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#58829 08-20-2006 09:19 AM
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Ellen Offline OP
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My husband is currently hospitalized with cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation). He is scheduled for surgery in two days to remove the gallbladder. The doctors mentioned that his gallbladder is full of "sludge", probably due to the 3 1/2 months of TPN therapy.

In searching the Web, I ran across a few mentions that gallbladder problems caused by sludge may correct themselves after 1-4 months post TPN. Has anyone had any personal experience with this?


Ellen,caregiver to husband,Doug
Tonsillectomy 2/6/06;DX 2/9/06 right tonsil SCC; 1 node right side; don't know stage (III?);completed chemo 4X 3/29/06;radiation 36x 5/1/06
#58830 08-20-2006 12:30 PM
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Ellen
you are the first person to mention gallbladder issues here. Did the doctors think that this has a correllation to his treatment?


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#58831 08-20-2006 03:52 PM
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Gallbladder califications/crystals/stones can be caused by long term PEG use.... been there - had to have the damn thing taken out a couple of years ago when I suddently doubled up in a ball of extreme pain. Docs said there were hundreds of small stones in it and it had become necrotic.


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
#58832 08-20-2006 08:20 PM
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In a spiral CT scan, it was discovered quite by accident that I have gallstones - asymptomatic to this point. The gastroenterologist said something about Fat, Fifty, and Female, of which only the last two apply to me, meaning they are common. However, I read that sudden weight loss can also be a cause. 45 lbs. during 7 weeks of radiation is sudden in my book, so I look upon it as a side effect of tx. With the exception of chocolate ice cream and the occasional cheesecake, I eat a basically low fat diet, which I think serves to prevent problems.

Brian, do you have to follow a special diet, or are there any absolute restrictions after gallbladder removal?

#58833 08-21-2006 03:32 AM
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Hey JoAnne,

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 27. Nothing to do with the PEG, obviously, but I didn't follow any special diet afterwards. I started having attacks when I was 21 and the attacks started coming every month when I hit the age of 26. Took them a year to diagnose me, kept saying I had to be "fat and fourty" to have gallbladder..........even though my grandmother was standing there telling the fools that SHE had hers removed when she was 30 and that it ran in the family!
So, after removal, my eating was better to be honest as now corn and buttery things didn't set off an attack.
Minnie


SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
#58834 08-21-2006 09:21 AM
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HI GUYS, I HAD TO HAVE MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED A FEWS YEARS AGO TO. WAS NOT ON THE PEG AT ALL BUT
STILL HAD STONES IN THE GALLBLADDER. WAS GLAD TO
HAVE IT OUT TOO.
CATHY


Cathy
#58835 08-21-2006 02:17 PM
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Brian, if long term [how long is long?] peg use can cause gall bladder problems, are there any preventative measures? Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

:
#58836 08-23-2006 10:51 AM
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Ellen Offline OP
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Thanks all,
I've been at the hospital with Doug since I posted the last message so I just got your replies. Doug came through the first surgery okay, but now there are complications and they'll do another surgery tomorrow.

In some of my research, I discovered that gallbladder problems can occur in as little as 3 weeks on TPN. I don't know if it is the same with the PEG tube. Doug was on TPN for 3 1/2 months. He has lost about 55 pounds during treatment and recovery.

The official name is cholecystitis, so you can always do a web search if you want more info.


Ellen,caregiver to husband,Doug
Tonsillectomy 2/6/06;DX 2/9/06 right tonsil SCC; 1 node right side; don't know stage (III?);completed chemo 4X 3/29/06;radiation 36x 5/1/06

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