Hep C

[Harry Potter]

I just got the results of my abdominal scan back (36 y.o. male w/an AFP of 20.5, ALT 17 AST 16, VL 4,067 & unknown geno), and it turns out I have a gallstone!  I eat a pretty healthy diet, don't drink anymore since the Hep C diagnosis (infected perhaps a year, diagnosed last month), and am not overweight (maybe 5 lbs. max); my last cholesterol screening was 171.  My mother had gallstones & had her gallbladder removed at age 47.  I'm wondering if the Hep C could've caused or contributed to mine?

[copyman]

gallstones are very common with HCV. leave the stones alone unless they bother you. do not rush to have the GB removed.

[chcnme]

It can be related to Hep C and genetics, too.  I'll have to kindly disagree with part of copyman's opinion on removal, and that is - if your docs ever recommend having it removed because of ongoing gall bladder disease  (cholecystitis) don't wait too late because the mortality rate with sepsis from a gangrenous GB (which you can get from stones)  and rupture of GB is pretty high. I knew one person with Hep C who waited too late  (docs had recommended removal; she waited until she was in severe pain, they scheduled her for removal, and she died from sepsis (no doubt gall bladder rupture.)  I knew another (without Hep C) who ignored docs recommendation to get his removed, he waited until high fever, severe pain, they admitted him, he died from sepsis very quickly from ruptured gall bladder.  Just last week a friend of the families went to the docs complaining of chest pain.  Docs told him it was probably indigestion and sent him home.  His wife found him in the recliner the next morning, unconscious. He died at the hospital about two hours after the ER got him there.  Cause of death was sepsis, believed to be from ruptured gall bladder  (reason for the chest pain, probably.)  I bet the docs who sent him home are wishing they had not.

[wyntre9]

OMG!

[chcnme]

Yeah...I blame this recent one on the docs who sent him home.  The other two ...well, they just waited too late.  The docs had told them and told them it needed to come out (they had been complaining of episodic pain for a few years.)  If I am ever told I have GB disease and I have pain, I won't hesitate if a GI doc tells me it's time to get it out.  I won't hesitate one second :)

[gazebo1]

Yep, had my GB out a year ago - how they found the hep - and my doc feels the liver damage contributed to the GB problems. Had no choice but to have removed since FULL of stones, ended up 5 hour surgery as come buggers got away, had to open me up to full general, quite a day!  Well, at least the surgeon got to do an easy biopsy of the liver and eyeball everything...quote: "your liver looks like bubble wrap." Nice. So, yes, according to docs I know, HCV and liver damage certainly can lead to GB disease. But, as stated, if the CT scan looks OK, DO NOT have the operation until later. Regards, G.

[chcnme]

Hi aquarius. The two I knew who died didn't follow the docs recommendation to get theirs out.  Many people have GB disease and do just fine and nothing ever happens.  The two I knew who died from the sepsis ignored the docs recommendations to get their GB's removed.  I don't know why they waited until they were in that kind of pain.  I lost a very good friend to a ruptured GB because he was too stubborn to get it out, and so - whenever anyone makes a comment to not get one removed, well - I can't just not say something.  The girl with Hep C was also very sick with hers (always talking about severe pain), and everyone encouraged her to go to the docs, and she finally did, and her GI scheduled her for removal the next day, and she didn't make it out of the hospital.  I don't know if treatment can make it worse, but your GI doc will stay on top of it! You're gonna be fine :)

[copyman]

i had 2 top hepatologists say leave it alone if it is not bothering you. my ultrasound showed multiple stones but was told many people have gallstones and live fine with them. there are also many people that rush into having the gallbladder out after dx of stones and wish they had not. after having it out they now run to the bathroom 5 mins after every meal and still have the same pain they had before surgery! there are many UNnesscery GB operations every year. dont get me wrong, if a GB is causing pain then have it out, if not leave what god gave you intact.

[aquarius64]

a few months ago i went to the E.R. with URQ pain, so bad i couldn't sleep. no fever. they did an US of my abd. and found a minute gall stone, but quite a few gall bladder polyps. gave me a pain med injection, then later the pain was gone. my gastro said not to worry and to follow up with the US in 6 months or after i finish tx. could tx make the GB worsen? do you know anything of polyps in the GB? i did look it up online, but what i found didn't make me feel worried, yet. thanks.