Gallbladadder op abandoned- really scared

Thank you, Sillyoldbird. X

Crossstitchfan

Sillyoldbird

Thank you everybody. I can cope with the prospect of mores serious surgery (just about). It’s the fear of it being cancer which terrifies me. There was just something about the way the way they were talking to me that suggested they were worried about it.
I had to have a colonoscopy this time last year due to a positive bowel screening test. It turned out ok but I just feel a bit punch drunk with it all, Ive had a phobia of cancer most of my life.

Like you, my fear was cancer. I just knew that if I got it, that would be the end. Well, I HAVE got it, but it isn’t the end. My particular type of cancer (a Neuroendocrine tumour in various places all over my body) is being held in control by monthly hormone injections. Obviously, this won’t work for ever but at nearly 80, I think I’m very lucky that it can be treated to an extent, even if it can’t be cured. It could be so much worse.
I did feel cross with myself for worrying all those years. Maybe that even helped it to grow, who knows? But all the worrying in the world didn’t stop me getting it, so fretting was a total waste of time!
I have the injections done 4-weekly at my home and a very nice nurse comes and does them for me. The trouble is, at my age, I found it quite embarrassing at first to be baring my bottom to a 33 year-old nurse who is definitely male and rather fit! Oh well, if it’s keeping me alive, I’ll just have to put up with it! Luckily, he is lovely and immediately put me at ease. I don’t think twice about it now.

Crossstitch fan its great to hear you’re living well with cancer and lucky you with the fit nurse!

Sillyoldbird

Thank you everybody. I can cope with the prospect of mores serious surgery (just about). It’s the fear of it being cancer which terrifies me. There was just something about the way the way they were talking to me that suggested they were worried about it.
I had to have a colonoscopy this time last year due to a positive bowel screening test. It turned out ok but I just feel a bit punch drunk with it all, Ive had a phobia of cancer most of my life.

Like you, my fear was cancer. I just knew that if I got it, that would be the end. Well, I HAVE got it, but it isn’t the end. My particular type of cancer (a Neuroendocrine tumour in various places all over my body) is being held in control by monthly hormone injections. Obviously, this won’t work for ever but at nearly 80, I think I’m very lucky that it can be treated to an extent, even if it can’t be cured. It could be so much worse.
I did feel cross with myself for worrying all those years. Maybe that even helped it to grow, who knows? But all the worrying in the world didn’t stop me getting it, so fretting was a total waste of time!
I have the injections done 4-weekly at my home and a very nice nurse comes and does them for me. The trouble is, at my age, I found it quite embarrassing at first to be baring my bottom to a 33 year-old nurse who is definitely male and rather fit! Oh well, if it’s keeping me alive, I’ll just have to put up with it! Luckily, he is lovely and immediately put me at ease. I don’t think twice about it now.

This is such a lovely forum. Thanks you so much to everyone who has taken the trouble to comment and offer advice.

Sillyoldbird, hope you are feeling a bit easier now after speaking to your daughter. These waits do get to us all I think. Sending you very best wishes for the very best outcome.

We all get white coat syndrome and forget things.
Keeping fingers crossed for you and everyone having tests for one thing or another. I’ve just sent my ‘stool’ away and waiting for results. 😫

That’s great to know keepingquiet. Very positive outcome.

I’m a complete wreck waiting for any test results so all I can say is I understand how you feel x

Sillyoldbird

Keepingquiet sorry to hear all about your cancer diagnosies. I hope everything is going well for you now?

12 years ago. Grateful to the NHS every day. Living my life now, fit and well.

Glad your problem is getting sorted.

Sorry to keep posting. Bit of an update. I found out that the surgeon found my gallbladder was really stuck and was quite firm to touch, as was my liver.

He was concerned as he said this could be caused by infection or inflammation but as I hadn’t advised him of any infection-like symptoms, he had to consider the possibility of cancer, which doesn’t cause infection-like symptoms. Also the surgery is more likely to be problematic so hence the MRI , and also a CT scan apparently.

But I did have quite a nasty gallbladder related infection late last year, when I was ill for nearly three weeks. I don’t think he asked me about this during consultation so I didn’t mention it. I’ve also had minor trouble since then.

I suppose this is better news at least. But I don’t fancy the three week wait for scans and I don’t know how I’ll get through this period.

I know everyone has a different experience, but I’d love to hear from anyone who can relate to this.

Keepingquiet sorry to hear all about your cancer diagnosies. I hope everything is going well for you now?

