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Cody's Health Problems

Update (October 27th, 2025): First, SORRY this is long, but it's complete.

Had another Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound last week, due to annoying, but not serious, pain I keep getting there. My first Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was last March. The results of the March Ultrasound was that I have a gallbladder polyp 8mm, but the MD that reviewed the Ultrasound pictures, and reported on it, stated "don't need any follow-up". I also have a Echogenic liver, "nonspecific, but likely representing fatty infiltration. The report also stated, "no gallstones."

This last Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was somewhat different and reviewed by a different MD. He reported: "Liver is echogenic" (like the other MD reported). "Previously described gallbladder polyp appears to represent a gallstone, 6mm and stable.

First, I don't know how a gallbladder polyp 8mm is now a 6mm gallstone and my VA doctor doesn't know either. Online/internet, a 6mm gallstone is a medium size, and not overly serious, that is, unless, it blocks a bile duct. The MD stated "the gallstone is stable", meaning that it's not moving around, and, unless causing pain, is nothing to worry about. Well, something is giving me that annoying pain in my stomach at times! Whether it's the gallstone or fatty liver or both, don't know, but REALLY need to find out.

Couple of things: The first Ultrasound was before I started those 28 sessions of prostate cancer radiation and before I got the hormone injection in later August after the 28 sessions were done. Online research states that the Leuprolide Hormone Injection that I got in August, can/does? affect the gallbladder. The "fatty liver" that I have is called a Non-Alcoholic thing. I had a Fibro Scan done of my liver and my VA doctor told me "There are no signs of fatty liver or fibrosis", so where did the "fatty liver" results come from on this last Ultrasound??

So, what are we going to do? We are going to make an appointment with a VA GI doctor to find out what the heck is going on with both my liver and my gallbladder. The two Ultrasound reports are confusing! The results were reviewed by two different MD's and the Fibro Liver Scan results are different than the Ultrasound and what my own VA doctor reported to me in April after the Fibro Scan was done.

Bottom Line is.............we need, and have to know, what the heck is going on. Do I need my gallbladder removed, due to the gallstone, or will medicine dissolve the gallstone. And, what to do about the liver?
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Update (October 27th, 2025): First, SORRY this is long, but it's complete.

Had another Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound last week, due to annoying, but not serious, pain I keep getting there. My first Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was last March. The results of the March Ultrasound was that I have a gallbladder polyp 8mm, but the MD that reviewed the Ultrasound pictures, and reported on it, stated "don't need any follow-up". I also have a Echogenic liver, "nonspecific, but likely representing fatty infiltration. The report also stated, "no gallstones."

This last Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was somewhat different and reviewed by a different MD. He reported: "Liver is echogenic" (like the other MD reported). "Previously described gallbladder polyp appears to represent a gallstone, 6mm and stable.

First, I don't know how a gallbladder polyp 8mm is now a 6mm gallstone and my VA doctor doesn't know either. Online/internet, a 6mm gallstone is a medium size, and not overly serious, that is, unless, it blocks a bile duct. The MD stated "the gallstone is stable", meaning that it's not moving around, and, unless causing pain, is nothing to worry about. Well, something is giving me that annoying pain in my stomach at times! Whether it's the gallstone or fatty liver or both, don't know, but REALLY need to find out.

Couple of things: The first Ultrasound was before I started those 28 sessions of prostate cancer radiation and before I got the hormone injection in later August after the 28 sessions were done. Online research states that the Leuprolide Hormone Injection that I got in August, can/does? affect the gallbladder. The "fatty liver" that I have is called a Non-Alcoholic thing. I had a Fibro Scan done of my liver and my VA doctor told me "There are no signs of fatty liver or fibrosis", so where did the "fatty liver" results come from on this last Ultrasound??

So, what are we going to do? We are going to make an appointment with a VA GI doctor to find out what the heck is going on with both my liver and my gallbladder. The two Ultrasound reports are confusing! The results were reviewed by two different MD's and the Fibro Liver Scan results are different than the Ultrasound and what my own VA doctor reported to me in April after the Fibro Scan was done.

Bottom Line is.............we need, and have to know, what the heck is going on. Do I need my gallbladder removed, due to the gallstone, or will medicine dissolve the gallstone. And, what to do about the liver?
Click to expand...

I hope they figure it out, being old is no fun but it the way it is, it's good to have each other to correspond with.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
Update (October 27th, 2025): First, SORRY this is long, but it's complete.

Had another Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound last week, due to annoying, but not serious, pain I keep getting there. My first Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was last March. The results of the March Ultrasound was that I have a gallbladder polyp 8mm, but the MD that reviewed the Ultrasound pictures, and reported on it, stated "don't need any follow-up". I also have a Echogenic liver, "nonspecific, but likely representing fatty infiltration. The report also stated, "no gallstones."

