through that . I just feel like jaded In a way . I mean I'm glad that it was found in time at stage 1 etc , i just would like more clarity for my understanding . Thank you for sharing and responding to my question . All my best to you ❤️🙏🏼

[GhostHunter]

I have not had my gall bladder removed, however, I can tell you this... I had NO clue how little my GI doctor knew about PBC until I switched over to a Transplant Hepatologist and Transplant Abdominal Surgeon. Do yourself a favor and make the switch now before you get much farther into this process!

[Keep-smiling]

Hi, I have just had my gall bladder removed (8weeksago) and was told that it has nothing to do with my PBC which I was diagnosed with in 2016 but have had for at least 10 years. Our gall bladders are similar to our appendics in the way that our bodies have evolved and can function very well without them. My PBC is under control at the moment with all bloods stabilised and only yearly visits to the heptologist but I still get upper right quadrant pain and fatigue. I don't think there is a connection to gall bladder problems, we're just unlucky to get both! Gall bladder removal is very common in people who don't have PBC as well and I know at least 12 people in my circle of friends/ colleagues who have had it removed and they are all doing well without it.

Hope this helps reassure you that you will be okay and that your body will cope, despite having PBC .

[Seybeaute in reply to Keep-smiling]

Thank you