gallbladder and gerd - help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2006
gallbladder and gerd - help!
6
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 7:53am

Can anyone help please?

I am a 45 year old female from the UK with a 15 year history of GERD. To cut a long story short, in December 2004 I had a laproscopic fundoplication which successfully eradicated my daytime reflux but unfortunately not my nighttime reflux (the ph test showed I'm still refluxing at night). Because of this, I take 40mg omeprazole daily to reduce oesophageal damage.

Recently (over the last few months) I have been having gallstone attacks (verified by a scan) so I have been advised to have my gallbladder out.

My problem is this - I have read extensively that having this op can increase reflux, (including bile salts which are meant to be more damaging than the acid!). I've read that 70 percent of oesophageal cancers occur when the reflux is both bile and acid and not acid alone. This scares me terribly because my mother died of oesophageal cancer and her mother died of stomach cancer.

I don't know whether to have this op or not. I'm scare of increasing my chances of cancer. In the UK you are not screened for digestive cancers so a cancer can develop unnoticed until it is too late. Any advice/opinions will be very gratefully received.

Thanks
Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 10:55am

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Welcome Paula, although I am sorry to read that you needed to find this site.


Have you asked your doctor about any other options, besides surgery? Would medication or 'blasting' the stones be an alternative?


You need to sit down with your doctor and voice your concerns, then see what he/she offers as explanations. Can you share where you read the info about a higher rate of esophageal cancers? Copy and print that information to share with your doctor and don't let him/her brush off your worries. You have a right to answers.


I wish I could offer more help, but speaking with your doctor is the best place to start. Let us know what you learn and please visit often!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2006
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 12:17pm

Hi Elise

Thanks for your reply. In the UK they don't recommend blasting the stones because they always come back - apparently (must have something to do with not being cost-effective). I read so many things about oesophageal cancer (I have a bit of a phobia there - I admit)so I don't know exactly where I found it but it does seem to be a recent avenue that is being explored. It was a study into x amount of people with oesophageal cancer. They checked for both acid and bile reflux and found 70 percent were both.

I am due to see the specialist on 22nd August but that is to discuss the operation. It seems I have two choices - have it or don't. If I choose not to and things worsen, I will have to wait a long, long time to be put back on the waiting list so I would like to go to see the specialist, having an idea of what I want to do.

Thanks again Elise, it's good to talk to someone about it.

Paula

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 1:08pm

Here is an article that is pretty recent, but not sure how much it helps you. I will continue searching for some info, as time allows, OK?


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060531095341.htm


Being taken off the waiting list and made to wait longer is not fair and pretty much forces you to make a decision that you might not otherwise make! Trust me, healthcare has its issues no matter where you live.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2006
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 1:24pm
Thanks Elise
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 1:54pm

Hi Paula - If you have stones & are experiencing attacks there may not be a lot of options other than surgery to remove the gallbladder.


Have you tried a very low-fat diet to see if that makes any difference in the attacks?


I can relate to your concerns about cancer -it's something I obsess about from time to time. My mom has a history of cancer (breast cancer 2003 and colon cancer 2005). To ease my anxiety I try to focus on the fact that there are so many other things that come in to play (diet, lifestyle, environment). While I can't control genetics, have little control over environment (ie. when the city sprays for bugs, exposure to exhaust when I walk to/from work) I can take steps to eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy life style. . . .which is often easier said than done.


Please let us know how things are going.


Wishing you all the best,


Jo


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2006
Sun, 07-16-2006 - 5:41pm

Hi Jo

Thanks for that.
Paula