Gallstones

Markit

Gall stones are nothing to worry about: they can be lived with, removed surgically - if very large, removed with ultrasound when caught early enough, ignored. If you have no discomfort forget them until you do. If you decide to go the route of removal check out Singapore as they have the best ultrasound gear around KL is also supposed to be good. Not so much here... My bud had his made into a necklace which he thankfully never wears.

davita

Following my own advice I'm starting a new thread rather than continuing the one about Dengue Fever. I went to Prima Medika today to have my Ultra Scan. They found what appears to be a gallbladder stone although the experts aren't sure. I'm a little frightened but the internest (same Doctor from Siloam) didn't think too much problem unless he sees if it moves in the next month or so. He says it could be a simple polyps which, at my age, had very little chance of becoming virulent and I'd likely die from something else. He didn't appear to be in any haste to take my money so I asssumed there might be a fair bit of life left.....the way my wife spends the money will out first. Gallbladder...they see this Dilatation, no thickening, stone or polyps size 6.4mm, not mobile. The rest of the scan....Spleen normal; Prostrate a little enlarged but has been on previous tests; Liver normal; Pancreas normal; Kidney cyst in right side. Not given much attention.. Left kidney OK; Bladder OK:.....and no other issues. I'm looking for members who have some experience in Gallbladder issues and advice. If this is confirmed I understand it might need to be surgically removed as it's too big to pass normally....what does that entail? I'd heard they can be broken down and passed with some discomfort but I'm already paying for the Full Monty...lie on the bed half in the vodkabag then they make ye breath thru mask Coz the nurse can't smell the milk and cheese stink. Then they get a chain saw started but, I im told thats only for practice..I don't know....so long as it don't hurt much. I have to confess I've never even had discomfort in that area and wonder how it could grow and not be noticed....anyway, appreciate all advice....including jokes.:tongue: FYI...With a Kitas/|Kitap the cost was.... Doctors consultation....Rp. 250,000 Admin Fee ....Rp. 15,000 Radiology Ultra Scan....Rp. 360,000 Total ... Rp 625,000

tintin

Gallstone. I was in the same situation as you are (but that was some 25 years or so ago). The doctor first tried to dissolve it, a painless but long process (about 2 years). About 6 - 8 months in this process, the stones must have moved and I had an attack. The doc. decided that the dissolving it would no longer work, as the attacks would be coming more and more often, so the only possible solution was to remove the whole gallbladder. Except, I HATE hospitals, and I agree if he could do it as an "out patient," which he did. I showed up at the hospital at 9.30 am, and I was home 5 hours later, at 2.30! Of course, this was a laparoscopic procedure. One lives very well without a gallbladder, which is only used to store the bile. With no gallbladder, the bile drips continuously into the intestine, and you can go on drinking and eating without any special diet of any kind (I drink like a fish and eat everything with absolutely no restrictions). Lithotripsy, this procedure which uses ultra sound waves to break up gallstones is now rarely used, and only for people who have chronic inflammation of the gallbladder and who are not strong enough for surgery. But it is not appropriate in treating acute inflammation. For the kidney stones (which have nothing to do with gallstones), it works perfectly. When I underwent such a procedure, it was also about 30 years ago, and the technique was new and was available only at few hospitals in the US. I had to fly to New York in the am. The procedure took place in the pm, and I was back on the plane to Boston on the 8.00pm flight! But this time, I was really sick... The doc. (an English chap) called me the next day to see how I was. He asked me if I had felt the blows to the kidneys during the procedure (of course, they keep you chemically in a "happy mood" during the pounding). I told him I must have felt several dozens of blows, and he assured me that it had then worked perfectly, given that the machine must have given me about 1,000 blows during the length of the procedure which lasted about one hour! Even Mohammed Ali could not have done better!

davita

Thanks guys....I think.... My ultrasound only shows one dark patch which could be one stone...I guess they have a practiced eye to see what it is but my doctor was not convinced it was a stone....I think he's hoping for a polyps. What is that and is that better to have than a stone? BTW the machine used in Prima Medika was made by Siemens...I noticed the label...is that not good equipment? it looked like this.....sorry cannot seem to get the pic to the post but it is modern looking check this.... AOL Image Search result for "http://www.innovations-report.com/upload_waf/siemens-acuson-SC2000_568841.jpg"

geedee

Davita If this becomes an operation or you need a big operation. Is it possible you being a veteran that you could get medical attention for free ,even if you came to Australia The UK and Australia have a reciprocal agreement which no doubt you all know.

Markit

Guys this is a minor thing as Tintin say - he had his done [COLOR=#ff0000][B]outpatient [/B][/COLOR]fer fecks sake. God damned Davita come round with a crate of Binnys and I'll fecking do it for you. Hell I can carve a roast, you should be no probs. Did you want to live forever?

davita

Markit wroteGuys this is a minor thing as Tintin say - he had his done [COLOR=#ff0000][B]outpatient [/B][/COLOR]fer fecks sake. God damned Davita come round with a crate of Binnys and I'll fecking do it for you. Hell I can carve a roast, you should be no probs. Did you want to live forever?

Can you elaborate...... what does 'outpatient ' and 'carving a roast' have anything in common in the context of removal of a gallbladder stone?.

davita

Thanks so much Tintin (Daniel)...not only was your post a very nice read and amusing but I can read between the lines that you must have had great pain and discomfort...and so I really appreciate your post. My understanding is that your incident was 25 years ago and pain eradication today is more available which is, for me, important 'coz re: pain.... I'm really a wimp.

davita

geedee wroteDavita If this becomes an operation or you need a big operation. Is it possible you being a veteran that you could get medical attention for free ,even if you came to Australia The UK and Australia have a reciprocal agreement which no doubt you all know.