This last Quadrant Stomach Ultrasound was somewhat different and reviewed by a different MD. He reported: "Liver is echogenic" (like the other MD reported). "Previously described gallbladder polyp appears to represent a gallstone, 6mm and stable.

First, I don't know how a gallbladder polyp 8mm is now a 6mm gallstone and my VA doctor doesn't know either. Online/internet, a 6mm gallstone is a medium size, and not overly serious, that is, unless, it blocks a bile duct. The MD stated "the gallstone is stable", meaning that it's not moving around, and, unless causing pain, is nothing to worry about. Well, something is giving me that annoying pain in my stomach at times! Whether it's the gallstone or fatty liver or both, don't know, but REALLY need to find out.

Couple of things: The first Ultrasound was before I started those 28 sessions of prostate cancer radiation and before I got the hormone injection in later August after the 28 sessions were done. Online research states that the Leuprolide Hormone Injection that I got in August, can/does? affect the gallbladder. The "fatty liver" that I have is called a Non-Alcoholic thing. I had a Fibro Scan done of my liver and my VA doctor told me "There are no signs of fatty liver or fibrosis", so where did the "fatty liver" results come from on this last Ultrasound??

So, what are we going to do? We are going to make an appointment with a VA GI doctor to find out what the heck is going on with both my liver and my gallbladder. The two Ultrasound reports are confusing! The results were reviewed by two different MD's and the Fibro Liver Scan results are different than the Ultrasound and what my own VA doctor reported to me in April after the Fibro Scan was done.

Bottom Line is.............we need, and have to know, what the heck is going on. Do I need my gallbladder removed, due to the gallstone, or will medicine dissolve the gallstone. And, what to do about the liver?
Click to expand...
Nice to hear from you @Cody Fousnaugh. I have been concerned about not hearing from you in quite a while. Chances are the radiologist that read the polyp in your gall bladder was just seeing a gall stone against the wall of the bladder. He/she perhaps misread the density. The stone probably won't be an issue unless it moves to block the outlet into the intestine. The fatty liver thing I cannot explain. Fatty liver disease is diagnosed in many people by ultrasound and is of no consequence other than to cause anxiety. If you haven't found the difference, here is a link that might explain things. I would go with the Fibroscan results. Good luck with it all and I hope you get your pain and discomfort resolved. Have you seen a gastroenterologist yet?

geimshospital.com

FibroScan vs Ultrasound: Purpose & Benefits | Graphic Era Hospital

Know the difference between FibroScan and Ultrasound, including test cost, accuracy, normal range, and which scan is better for liver health. Schedule your test at Graphic Era Hospital.
geimshospital.com geimshospital.com
 
I would go with the Fibro Scan results, but, since having that scan done, I've had those 28 sessions of radiation done and one Leuprolide Hormone Injection. Both can affect the liver as well as the gallbladder.

Actually, from reading on the Internet, which, isn't always that accurate, or accurate at all sometimes, the Radiation Therapy and Leuprolide Hormone Injection can, and does, affect both the liver and gallbladder.

Anyway, I will be getting a CT Scan of my stomach organs, and after that, we will be talking to a GI doctor about the results of that scan as well as both Ultrasounds and the Fibro Scan that I've had. We just want to make sure what I have or don't have and how "whatever" is affecting me. I may need the Laparoscope Surgery to remove my gallbladder but definitely want to make sure it needs to be removed.

One other thing, from my last VA Labs, done last week, my eGFR number was 55, which is how well my kidneys are. 55 isn't good or bad, however, I do know that taking Motrin (Ibuprofen) can be bad on the kidneys. Other than the every-other-day 50mg Tramadol that I take for my shoulder osteoarthritis, that happened post-rotator cuff surgery on each shoulder, I take either, or both Motrin (400mg) or Tylenol (650) for pain on a daily basis. I've stopped taking the Motrin, due to that eGFR number, and only take Tylenol now. The most milligrams of Tylenol I take is either 650 (1 tablet) or 1,300 (2 tablets). No more!
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
I would go with the Fibro Scan results, but, since having that scan done, I've had those 28 sessions of radiation done and one Leuprolide Hormone Injection. Both can affect the liver as well as the gallbladder.

Actually, from reading on the Internet, which, isn't always that accurate, or accurate at all sometimes, the Radiation Therapy and Leuprolide Hormone Injection can, and does, affect both the liver and gallbladder.

Anyway, I will be getting a CT Scan of my stomach organs, and after that, we will be talking to a GI doctor about the results of that scan as well as both Ultrasounds and the Fibro Scan that I've had. We just want to make sure what I have or don't have and how "whatever" is affecting me. I may need the Laparoscope Surgery to remove my gallbladder but definitely want to make sure it needs to be removed.

