Did anyone decide NOT to have Gall bladder surgery, even with poor GB function? - Gallbladder Message Board

lucylucy · 07-18-2008, 03:13 PM

Did anyone with poor Gall Bladder function decide NOT to have your gall bladder removed? At least not right away?

I read that you're a candidate for surgery if a HIDA Scan shows an ejection fraction under 35%- 40%.

I just got my results: 32% ejection fraction. I'm not in a hurry to get it taken out. My doctor doesn't seem too concerned, my symptoms aren't terrible (now), and they might be caused by something else anyway. There's no guarantee that surgery will stop the pain.

I'm interested in your experiences with this.

nikkilewis · 07-18-2008, 08:14 PM

Under 35% is considered not normal. Mine was 16%, so it was well below the 35%. I had my GB removed almost a month ago, and don't regret it for a second. I thought I'd never eat another Burger King cheeseburger again, but I did earlier this week, and w/o pain. But, I had other tests done PRIOR to getting the Hida scan. I had an ultrasound, upper endoscopy (checking for ulcers, gastritis, etc), biopsy for H. Pylori, and Celiac disease test, all of which came back negative. I had already had a colonoscopy not even a year ago, and that was normal too. So the Hida scan was the test that really mattered to me since all of the others were negative.

If you don't have stones, then I guess you could wait and see how things go. My GB attacks came far and few between, but it seemed like overnight, they were happening daily. I wish I had not waited b/c I went for 2 months eating basically nothing but carbs (white foods like oatmeal, potatoes, rice, etc).

Collector167 · 07-19-2008, 08:36 PM

My HIDA ejection rate was 23%; on the ultrasound they only found one polyp or stone (unclear which). So probably have lots of sludge.

My GI doc prescribed Ursodiol and fish oil for omega-3's. I have followed the regimen for a little over a year. Pain has been greatly reduced, still have an occasional twinge under the ribs. Pain has gone from my right shoulder, no more abdominal noises when I try go to sleep, blood pressure and heart rate back to normal. The Urso treatment is not cheap and usually lasts a year or two; and symptoms frequently return w/in 5 years.

I'm glad my doc was conservative about surgery; if the pain had been severe, yes surgery would have been appropriate. As you can see from these boards 10-15% of those who have the gallbladder removed have continuing problems.

lucylucy · 07-22-2008, 04:49 PM

thanks Nikki and collector.

My symptoms aren't usually too bad, but when I get an attack (which I didn't think was GB before) it's hard to bear. Fortunately they don't happen very often. I'm just getting a lot of nausea this week, and I'm trying to watch my diet better.

Are there any foods that most people think are "safe" or any that cause most people problems?

MfrancisUtah · 07-23-2008, 11:42 AM

Stay away from eggs, pork, onions and fried foods. Eat a Granny Smith apple with the skin every day and drink a glass of organic apple juice with breakfast or lunch. Maltic acid is the key to dissolving the stones naturally. Look for a fat digestive enzyme with lipase to help digest fats. Lethicin will also help.