Gall Bladder Removal and PD

[jcanavera]

It looks like my wife will need to have her gall bladder removed.  She recently had discomfort in the area just above her stomach.  Since it occurred on a weekend our PD nurse advised us to go to the local ER just to make sure we didn't have a possible peritoneal infection.  As it ended up the tests show she has pancreatitus due to a potential issue with her gall bladder.  Surgeons are recommending removal.  Our renal doc says this is not uncommon and we will have to talk about how we will accomplish this.  I've read some postings about patients who have stayed with PD right after surgery using CF and reduced fluid.  We currently are on a Baxter Cycler.

Have any of you had to to this and what were your experience.  I'm so afraid that this surgery could screw up her PD.  I hate to see her have to go to memo.  PD with the cycler has been working well since we started in August.

Jack

[JLM]

I had a hernia surgery and I was put on Hemo for 3 weeks in the hospital.  A catheter was inserted in my neck ans removed before I left the hospital.  Good Luck to ya.

[jcanavera]

Well we got good news and Drs have gone through all the imagery and have decided not to remove the gall bladder.  They did note that there was a risk of losing PD function from the surgery.

Jack

[cassandra]

Good news

     

[jcanavera]

Unfortunately my wife is back in hospital with another pancreatic attack.  CT scan still shows no stones but gastro docs still think that the ultimate resolution is gall bladder removal.  I think she is going to double down and be even more careful regarding her fatty/greasy food intake to see if this can be controlled by a better diet.  We know she did 3 days of food that had a high fat/grease content that may have kicked this episode off.  PD doc says he has had PD patients who successfully returned to PD after surgery.  Still the chance is there that there that we might have to go back to hemo permanently if her peritoneum is compromised.  This would be a blow since clinic Hemo really depressed her.  We will see.

Jack

[cassandra]

A 'diet' on PD or a diet on HD? I know which one I'd chose. How's your wife doing Jack?

Love, Cas

[jcanavera]

They kept her 3 days with good pain meds.  Drs. still do not see any pancreatic infection or stones blocking any ducts.  Latest guess is either she is passing stones which is irritating the ducts, or "sludge" which irritates things.  One gastro doc came in and said that in 85% of the cases removing the gall bladder will cure the issue, and if it doesn't they will look for something else.  Translation in her ears is "we are guessing".

At this point we are going to be careful and stay away from anything greasy or high fat.  Docs say that stimulates the pancreas to work harder to help digest.  She's always been subject to pain from greasy fatty foods.  We never equated it to pancreatitis, but after two attacks in 4 months I think we have put a name on the problem.  Prior to her going on PD, we would have just ridden it out, put with the potential of peritonitis being the cause back in December, we finally got the real culprit of her pain diagnosed.

Now we have turned the page to another problem.  Since going on PD she's had multiple UTI's or yeast infections.  She had one yeast infection for 6 weeks that couldn't be diagnosed  Was very painful.  After weekly urine tests they finally found it and put her on a 14 day course of Diflucan.  1 week pain free and it's back again.  This time docs didn't wait for the results of the urine tests and put her on a 7 day course.  Results of the test came back yesterday and it's the yeast infection again.  Glad they didn't wait.  Her nephrologist and urologist both have recommended that she see an infections disease specialist.  Diflucan works but does have a risk due to her also being on an afib drug.  Not sure if any of you have had this or whether there is anything to prevent these infections from popping up.  She doesn't have a lot of urine output which probably has a lot to do with her being prone to these infections.

Jack