Cirrhosis Support Group

When I had cirrhosis, my gallbladder started going crazy too. The gallstones were absolutely horrible. Painful. Like we don't have enough to worry about? When I was in the hospital, they gave me I.V. dilaudid to deal with the pain, but there wasn't much else they could do. Forunately, I received a liver transplant and while replacing my liver they tossed the gallbladder away. I think what you are experiencing is quite "normal" for someone with cirrhosis, but you should be concerned. If it's causing a lot of pain, you need to let your gastroenterologist know.

HI just wanted to say I to have cirrhosis liver i in stage4 but I got my gallbladder out and I'am doing find I don't hurt as bad anymoreI hope this help

I, too, had much pain and was very sick due to a gall bladder attacks. They said my gall bladder is totally full with tiny stones that kept coming out into the portals and ducts and in turn would cause me to have bouts of pancreatitis. Unfortunately for me, they cannot remove the gall bladder until I reach the transplant stage and then they will just remove it at that time. My blood platelets are low which, as you know causes bleeding problems and I seem to have such violent reactions to platelet transfusions so they won't even think about doing a surgery. I assume that they can do gall bladder removal via laser but I am not sure if they can when there are so many stones involved. I take Ursodiol twice daily and that seems to have slowed down the attacks.......at least for now. I also had the ducts "stretched" (no stents added that I am aware of) so that the gall stones were not as likely to get stuck causing my pancreatitis. I should be more mindful of what I eat because I know that certain foods will likely cause gall bladder problems but so far, I haven't eaten anything that has created a problem. Guess I do follow a pretty healthy diet with not a lot of fried or spicy foods. Blessings.....CarolLentz

Nearly had my gallbladder removed about five years ago when first diagnosed.

Apparently a common side effect of cirrhosis. They sent me for an ultra sound and saw "sludge" in the ducts, so were nearly reado to remove it, simple because it does so often cause problems.

Luckily my doctor stepped in and I had an MRI and everything turned out to be harmless.

Since you've had the CT, they probably to have a good image and know what they're doing. But for anyone having this done based on simply an ultrasound, I'd get a second opinion.

The way my doctor thinks of it is that an ultrasound is cheap way to alert them to possible problems. If something does show, then they do the more expensive MRI or CT to see if something is really wrong, then proceed from there.

They never do anything based on an ultrasound only. There are to many variables, including the tech, the angle of the pictures and the fact they're sometimes very unreliable. But they're a good first alert.

A HIDA scan showed that my Gall Bladder was nonfunctioning. The surgeon said he did not see a Cirrhosed liver when he was in there. So the big question is why did it stop working. There were no stones inside....maybe in the distant past. I don't know how alcohol plays a role but I've been told that the two go hand in hand!

I would get a second opionion if they wish to remove it unless you are in pain from it.

Lots of gallbladder removals these days....It seems that it is becoming very common. Wonder if it is really necessary. And,also wonder if it too can heal given some time.

Just a thought. My husband's gallbladder had "sludge" but seems fine now.

I had an appendectomy 3 wks ago---now experiencing ALOT of liver issues. And no bowel movement for 15 days. Gall bladder showed sludge, but surgeon refused to remove. i also had gastric bypass 5 yrs ago. NOW I am being treated for "cirrohis" ----but I don't drink alcohol.
I am on lactulose and my liver is flopping around like a hot rock.
TMERC---I am curious as to the answers you seek as well.

I am back after a long bout of living with cirrhosis which was brought on by hep c and diagnosised in '09 .I was given the TX that failed after26-28 wks. The Frickin' Dragon Won
Now after feeling great for all this time, I am experiancing a pain in my liver area mostly in the right lobe but only after a long days work and notice it sometimes after I eat.
All my test are normal\liver functions are normal.no gall stones present.
alphafeto protein marker are normal.am wondering how reliable the alpha feto protein is???Am Soo-oo worried that this iz the Big one and if it iz worry for my children and howthey'll be in all this frickin' Madness.
I pray I'm ok so I can be there for them. Help:o/

Steve0, my GI doc does an abdominal MRI every six months, the alpha feto protein test the opposite six months. So I get MRI, alpha test, MRI, alpha test every year.

The alpha feto protein test is similar to an expectant mother getting an amniocentesis. It's a quick lab test to check for abnormal, as in cancer, proteins between the MRIs.

Not real accurate, but will give them an early alert rather than waiting a few months for the next MRI.

Hi,

I'm 24 years old and was diagnosed with cirrhosis mid 2011 and ended up having my gallbladder removed in September 2011. Like others here have mentioned, my gallbladder was full of "sludge" and lots of tiny little stones.

My doctor recommended that they remove my gall bladder while my liver is still "strong" and also because if my gall bladder was to flare up more, it might make my cirrhosis worse and my liver might "close up shop" as my doctor so eloquently put it.

You should definitely go for more scans and keep an eye of this while taking every precaution.

All the best.