Bump in the road - gall bladder ... ATTACK!

My gall bladder went bad before my UC dx and my surgeries. I had it out laparoscopically and it was a smooth recovery. Never missed the little bugger....never seemed to effect the way I ate. Then about three years later the UC symptoms started and then ultimately the j pouch. So I have no comparison with my j pouch and a gall bladder. It's amazing to me we function with half our digestive system missing!  Best of luck with the procedure(s)! 

Thanks for the encouragement!  I have a friend that had her GB out and she swears that it did cause some pretty heavy-duty issues with her system, but mostly I hear it's not too detrimental having it out.  

A fully distended gall bladder weighs about a quarter pound.

Most gall bladders these days are removed laparoscopically. If your two-for-one will be an open procedure then the experiences of others may not be comparable.

Think of it as saving you a surgery. Yeah, I know it's nonsense.

I am so glad to have run across this post, not glad that you are having GB issues though, of course!

I am 6 yrs post jpouch surgery due to UC. Besides minor things all has been fine. Over the past year I have been having light headed, dizzy spells along with pain on my right side that comes and goes as well as some nausea. Finally my GI is testing for the function of my GB. Today I had a sonogram, if it shows nothing than he wants to do a different test.

Here's my question, if I have to have it removed, will they do it laparoscopically ? I read that if you had abdominal surgery, (I've had 3) there my be too much scar tissue and would have to be done open.

I also fell and will probably need knee surgery! do you think I can get a "two - for" too?

Also, when I had my jpouch done, my surgeon would only do it if I lost a considerable amount of weight. I did loose the weight and when he was about to go in, I asked him to remove my GB as well, (he was removing; my colon, most of the rectum, appendix, uterus and cervix.... what's one more organ!) but he refused. He thought that I wanted it removed for the weight of it! He said that it did not weigh much, so no. I actually wanted it removed because I knew so many people that have issues with it and eventually I figured I would need it removed too. Oh well, I tried!

I have had laparoscopic surgery after J-pouch surgery. Because of adhesions there's a higher risk that they won't be able to get the job done without opening you up, but there's no harm in trying if the surgeon is experienced.

Scott,

Laparoscopic surgery often has no hospital stay. The people I know who gave had GB surgery had it as outpatient surgery with no hospital stay. Being post jpouch laparoscopic, did they keep you or were you able to have it done as outpatient?

One quarter-pounder!   I won't hit my goal of three pounds weight loss .. I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way!

Yes, from what I understand it's not a big surgery -- keeping my fingers crossed it's easy enough to do with take-down.  Dr. Remzi seems to indicate it's doable, but waiting for the GB specialists to chime in at CC.

The surgery is easy and unlike the loss of my colon, I never noticed any difference when it comes to living without a gallbladder.  Believe me we'd all be better off if life after colon removal is as easy as life after gallbladder removal. 

I've had GB problems my whole life, even pre-pouch but 3 yrs ago it reached the absolute limit and my surgeon removed it laporoscpically...found a huge stone (over an inch) and a 1 kg GB which was at the point of rupture...I should never have waited that long!

Don't know what it was doing to my pouch beforehand but since then I am much better...The 'heart-attack' feeling in mostly gone...get the occasional pains, sharp or dull and some sub scapular pain but mostly 95% better. 

They kept me 3 nights due to the size of the thing (it was crushing my right lung and nearly collapsed the bottom of it...ended up back in ER for respratory insufficiency a couple days later..things went back to normal on their own).

I was a fool for not having it done sooner but they kept telling me that it could wait and I had other more important things to fix back then.

Sharon

Well, I just got a call with the results of my sonogram. The Dr said my GB looked fine. I know there is another test to check it's function but the Dr (my GI) said to talk to my PCP about what else could be causing my symptoms. He seems to think that it is not my GB based on the sonogram.

I have chest pain, pinches in my upper right side, light headedness, dizzy spells and nausea. From what I have researched, I still think it is my GB. Should I call my PCP about the functioning test or just wait to see if goes away? What would you do?

Kinkl, I also have PSC and am 8+ years post colectomy. My PSC likely started after the colectomy, since I have read in my doctors notes that an MRI in 2006 showed no problems with the liver. Assuming the films were read right!

That said, I have had issues with PSC, but have not sensed any issues that the PSC has brought to the jpouch.

Jeff

Donna, I'm sorry, I can't advise  you.  I think there is a hydascan (?) test or something to prove your GB is okay, but it really could be lots of stuff.  Example, my wife had pneumonia that caused pain, light-headedness and dizziness, etc.  I think you should go to your doctor and get it checked out further.

We don't need to add malfunctioning GB issues to our "regular" stuff.  One problem at a time, please!  Glad  you are a bit better, Sharon.