DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am 84. When I was having an MRA, the nursed asked when I had my gallbladder taken out. I never did.
Apparently it had shrunk since they couldn’t find it. What caused this? Is it bad? Is it necessary to have a gallbladder? Did mine disappear because it was no longer needed? Should I be taking some kind of treatment to replace the function of the organ?
DEAR READER:
I cannot tell you why your gallbladder has shrunk or disappeared. Perhaps it was never there or you had it removed during another surgery. The cause is unknown but chances are it has been that way for a while.
The gallbladder is an organ that holds bile before it is moved into the small intestine. Bile is a greenish brown substance that aids absorption of nutrients. Removal of the gallbladder does not usually lead to adverse effects but is only done on individuals who experience gallstones or sludge that cause pain and symptoms.
If you are truly concerned about your missing gallbladder, I recommend you talk to your primary care physician. He or she can review your medical records and find out if you had gallbladder removal surgery or refer to you to a specialist for further testing.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Gallbladder Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.