Gallbladder op refused

[Luckyforsome]

Yesterday I went to the hospital to see the doctor about my gallstones.

They advised that they would not do the operation as the gallbladder was thin walled.

I have had several bad attacks, one that has meant I went to a&e and the others I have managed at home. The attacks last around 2 hours each time and I am trying to eat carefully to not set anymore off.

When I was at a&e they advised my gallbladder was inflamed after feeling my stomach but the blood tests came back normal. I saw on the ultrasound 2 big gallstones but the radiographer said there were several and the others were smaller.

What should I do now? The a&e doctor advised I needed the op so not sure what to do from here.

Could you get a second opinion? What is the implication of your gall bladder being thin walled? Removing the gall bladder is standard treatment for gallstones as they tend to reoccur. I had mine removed a few years ago.

Thanks, I didn’t really understand what he meant about the thin walled part.

He just read the ultrasound scan and said 40% of people have gallstones, as mine was thin walled there was only a 50% chance the operation would take away the pain I get.

It surely shouldn't matter how thin the walls were if they remove the whole gallbladder (as is standard) rather than trying to extract stones from it...if you are getting biliary colic then it isn't going to get better by itself and you do need the op.

Although having it removed can cause lifelong problems for some people (which can affect quality of life very negatively), so it is worth weighing up risks and benefits.

Should I ask to be referred again to see another doctor do you think?

How frustrating. I guess they are saying it is not at a stage to warrant surgery. I guess that might change though over time if you develop more gallstones. For some people it does settle down and this could happen to you. Although the surgery does seem like a magic answer it does have implications, not for everyone, but it has left me with digestive issues and god awful bile reflux. None of that compares to the pain of a gall stone attack but it does impact on my life. My gallbladder was thickened, enlarged and the tissue was becoming necrotic so I was offered surgery pretty quickly.

I believe the thin walled relates to it being less of a risk factor for gallbladder cancer, porcelain gallbladder or other complications, so maybe that’s why they don’t want to do it. I would push for another referral. I have been on the list since March, the doctor told me I was the last patient on the last day before they stopped the elective lists as lockdown started.

Yumscrum - are you affected often by the digestive issues that you have or is it only after eating fatty food?

I have been having the pains since June every two weeks or so until I was prescribed buscopan and that seems to keep the pains at bay unless I eat too much fat. But i can’t keep taking buscopan and barely eating for fear of setting it off long term.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg188/ifp/chapter/Treating-gallstones-in-the-gallbladder

These are the NICE guidelines that hospitals are supposed to follow. According to this you should be offered surgery. Google the PALS team for the hospital and email them (you need this in writing). Attach the guidelines and ask them why the consultant isn't following them, and request that your case be reviewed by an independent consultant at the hospital. If they say you can always get a second opinion then make a formal complaint as they are forcing you to endure another long waiting period for that to happen elsewhere.

I was offered an operation under the exact same circumstances, a trip to A&E, multiple attacks at home, a couple of stones on ultrasound but thin walls. I chickened out and now have thick walls and even more attacks. These things don't go away.

If it's an option for you then private surgery is about 6k. Not ideal but maybe necessary if you can't get anywhere with them.

Thank you Mrs miggins I have just read the link and that’s really helpful. To be honest I just expected to go to the appointment and get told I would be out on the list for the op as both the gp and radiographer said it would need to be removed.

Are you now waiting to have the op yourself?

Oh and one last thing, if you still don't accept the response to your complaint and you think it's unfair then write to your MP. Ours has been pretty good at sorting out the postcode lottery issues with the NHS. It's amazing how quick hospital bosses reverse their policies when it becomes a political issue.

I think you will find they're trying to slash their waiting lists due to covid, which is understandable but you are suffering and need help.

Also, yes I have thought about contacting our local private hospital. I can afford to pay for the op but obviously don’t want to but it is at the point now that even just thinking about having Christmas dinner is making me worried I’ll be ill after and I don’t want to carry on like this.

Yes I'm on the waiting list as I went back a second time and had a brave moment. Pissing myself about it but it needs doing and I know I will feel better. I'm just a wuss with medical stuff!

I'd be interested to hear their response, please update us if you get anywhere with it x

I will do thank you.

Hi, I have a thin walled gall bladder, I’ve had a scan and seen the consultant as I was having pain around my ribs, he thinks it’s not my gallbladder but costochindritis , I’m still not sure. He’s advised me not to have the op as it’s a difficult op because of where it is, there could be injury to other organs and post op problems too, scared me to death to be honest. I’m going to wait and see.

I ignored the pain for several months (didn't realise it was gallstones😳) and ended up with acute pancreatitis. Definitely advise getting them sorted.

It took a few years of attacks before my gallstones were even diagnosed, then I had to have it out after a bad attack took me to a and e. No problems since. Ask for another opinion.

Thanks for the replies, Katyy did gallstones show on your ultrasound?

The pain from my gallstones has caused me to pass out it has been so bad so I really don’t want this to continue.

Hi yes I have gallstones 🥴

@Luckyforsome

Yumscrum - are you affected often by the digestive issues that you have or is it only after eating fatty food?

It varies, there doesn't seem to be much of a pattern. My digestive system feels like its kind of sluggish and slowed down. I don't eat much fatty food generally. A meal like Christmas dinner just makes me feel full for days on end. I take digestive enzymes which help.

I think if I were you I would speak to the consultant again & find out exactly why they don’t want to do the surgery. I have had my gallbladder out & haven’t regretted it for a second, but someone I know had gallstones, the consultant wasn’t keen to do the op for some reason, but she pushed on, had it out & now still has a lot of pain, & is undergoing further investigations.