Mom-gallbladder & stones& colon cancer

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mom-gallbladder & stones& colon cancer
5
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 11:07pm

Hi ladies - well - I've been meaning to post - but there just haven't been enough hours in the day.


To re-cap my digestive history:



  •  diagnosed with gallstones Aug/03  (acute attack - really no symptoms prior to dx) No family history that I was aware of and not over weight)

  • gallbladder removed Feb/04

  • experienced 'phantom pains' (had none before dx) to this day. Have had several ultrasounds done, blood work is done every 3 months. Some times liver enzymes are high - other times normal. Ultrasounds unremarkable. Next Dr apt Jan 10

  • must follow low-fat diet and avoid diary, meat & eggs. A few slips these past few weeks and the pain has been everpresent last few days. Liquid diet this weekend.

Mom (this is new info)



  • Breast cancer Feb/04 - lump removed. Didn't spread to lymph nodes so chemo not required. (I think I've mentioned this part)

  • Dec 05/ diagnosed with colon cancer.

  • Surgery Dec 23 to remove part of colon. Pathology is expected back Jan 10

  • While the surgeon was there she noticed the gallbladder was enlarged, walls thick and it was full of stones - so it was removed.

  • Mom is doing very well and is being discharged from hospital tomorrow.

Right now she's looking at this as a 'wake up call' and plans to change her eating habits (mom has always had really bad eating habits and is over weight). It will certainly be a challenge - but not impossible. A change of attitude is the biggest hurdle.


In my Googling I came upon this info about gallbladder removal & colon cancer . . . . .a good reminder for those of us who are gallbladder free to make healthy food choices.


Study that links removal of gallbladder to colon cancer


 

Like any study - you can pick it apart - but it does make sense that since the bile acid has no place to live (formerly hung out in GB till needed for digestion) that there is potential for damage to the empty intestines with it trickling down them on an on-going basis. My opinion of these results is that it would be a good idea to eat small healthy meals on a regular basis (rather than no breakfast, light lunch and big evening meal - or some such irregular combo). The small bits of food should give the bile something to do (other than eat away at the intestines).

 


This site doesn't have a professional look to it - but the information seems to make sense.

 

Any thoughts from others on this.

 

Wishing you all health, happiness & prosperity in 2006,

Jo

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 12:44am
Hi Jo,
Can I ask what your "phantom pains" are like? Where are they located and what do they feel like. Also, do you have any other type of abdominal, or back pain or discomfort? I'm curious because of your liver enzymes being sometimes elevated. Have they given you a reason for that? And do you have any other health problems? LOL, this may be way more info that you want to give me. If that's the case, I completely understand.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Glad you mom is recuperating well.
Ronda
Avatar for diamond_0
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2004
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 1:43am

Great articles..thanks for posting. They definately make sense. I experience nausea, cramps and diarrhea if I go to long without eating anything. I have a habit of only eating a handful of cereal for breakfast and nothing for hours afterwards, which usually ends up in diarrhea. At times, on an empty stomach, I feel a "burning" sensation across my whole abdomen and wonder if maybe it is the bile in my intestines. I have started to make a habit of always having something in my stomach to avoid the "burning". It would seem that I am at a disadvantage with the colon cancer risk because I have had 2 relatives die from it and I am also without a gallbladder. :o(

Donna M

PS-Glad to hear your mom is doing well.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 10:36am

Hey Jo!


I am sorry to hear about your mom.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 11:07am

Hi ladies - thank you for your kind thoughts.


Phantom pains are what they call it when you experience the same discomfort you had when the organ was still there. In the case of the gb it's just under the ribs on the right side. It's funny because I didn't expereince chronic pain prior to having the gb removed. For the first sereval months post-op I was told I was 'just adjusting' - then they did an ultrasound to find a bile duct enlarged. The repeated the u/s a few weeks after & it was 'normal'. So they are scratching their heads.


The liver enzymes some and go. I go for blood tests every three months. I always go first thing in the morning on an empty stomach (aside from tea or coffee). I'll have my tests on a Friday - see the Dr on the following Tuesday. If they are abnormal he'll repeat them that day & the generally come back normal. I get copies of my lab tests - so I can actally see for myself.


Other health challenges -



  • Lupus (dx 15 yrs ago) currently not on Rx and symptoms under control

  • female things -

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2003
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 5:08pm

Jo,
Your pain actually sounds like the pain I have with my liver disease (NASH). Because of where it's at, I always assumed my was gall bladder pain, but it's not. My liver enzymes are sometimes elevated and sometimes normal too, that's typical of NASH. If that pain continues, it might be something you'd want to ask your Dr. about. Unfortunately the only sure way to diagnose NASH is with a liver biopsy.

Ronda