*minded him ringing my daughter, not me. I don’t know how to edit the post directly

Luckygirl , about medical communication; what I can’t understand is why he couldn’t have uttered a few reassuring words. A simple, “gallbladder cancer is very rare, try not to worry” would have helped. And perhaps telling me how long the biopsy results would be.

Instead he just said that he understood the waiting is very stressful and then asked if he minded me ringing my daughter - which stressed me no end! He hasn’t rung her by the way.

I hope all goes well with your thyroid biopsy.

I can absolutely understand why you were unnerved by this ... you had geared yourself up for one thing (bad enough in itself) and found yourself facing another. It could of course be many things they saw that made an open operation necessary (adhesions definitely one) and they needed to send you back to the NHS for this as they were booked to do keyhole.
It is human nature to jump to the worst conclusion, and it is a shame that medical communication is often inadequate.
I am awaiting the results if a thyroid biopsy and, although I have be told it is most likely benign, my mind heads for worst case scenario ... we all do it!
I hope that things will be sorted for you soon and send good wishes.

They were probably more worried they weren't going to get paid after all!

I really hope this gets sorted for you soon. I have had cancer twice- you're in good company lol!

I hope it turns out alright Sillyoldbird I hope they don’t take too long with the results, it is pretty nerve wracking waiting. Whatever they say it is better to know what you are dealing with.

Good to hear you’re less worried after a very unsettling experience. Of course no one minds you posting again. I do understand and have experienced how some medics are less than careful with the way they speak to the person in their care. Please come back at any time if it helps, if you can let us know how it all works out. Wishing you the best.

Thank you argymargy. The user name is appropriate- I’m affectionately known as Pigeon at home - hence the bird part. As you can probably guess, I’m also very silly sometimes.

We’ll skate over the old part (I’m 67)

I’m glad you’re feeling slightly better this morning and I hope you don’t have to wait long for the answers you need. Wishing you all the best - and I love your user name!

I hope no one minds me posting on here again. Writing it down helps me rationalise my thoughts a little.

After all the doom and gloom yesterday, I’ve had chance to talk to others and think more about what was actually said to me yesterday, so I feel slightly less anxious.

One thing I found out was that GB cancer is very rare - around 1 - 2 in every 100,000 in the general population (but higher in people in my risk group). It only accounts for 1% of all cancers. A biopsy in this op is routine.

I also thought about what people around me said after the op - the anaesthetist made an off the cuff remark after the sturgeon had gone - “of course I couldn’t see exactly what the surgeon saw, but I think it’ll be ok”

Also a lovely lady in the bay opposite, who overheard the conversation said, “For what it’s worth, I heard it in a more positive light than you did. Confirming that my usual panic reaction doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual situation.

Lastly, my daughter who is a medical professional, is a friend of the ODP who was at the op. She (with my consent) told her that the gallbladder was indeed very stuck down with adhesions. This is possibly what the surgeon meant when he said things weren’t consistent with the scan.

All a bit anecdotal, but just wanted to give a more balanced explanation now that I’m marginally less hysterical.

Massive thanks again to all who replied.

All done by keyhole surgery I should add.

I had two MRI scans before I had my gall bladder removed last November. I had the operation in a NHS hospital and was warned before going to theatre that I might need open surgery.
I had stones lodged in the bile duct. Fortunately they were able to remove my gallbladder, and the little stones were removed robotically. Stayed in overnight and home the next day.
I hope that all goes well with your open surgery. Try not to worry.

Silverlining, overthinking is my specialty. I am going over and over things in my head.
Things keep coming back to me that the surgeon said, eg that my prior ultrasound was inconsistent with what he could see when he operated. What on earth does that mean? I didn’t ask at the time as I was so shell shocked.
Then when a nurse asked how I was, I told her I was worried about what he said about the possibility of cancer. She started telling me about how curable it was these days and it could be caught in the early stages. Pretty sure she also said something about being able to take part of my liver away.
I’m just so stressed

Like any of us who have had scares we all have to wait and hope all will be well, because it almost certainly will be. You were upset and may have read more into what they said.
Let us know how it goes. Good luck 🤞

Just to say I’m so sorry you have this upset. I would feel exactly the same.
I had a keyhole hiatus hernia plus abdominal hernia operation last October and the surgeon warned me that he might not be able to do a keyhole procedure, but would try. This was in a NHS hospital and I imagine if it had been private, I might have had my operation delayed too.

I wish you all the very best🌺