One other thing, from my last VA Labs, done last week, my eGFR number was 55, which is how well my kidneys are. 55 isn't good or bad, however, I do know that taking Motrin (Ibuprofen) can be bad on the kidneys. Other than the every-other-day 50mg Tramadol that I take for my shoulder osteoarthritis, that happened post-rotator cuff surgery on each shoulder, I take either, or both Motrin (400mg) or Tylenol (650) for pain on a daily basis. I've stopped taking the Motrin, due to that eGFR number, and only take Tylenol now. The most milligrams of Tylenol I take is either 650 (1 tablet) or 1,300 (2 tablets). No more!
Click to expand...

Hope you continue to heal.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
I would go with the Fibro Scan results, but, since having that scan done, I've had those 28 sessions of radiation done and one Leuprolide Hormone Injection. Both can affect the liver as well as the gallbladder.

Actually, from reading on the Internet, which, isn't always that accurate, or accurate at all sometimes, the Radiation Therapy and Leuprolide Hormone Injection can, and does, affect both the liver and gallbladder.

Anyway, I will be getting a CT Scan of my stomach organs, and after that, we will be talking to a GI doctor about the results of that scan as well as both Ultrasounds and the Fibro Scan that I've had. We just want to make sure what I have or don't have and how "whatever" is affecting me. I may need the Laparoscope Surgery to remove my gallbladder but definitely want to make sure it needs to be removed.

One other thing, from my last VA Labs, done last week, my eGFR number was 55, which is how well my kidneys are. 55 isn't good or bad, however, I do know that taking Motrin (Ibuprofen) can be bad on the kidneys. Other than the every-other-day 50mg Tramadol that I take for my shoulder osteoarthritis, that happened post-rotator cuff surgery on each shoulder, I take either, or both Motrin (400mg) or Tylenol (650) for pain on a daily basis. I've stopped taking the Motrin, due to that eGFR number, and only take Tylenol now. The most milligrams of Tylenol I take is either 650 (1 tablet) or 1,300 (2 tablets). No more!
Click to expand...
You gotta do what you gotta do to deal with the pain. Motrin acts against the kidneys and Tylenol acts on the liver. Sad choice to have to make. I have to make the same choice, but my pain is no longer a constant thing.
 
Don Alaska said:
You gotta do what you gotta do to deal with the pain. Motrin acts against the kidneys and Tylenol acts on the liver. Sad choice to have to make. I have to make the same choice, but my pain is no longer a constant thing.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. I am not supposed to use any of the NSAIDS, and usually just use the DMSO, since it works, is natural, and no side effects. Sometimes, it is just necessary to take a pain medication , but mostly I can avoid it.
 
Don Alaska said:
You gotta do what you gotta do to deal with the pain. Motrin acts against the kidneys and Tylenol acts on the liver. Sad choice to have to make. I have to make the same choice, but my pain is no longer a constant thing.
Click to expand...
My stomach pain isn't constant either. Yesterday (Wednesday the 5th), I didn't have to take anything until 3PM. At that time I took a Tylenol 8hr 650mg and, after it finally kicked in, I had no more pain. Neither of us had diarrhea yesterday at all. For us, that was a very, very good thing!
 
Don Alaska said:
Has any one heard anything from @Cody Fousnaugh recently? I haven't seen anything since his post on November 6.
Click to expand...
I'm still here Don! Last Wednesday, got another, my second, Hormone Injection. They were also going to do a blood draw on me, so they can check and see exactly how the Hormone Injection is doing on me, but the Lab was extremely busy. Had to reschedule that draw to the middle of next month/December.

The middle of next month/December, I'm scheduled to also get a CT Scan on my stomach to, hopefully, see if I really do have a gallstone or something else, that is causing me some pain (sometimes) in the area of my liver/gallbladder. After that, my wife and I will see a local GI doctor (from VA Community Care Network). I've had two Ultrasounds, and two different doctor's evaluations are fairly different from each other.

Other than that, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and my wife having four days off and then Christmas.
 
Cody Fousnaugh said:
I'm still here Don! Last Wednesday, got another, my second, Hormone Injection. They were also going to do a blood draw on me, so they can check and see exactly how the Hormone Injection is doing on me, but the Lab was extremely busy. Had to reschedule that draw to the middle of next month/December.

The middle of next month/December, I'm scheduled to also get a CT Scan on my stomach to, hopefully, see if I really do have a gallstone or something else, that is causing me some pain (sometimes) in the area of my liver/gallbladder. After that, my wife and I will see a local GI doctor (from VA Community Care Network). I've had two Ultrasounds, and two different doctor's evaluations are fairly different from each other.

Other than that, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving and my wife having four days off and then Christmas.
Click to expand...
I hope you can get your gut issue resolved. I really don't understand why they can't figure it out. You might not like the answer, like a diet change or something, but they should be able to give you information. Maybe the GI doc will have an answer. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.
 
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