1. < Transplants

Sick Gall Bladder

Posted by hogan_g1937 @hogan_g1937, Feb 27, 2018

Good morning all, I really enjoy reading all the discussions. My question is my husband is waiting on a liver due to alcohol abuse and Hep-C. He is being treated for HCC. He also has a bad gal bladder that is giving him the blues and he is always in pain. The doctors have said it is too dangerous to remove the gall bladder and they are waiting to remove it when he has the transplant. I am afraid he will get gain green which I have been told can happen. Any suggestions/

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 27, 2018

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since your earlier post in January? I can understand him feeling 'blue' with the pain he is currently experiencing. I do not have any experience with the gall bladder issue. It sounds like his doctors have his best interest in mind by avoiding a surgical procedure that would be dangerous for him at this time. Try to take some comfort in knowing that they want what is in his best interest, and try to hold on to the hope that this is a temporary situation.

I have learned that we cannot prevent emergencies, but the good news is that we can do our part by taking immediate action if/when needed. In my own experience, while waiting for my liver transplant, when my kidneys failed suddenly, my husband took immediate action and got me to the ER.. I understand your fear. And I don't want to add fear, but are you aware of the signs of infection that would require immediate action?
Here is information about the gall bladder if you want to look at it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholecystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20364867
Is he currently active on the transplant list? What are they telling you about pain relief?
Rosemary

REPLY
16 replies
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Feb 27, 2018
In reply to @rosemarya "@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since your earlier post in January? I can understand him feeling 'blue' with the pain he is currently experiencing. I do not have any experience with the gall bladder issue. It sounds like his doctors have his best interest in mind by avoiding a surgical procedure that would be dangerous for him at this time. Try to take some comfort in knowing that they want what is in his best interest, and try to hold on to the hope that this is a temporary situation.

I have learned that we cannot prevent emergencies, but the good news is that we can do our part by taking immediate action if/when needed. In my own experience, while waiting for my liver transplant, when my kidneys failed suddenly, my husband took immediate action and got me to the ER.. I understand your fear. And I don't want to add fear, but are you aware of the signs of infection that would require immediate action?
Here is information about the gall bladder if you want to look at it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholecystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20364867
Is he currently active on the transplant list? What are they telling you about pain relief?
Rosemary

Jump to this post

Yes he is on the transplant list. From my understanding since being treated for the liver cancer (hcc) points were added to his MELD score which has pushed him up on the list. Yes he has been experiencing this over a year now, I just wish he could get some relief from the pain.

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 27, 2018
In reply to @rosemarya "@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since your earlier post in January? I can understand him feeling 'blue' with the pain he is currently experiencing. I do not have any experience with the gall bladder issue. It sounds like his doctors have his best interest in mind by avoiding a surgical procedure that would be dangerous for him at this time. Try to take some comfort in knowing that they want what is in his best interest, and try to hold on to the hope that this is a temporary situation.

I have learned that we cannot prevent emergencies, but the good news is that we can do our part by taking immediate action if/when needed. In my own experience, while waiting for my liver transplant, when my kidneys failed suddenly, my husband took immediate action and got me to the ER.. I understand your fear. And I don't want to add fear, but are you aware of the signs of infection that would require immediate action?
Here is information about the gall bladder if you want to look at it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholecystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20364867
Is he currently active on the transplant list? What are they telling you about pain relief?
Rosemary

Jump to this post

@hogan_g1937, As a recipient, I know that my husband, also, struggled to see me getting sicker with the seemingly non-ending wait. There were many times when we just held on to each other, and cried. (and people told us how brave we were) But our time did come. Your time WILL come. Then you can begin to live "Happily ever after".
Is there anything that can be done for the pain while he is going thru this?
Rosemary

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 27, 2018

Hi @hogan_g1937 I think you will relate to the experiences of fellow caregivers of liver transplant recipients in waiting. Please meet @28snash @jodeej @marynlogan and @chevynova67

