Liver Update - $#%#@& Gallbladder
 

So, you may remember that I had been posting about my liver enzymes running high for about three months, and my onc not being overly concerned, but waiting to talk to my GI (I have Crohn's) about it.

Sure enough, the nite before the GI would be back, I had an acute attack of pain, nausea, vomiting and my bowels shut down entirely. I also had tightness around my chest. My sister was visiting, and I told her if vicoding could get me through the nite, I'd rather go see the GI in the AM than go to the ER in the middle of the nite. So that's what we did. BTW, I was pretty sure I was not having a heart attack, and my sister had a gallbladder attack last year with chest tightness.

My regular GI was of course, crazy busy, so I saw one of his junior partners. I was terrified that it was an obstruction or cancer in my liver. They did an EKG, normal, and blood, normal, off to the radiology center for an ultrasound. DX: bug fat ugly gallbladder that needs to come out. Was admitted to hospital, finally put on pain meds and antibiotics and surgery the next day.

They were sceptical that they would be able to do the surgery laparoscopically b/c I have a lot of scar tissue from other surgeries. But I made that my intention as I was wheeling into surgery, and though it took them four hours, they were able to do it. So now I only feel like a horse has trampled me.

Interesting note for all my friends here: It never occurred to my GI that I was worried about liver mets! When my onc's jr. partner stopped by, he said, thank god it wasn't mets, he totally got it. So even though it is absolutely top of mind for all of us, it's not for all the doctors we run across. Crazy.

So surgery Fri, released Sunday, home resting. Should be back to work next week. And my liver enzymes were already getting back to normal while I was in the hospital.

Rebecca

oh is a good news after all....great ...congratulations ...

Dear Rebecca,

I agree with Lily GREAT NEWS!. And I am so happy your liver enzymes are getting better also. Take good care of yourself.

Love Karen

Rebecca -

What a world we BC survivors live in - we are HAPPY to have a gallbladder attack and surgery - hey it's better than you know what!!!
Thanks for posting your "great" news.

Take it easy while you recover.

all the best
caya

Rebecca, I'm sorry about the pain you had to go through, but I'm so glad it wasn't mets, and it is really amazing that the docs. don't consider your worries about that. Prayers for you and yours, Bill

Thank goodness... good news.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Karen

Whew Rebecca!!! What a scare but thank goodness it was your gallbladder. Knowing that, doesn't it make recovery, dispite the pain, that much easier to bear??!!
God bess.....
Maryanne

Thanks for the support, friends.

My younger son, 14 and so sensitive it hurts, is just distraught - like, when will it ever stop? I can't blame him, and I can't promise him anything. I breaks my heart.

Rebecca,

That is fantastic news.

I posted as a fellow liver mets gal and have been thinking of you frequently. What a relief that it wasn't a cancer flare up and the issue could be resolved!!!

We also share in having a compassionate 14 year old child. (mine is a 15 year old girl). I know that we will win this war because we simply have to....we will be here for them.

I go to the onc on Thursday for my regularly scheduled 3 week Herceptin infusion. I'll receive a full blood work up at that time and hope that the enzymes that were out of whack were somehow related to a bout of the flu.

Again....congrats and here's to a speedy recovery!!!

Rebecca I'm so happy you got that gallbladder out and you're on your way to feeling so much better! I had liver enzyme problems - back when I was readmitted to the hospital for difficulty breathing (day 7 after my Diep surgery). A cat scan showed a gallstone - and elevated liver levels - and they started to blame that for my fever. The surgeon was all set to operate on me when the gastroenterologist looked over the report and said the enzymes in question were NOT suggestive of a blocked bile duct and that the stone in my gallbladder was just quietly minding it's own business. (Thank God for this very intelligent man!) My liver enzymes were high due to a staph infection in my abdomen. So I was spared the gall bladder surgery, thank God! I was in enough pain from the Diep surgery!

ANYWAY - when it rains it pours, right? They told me once my abdominal incision heals, they want me to remove the gallbladder. I'm in no hurry - but I hope I never get a bad attack like you did! I've had enough pain the past 2 months to last me a lifetime!