That is an interesting question GD and thanks for bringing it up. I don't have an answer and frankly I should...I confess. I served in the RAF for 22 years. (1952-1974) I contributed to the UK National Health Insurance (NHL) and Old Age Pension (OAP) until aged 65 (2002). Last time I was resident UK was 1974 and last visit was 1991. I'm not aware I'm eligible for any medical benefits from the UK as I haven't lived there since 1974 and I doubt very much that the Australians would welcome me getting some free medical attention....nor would I expect it. However, notwithstanding my personal thinking you have raised an interesting point. Question...do Australian veterans get medical benefits from UK?

geedee

davita wroteThat is an interesting question GD and thanks for bringing it up. I don't have an answer and frankly I should...I confess. I served in the RAF for 22 years. (1952-1974) I contributed to the UK National Health Insurance (NHL) and Old Age Pension (OAP) until aged 65 (2002). Last time I was resident UK was 1974 and last visit was 1991. I'm not aware I'm eligible for any medical benefits from the UK as I haven't lived there since 1974 and I doubt very much that the Australians would welcome me getting some free medical attention....nor would I expect it. However, notwithstanding my personal thinking you have raised an interesting point. Question...do Australian veterans get medical benefits from UK?

I wouldn't have a clue but it would be interesting to see. I do know they look after the veterans here. They are entitled to certain things Maybe worth you looking into it. You would surely get major treatment in UK If you so happened to be holidaying in Australia while needing an operation am sure you would be covered. I'm sure if an Australian living in Bali needed an operation they could get it here don't know the rules but they don't really ask you much at the hospital Failing that you could go to Markit and have it done cheap, but please delay till start of January as I would love to see the procedure and should things go wrong at least your wife would have a choice

SusanSydney

My mother had her gall bladder removed about 35 years ago, just turned 90 in August and is still travelling internationally whenever she feels like it. Not particularly relevant, I know, but that's my two cents worth. By the way she likes her wine as much as you do Davita - last time I had dinner with her she knocked off a whole bottle, but then she always stays at the best hotel nearest to wherever she is embarking or flying out from and we always have to meet in the hotel restaurant. So she only has to be poured into a lift at the end of the night!

davita

Gurkha wroteWhy don't we have a special section for hypochondriacs!

Great idea Gurkha....why dont't you start it, and monitor it, and we will be blessed with your obvious managerial skill and I'm sure Admin would be most appreciative....am I wrong?

davita

SusanSydney wroteMy mother had her gall bladder removed about 35 years ago, just turned 90 in August and is still travelling internationally whenever she feels like it. Not particularly relevant, I know, but that's my two cents worth. By the way she likes her wine as much as you do Davita - last time I had dinner with her she knocked off a whole bottle, but then she always stays at the best hotel nearest to wherever she is embarking or flying out from and we always have to meet in the hotel restaurant. So she only has to be poured into a lift at the end of the night!

Nice story Susan and bless your mum....any lady (of vintage) that can drink a bottle of wine (of less vintage) has my utmost respect......

davita

In the process of having so many tests done recently I thought I'd share this little anecdote from the Kuta Weekly... Paddy goes to the pharmacist and produces one of those small airplane size bottles of Irish whiskey. He asked the Pharmacists if it tasted sweet. The pharmacy guy unscrews the cap and slugs the whole bottle..."Nope...this tastes perfect." "That's good news' says Paddy "'coz the doctor asked for my urine to be tested for sugar!!!"

geedee

paulseawind wrotePost #1 DVT, what is your guesstimate for those costs here in Bali if someone did not have a Kitas/Kitap? Any idea? Re the U/S scan I am talking pretty much for anything - gallstones, kidney, cardiac, damaged other body parts (e.g. I once had one for my liver).

You can easily fly back to Darwin Are you trying to work out what is cheaper

davita

paulseawind wrotePost #1 DVT, what is your guesstimate for those costs here in Bali if someone did not have a Kitas/Kitap? Any idea? Re the U/S scan I am talking pretty much for anything - gallstones, kidney, cardiac, damaged other body parts (e.g. I once had one for my liver).

I don't know and have no plan to return until next year so cannot ask. They have a website and contact no's. My wife was quoted Rp700,000 over the phone but that was for a full scan...it appears the prescription written by my doctor required less than full scan and thus was cheaper. I do recall the kitas consultation price to see a doctor was Rp250,000 but with no visa it was Rp400,000.

Steve Rossell

$30 bucks for a doctors consult without a kitas ????? I find that absolutely 'galling'!!!!! :icon_lol:

davita

Steve Rossell wrote$30 bucks for a doctors consult without a kitas ????? I find that absolutely 'galling'!!!!! :icon_lol:

Hahaha...And I paid the lesser kitas fee...Imagine my Scottish chagrin if they found nothing....all that money on nuttin'. Fortunately they found something so I'm relieved my money wasn't wasted:icon_eek:

davita

Sorry to hear about your wife and wish a fast and complete recovery. I agree that GP's are only people like the rest of us...... but over centuries they have kept their secrets from becoming public...much like masons, bankers and other professions like airline pilots. The Internet has changed all that...and the ordinary, but educated masses, can no longer be bamboozled.

davita

@ post # 25 Seriously paulseawind...I'm saddened to hear about your wife. You kept that quiet and we've all been having jokes and fun around health issues...including mine, which are trivial, compared to your wife's health. I suggest we take this issue of PSW wife's medical problems off the menu from other threads/postings. If PSW wishes to keep this community alert to his wife's condition may I suggest a separate thread and we will keep comment to that subject. I for one will be interested to hear about remedy, therapy etc. Good luck but ...if you wish to be a fun-person on any other thread...be on alert for :icon_e_biggrin::icon_evil:responses!