Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
TiredandTroubled
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:11 am

Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Postby TiredandTroubled » Sat Jul 24, 2021 4:56 pm

I’m scheduled to get my sigmoid resection surgery this Tuesday. It’s going to be laparoscopic. When I got my CT scan, the radiologist noted next to my Gallbladder: “Cholelithiasis. Gall bladder is collapsed.” on my report. ???? I cant find the much on the terms “gallbladder” and “collapse” on google??

When I brought this up to the surgeon during our consultation, he did not seem concerned. I asked him if he thinks I need my gallbladder removed and he made it sound like it was unnecessary (he said he’ll do it only if it would help me sleep at night.)

The CT scan shows one relatively large stone. I know that problems can arise from gallstones, but I really haven’t had any ‘gallbladder attack’ symptoms at all.

Should I get it removed while I get my sigmoid resection to just get it over with? Are there any long term side effects of not having a gall bladder? Can anyone speak to what it’s like to live without one?

It also sounds like chemo can exacerbate gallstone/bladder issues, one more thing to worry about…
29F DX 7/19
CC Sigmoid Colon
Adenocarcinoma
5.2 cm x 2.4 cm
G2
T3N2aM0
Stage III
5/15 positive LN
Baseline CEA: 16
LVI, PNI present
Clear margins
MSS
Sigmoid Colectomy

Rock_Robster
Posts: 1027
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 5:27 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Postby Rock_Robster » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:31 pm

I had my gallbladder removed along with my liver resection, and I’ve honestly never missed it. At first some people find it harder to digest fatty foods (like fried foods and dairy), as your gallbladder helps store the bile that breaks down fats. However over time your system adjusts and you can store bile in other ways (which is amazing). You still produce bile, you just don’t have as big a “fuel tank” for it. Some people also say taking a digestive enzyme supplement with meals for the first few weeks can help with the adjustment.

Now I have absolutely zero symptoms of not having a gallbladder. I’d follow your surgeon’s advice regarding what to do with it.

Best of luck,
Rob
41M Australia
2018 Dx RC
G2 EMVI LVI, 4 liver mets
pT3N1aM1a Stage IVa MSS NRAS G13R
CEA 14>2>32>16>19>30>140>70
11/18 FOLFOX
3/19 Liver resection
5/19 Pelvic IMRT
7/19 ULAR
8/19 Liver met
8/19 FOLFOX, FOLFOXIRI, FOLFIRI
12/19 Liver resection
NED 2 years
11/21 Liver met, PALN, lung nodules
3/22 PVE, lymphadenectomy, liver SBRT
10/22 PALN SBRT
11/22 Liver mets, peri nodule. Xeloda+Bev
4/23 XELIRI+Bev
9/23 ATRIUM trial
12/23 Modified FOLFIRI+Bev
3/24 VAXINIA (CF33 + hNIS) trial

User avatar
ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Postby ginabeewell » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:53 pm

I had mine removed with my colon resection when they installed an HAI pump (anyone with a pump gets it removed). I honestly couldn’t tell whether digestive issues were the result of that or my colon resection; but either way I didn’t notice much difference after a few weeks time.

Incidentally my stepdaughter had hers removed when she was about 10 and doesn’t seem to have any remaining effects at all; and trust me she downs the Takis and the 1 am French fries like the teen she now is.
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

User avatar
Jacques
Posts: 678
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:38 am
Location: Occitanie

Re: Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Postby Jacques » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:06 am

Gallstones
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gallstones

What causes a gall bladder attack?
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/what-causes-a-gallbladder-attack

Causes and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Disease
https://www.verywellhealth.com/gallbladder-disease-causes-and-risk-factors-4163883

Note:
Whatever you decide to do about your gall bladder, I think that there is another issue that needs to be addressed, and that is your diet. If you read the 3rd article above you will see that one of the risk factors of gall bladder disease is poor diet. You may need to get a referral to a good dietitian who can analyze your typical diet and recommend a better one.

You can also download the "Gall Bladder Disease Doctor Discussion Guide"
https://files.verywellhealth.com/doctor-discussion-guides/Gallbladder+Disease+Doctor+Discussion+Guide.pdf

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Gall bladder removal and sigmoid resection?

Postby Gravelyguy » Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:10 pm

I had my gallbladder removed about a year after finishing chemo because of gall stones. The stones were the most painful thing I have had to endure. The surgery was a little tricky because of all my previous cancer surgeries but i had no long term side effects from its removal.

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 113 guests