Hogan, I invite you to join the conversation here:
- Are there any other pre-liver transplant caregivers out there? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-there-any-other-pre-liver-transplant-caregivers-out-there/

REPLY
1 reply
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Feb 28, 2018
In reply to @rosemarya "@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry to hear of your husband's continuing pain. Has it become worse since your earlier post in January? I can understand him feeling 'blue' with the pain he is currently experiencing. I do not have any experience with the gall bladder issue. It sounds like his doctors have his best interest in mind by avoiding a surgical procedure that would be dangerous for him at this time. Try to take some comfort in knowing that they want what is in his best interest, and try to hold on to the hope that this is a temporary situation.

I have learned that we cannot prevent emergencies, but the good news is that we can do our part by taking immediate action if/when needed. In my own experience, while waiting for my liver transplant, when my kidneys failed suddenly, my husband took immediate action and got me to the ER.. I understand your fear. And I don't want to add fear, but are you aware of the signs of infection that would require immediate action?
Here is information about the gall bladder if you want to look at it.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cholecystitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20364867
Is he currently active on the transplant list? What are they telling you about pain relief?
Rosemary

Jump to this post

Hi @rosemarya he is prescribed pain meds tramadol that don't seem to be working well. They don't want to prescribe anything stronger in fear that it will harm the liver more. So for now he just deal with the pain best he can.

REPLY
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Feb 28, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @hogan_g1937 I think you will relate to the experiences of fellow caregivers of liver transplant..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @hogan_g1937 I think you will relate to the experiences of fellow caregivers of liver transplant recipients in waiting. Please meet @28snash @jodeej @marynlogan and @chevynova67

Hogan, I invite you to join the conversation here:
- Are there any other pre-liver transplant caregivers out there? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/are-there-any-other-pre-liver-transplant-caregivers-out-there/

Jump to this post

thanks

REPLY
jodeej | @jodeej | Feb 28, 2018

@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall bladder removed. He also has HCC and his score was recently bumped up due to that. Unfortunately I do not have any ideas what you could do for pain control in the mean time other than to suggest yoga or deep breathing to get through it. I know this isn't much help.
JoDee

REPLY
8 replies
hogan_g1937 | @hogan_g1937 | Feb 28, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall..." + (show)
@jodeej

@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall bladder removed. He also has HCC and his score was recently bumped up due to that. Unfortunately I do not have any ideas what you could do for pain control in the mean time other than to suggest yoga or deep breathing to get through it. I know this isn't much help.
JoDee

Jump to this post

Thanks JoDee, he is handling his pain much better than me. He is up all during the night due to the pain. Any suggestions to help him sleep?

REPLY
jodeej | @jodeej | Feb 28, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall..." + (show)
@jodeej

@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall bladder removed. He also has HCC and his score was recently bumped up due to that. Unfortunately I do not have any ideas what you could do for pain control in the mean time other than to suggest yoga or deep breathing to get through it. I know this isn't much help.
JoDee

Jump to this post

I know magnesium is good for sleeping as is valerian root. You can ask the doctor if it is ok to try them. I really like CALM which is a magnesium product.

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 28, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall..." + (show)
@jodeej

@hogan_g1937 the way my husband learned he had Hep C was because he had his gall bladder removed. He also has HCC and his score was recently bumped up due to that. Unfortunately I do not have any ideas what you could do for pain control in the mean time other than to suggest yoga or deep breathing to get through it. I know this isn't much help.
JoDee

Jump to this post

@hogan_g1937, I am sorry that you are learning that waiting for an organ transplant is not like it is portrayed in movies or on TV. All of our journeys are different, yet alike. It was especially hard on my husband to see that I was so miserable. He would tell me how helpless he felt. And I did not like making him feel like that.
Before transplant, I could not sleep, or even lie, propped up in bed, for more that 2 hours. My suggestions might be: back rubs, lots of blankets/pillows to prop and support, pacing the floor, throw the clock away (because it seems to stop), try to find something positive look forward to in the morning.
Rosemary

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