hukleberrie
11-28-2007, 08:04 AM
My mom got results of her HIDA scan. Seems there is thickening of the GB. But it is functioning. They want her to have her GB out. Is this necessary? I read online that kidney problems & heart problems can cause the GB to thicken & once the original problem is fixed, it will go back to normal. Is that true?
It's just that my brother was told he had GB problems, but then they found cancer in his pancreas & liver right before the surgery, so we are all a little unsure about GB issues....
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
It's just that my brother was told he had GB problems, but then they found cancer in his pancreas & liver right before the surgery, so we are all a little unsure about GB issues....
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Titchou
11-28-2007, 08:57 AM
What was her "ejection rate" from the HIDA Scan? Anything below 35% is considered non-functioning and they recommend removal. As for the thickening being caused by heart and kidney issues, are you saying she has these problems? That part was a little confusing.
hukleberrie
11-28-2007, 09:42 AM
Her ejection rate was 50, so that is in the functioning range, right?
Yes, she has a heart murmur & also constant UTIs & blood in her urine...
Yes, she has a heart murmur & also constant UTIs & blood in her urine...
Titchou
11-28-2007, 05:29 PM
50% is pretty normal. I wouldn't think they would remove it just for that.
hukleberrie
11-28-2007, 06:52 PM
I thought so, too. Some doctors jump the gun if you know what I mean. She has good insurance, so whatever they think could POSSIBLY be the problem, they just go ahead & do it. I will have her check this thread out & then see if she wants to post anything....
Thanks for everyone's input...
Thanks for everyone's input...
rsbird
12-03-2007, 10:56 AM
Is she in any pain with this?
I had mine removed due to this reason, but I was also having 'attacks' so was worthwhile for me.
I had mine removed due to this reason, but I was also having 'attacks' so was worthwhile for me.
biznanny
12-04-2007, 01:25 PM
Cholecystectomy is a very routine procedure. My 80something year old grandmother had hers done via scope about 2 years ago. She was walking around the next day, and in addition to being diabetic has a laundry list of other conditions.
That being said, if the medical staff do not feel her other issues would suggest avoiding surgery all together, were it me, I'd go ahead.
Attacks can be controled with adjustments in diet, but as I understand it, surgery is really the only other option.
I think letting it go for too long will just make it more complicated and painful.
That being said, if the medical staff do not feel her other issues would suggest avoiding surgery all together, were it me, I'd go ahead.
Attacks can be controled with adjustments in diet, but as I understand it, surgery is really the only other option.
I think letting it go for too long will just make it more complicated and painful.
hukleberrie
12-04-2007, 08:49 PM
She does have some pain, but I have not seen her doubled over as I have heard those with this problem get. She says her pain is on the right, directly in the middle of her abdomen & it moves sometimes to the left. Not always there, and not always following meals. She eats whatever, but maybe I don't know the specifics.
The thing is I have talked to people who had their gallbladder out & they still had problems & it did not fix their problems. She has not had a CT scan lately, and that's what I think she needs first.
Not only have I heard of people having the surgery who still have problems, but what if the problem is something else all together that once fixed will fix the "thickening"? I found this info online:
"Thickening of the gallbladder wall is a relatively frequent finding at diagnostic imaging studies. Historically, a thick-walled gallbladder has been regarded as proof of primary gallbladder disease, and it is a well-known hallmark feature of acute cholecystitis. The finding itself, however, is non-specific and can be found in a wide range of gallbladder diseases and extracholecystic pathological conditions."
"Diffuse gallbladder wall thickening may produce a diagnostic problem, as it occurs in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and in patients with and without an indication for a cholecystectomy. Diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall may occur in patients who do not have a primary gallbladder disease, but in whom the gallbladder is secondarily involved in an extrinsic pathological condition. In these patients a cholecystectomy is unwarranted, and gallbladder abnormalities will usually return to normal after correction of its extrinsic cause."
After the whole thing with my brother, (diagnosed with gallbladder disease when it was really pancreatic cancer), I am just really skeptical of this diagnosis, especially when her gallbladder is functioning fine.
Anyway, she is going to see the specialist Thursday. I wish I could go to hear exactly what they say.
The thing is I have talked to people who had their gallbladder out & they still had problems & it did not fix their problems. She has not had a CT scan lately, and that's what I think she needs first.
Not only have I heard of people having the surgery who still have problems, but what if the problem is something else all together that once fixed will fix the "thickening"? I found this info online:
"Thickening of the gallbladder wall is a relatively frequent finding at diagnostic imaging studies. Historically, a thick-walled gallbladder has been regarded as proof of primary gallbladder disease, and it is a well-known hallmark feature of acute cholecystitis. The finding itself, however, is non-specific and can be found in a wide range of gallbladder diseases and extracholecystic pathological conditions."
"Diffuse gallbladder wall thickening may produce a diagnostic problem, as it occurs in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, and in patients with and without an indication for a cholecystectomy. Diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall may occur in patients who do not have a primary gallbladder disease, but in whom the gallbladder is secondarily involved in an extrinsic pathological condition. In these patients a cholecystectomy is unwarranted, and gallbladder abnormalities will usually return to normal after correction of its extrinsic cause."
After the whole thing with my brother, (diagnosed with gallbladder disease when it was really pancreatic cancer), I am just really skeptical of this diagnosis, especially when her gallbladder is functioning fine.
Anyway, she is going to see the specialist Thursday. I wish I could go to hear exactly what they say.
hukleberrie
12-04-2007, 08:53 PM
BTW, no stones found either.
Sisty
12-05-2007, 03:43 PM
Huckleberrie, how was your brothers pancreatic cancer diagnosed?
Sisty
Sisty
hukleberrie
12-05-2007, 04:20 PM
He was to see a surgeon for gallbladder surgery in a couple weeks, but could not handle the pain so he went to the emergency room to see if he could have emergency gallbladder surgery. The surgeon there looked at his file, took some blood tests & decided he needed a CT scan. They found the tumor on his pancreas & a couple that had spread to his liver on the CT scan. The sent him immediately to the nearest hospital that deals with pancreatic surgeries, but we found out when he got there that there was no option for surgery. That was August 10th. He is not doing well now, they don't know if he will make it to Xmas....
hukleberrie
12-05-2007, 04:22 PM
BTW, they did another HIDA scan before the CT scan & it came back normal!
rsbird
12-06-2007, 01:21 PM
I can totally understand your concerns. I think you are right, she needs a CT scan, and anything else which can be ruled out must be.
It is fairly simple surgery and recovery is quick, but it is still intrusive.
The pain could be a good indication that it is the gallbladder. I was never given a HIDA scan so am unsure how mine was functioning. The thickening did get worse over the years, and here in the UK, they wouldn't remove it on that basis alone! So I was patient, and had CT's, endo's, ultrasounds, bloods the works. So they were 99% sure that was all it could be in the end!
Good luck and best wishes.
It is fairly simple surgery and recovery is quick, but it is still intrusive.
The pain could be a good indication that it is the gallbladder. I was never given a HIDA scan so am unsure how mine was functioning. The thickening did get worse over the years, and here in the UK, they wouldn't remove it on that basis alone! So I was patient, and had CT's, endo's, ultrasounds, bloods the works. So they were 99% sure that was all it could be in the end!
Good luck and best wishes.