I've posted before about my recent gall bladder "attack" -- and have had the ultrasound (revealed "multiple gallstones") and basic HIDA scan.

After drinking whole milk during HIDA scan, the GB supposedly jumped into action and I was told "you're fine" by the tech. My GI doc says "GB functions normally, it's not inflamed, but you've got stones and had attack(s) so it should come out soon." (Can HIDA scans really tell definitively if a GB is inflamed/irritated/diseased? I thought HIDA just told you if the thing was functioning or not.)

Okay, assuming the tests and the doc are correct, I still intend to have the GB removed; question is, should I try to beat the odds of things getting dramatically worse quickly and postpone surgery for just over two months? (I'm supposed to go to Maui(!) for a wedding end of Sept., just for a few days and don't want to miss it.)

The doc says "have it out NOW and you'll be fully recovered before the trip." I would DEFINITELY do that were it not for everything I have read and heard about how many people (10%) have lots of post-surgical problems and a lengthy period of adjustment to life without the GB. That's one in ten people with problems -- sounds like a LOT of problems to me.

It is clear that many people must live with SEVERE digestive problems the rest of their lives. Obviously, if I were one of those people with problems, I would NOT be able to go to Maui.

I'm wondering, in your personal experiences, how many of you were able to "baby" the bad GB along for a number of months/years(?) before having it removed. Thus far my symptoms, besides a couple of "attacks" have just been occasional annoying little brief pains in upper right abdomen for about 6 months. They only last a couple of minutes and are not debilitating.

I've put myself on a low fat, very low sugar and starch diet in an effort to stop formation of new stones since I've read that sugar is a BIG problem and I used a lot of it. I've lost probably 10 pounds in just the past couple of weeks, which is actually a good thing though was somewhat unintentional.

Any thoughts on what you would do in my situation? Again, GI doc says "do surgery now" but my internist says "wait and see -- you should be OK for two months."

Thanks for your input! I'm really confused/conflicted about this.

Hi carol. I've posted to you before regarding my gall bladder story, so won't go into long detail here. The choice is ultimately yours. If you're able to live with infrequent attacks, then sure, wait and see. But I had mine out because my attacks were daily, severe, and life was miserable for me in general before having it out. I was constantly feeling nauseous, with diarrhea, sharp stabbing pains during meals, and chronic achiness between meals. For the first 6 months when I first noticed symptoms, attacks were infrequent and just annoying, but later became unbearable. I couldn't wait to have mine out by then, and even though I suffer from bile salt diarrhea as a result of surgery, I can control it with medication. Even with knowing about bile salt diarrhea and how it's affected me, I would still make the decision today to have it out.

Isn't there some type of less invasive surgery like laser or something that "zaps" the stones, so you don't actually have the GB removed? I'm not for sure about this, but since my problem was severe inflamation, mine had to come out.

If you think it won't ruin your trip to Maui, wait it out. But remember too, you could possibly have an "attack" during your trip, and feel miserable too. I'm probably just confusing the issue, so will shut up for now. The decision is ultimately yours.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Katie G

Hi Katie -

You've been so helpful in the past, I hate to keep bugging you about this matter.

Thus far I have, for about six months or so, had occasional very brief sharp or dull pains in RUQ, and the 2+ hour "attack" covering the entire abdomen that was pretty bad but I toughed it out, even doing laundry while waiting it out.

Other than that, I have VERY occasionally felt a bit nauseated but not during or after any meals. It could be any other time, like upon awakening in the a.m. I have never been more than vaguely queasy.

Also, the only other "chronic" complaint I've had is loose stools, and I've had a colonoscopy recently which was clear, plus the ultrasound and HIDA scan.

Neither of my doctors (internist & GI specialist) has even suggested doing a blood test/liver panel. (The last one was in Jan. or Feb. of this year.) I'm assuming the stool consistency change is all wrapped up in the liver/gall bladder function. You have mentioned diarrhea as have others so I guess it goes with the territory.

I have read that many people had NO stones (which I do HAVE), and were told their GBs were okay, yet after continued symptoms and ultimate removal the GB was found to be infected. So...am I correct in assuming the doctors CANNOT tell from various scans whether or not the thing is diseased/inflamed?

Since I am rarely in any pain at all, I will try to wait until the Sept. trip is over, recognizing that I could have an emergency beforehand or on Maui. However, it amuses me somewhat that I could have surgery at Maui's medical center (I've checked and it's a good one, second largest in Hawaii) and be "forced" to recuperate on Maui. My insurance would cover "emergency care/surgery" the same as it does here; expense would come from additional hotel charges, etc. Not sure why this sounds like fun to me, but it does, in a way...

If I continue to feel the same, i.e., no major changes, over the next few weeks, I guess I will try to wait. Thanks, Katie, for all your input. You have helped so many people on this Board.

(My GI doc was clearly surprised -- and a bit annoyed -- that I had so much knowledge about bile salts, Colestid, etc., etc.) I have found that docs generally don't WANT us to be well informed or question them too much.

As for other remedies than gall bladder removal, the only thing I can think of is taking Actigall for years to dissolve the stones. It IS an option and I think I might be a good candidate.

Carol

Hi again Carol. Yeah, I'm one of those people who underwent multiple tests of the gall bladder and each time was told they were "normal." However, my symptoms were not normal, and once surgery was justified by a 2nd opinion, the darn thing came out. It wasn't until the surgeon actually got in there to look at it to see the inflamation/disease.

I think you're right too about docs not wanting us to be informed. My docs have sometimes just rolled their eyes when I come in with internet information, but at least listen to me, and usually admit I'm right.

Hey, keep us posted on your decision and have fun in Maui.

Katie G