I have a Kock pouch since the late 1970's (done when I was a teenager), and based on many MANY incidents of intestinal obstructions, I'm pretty sure I have extensive internal adhesions/scar tissue that likely will be encountered by any surgeon who is trying to remove my gallbladder.
Of course I hope my gallbladder could be remove laparoscopically, but due to the likely extensive internal adhesions/scar tissue, I'm not sure if it can be.
Anyway, the few surgeons who I have consulted who are those with expertise in continent pouches like J-pouch (if not K-pouch), all are unwilling to do a gallbladder removal....I think because the renumeration they get for that from the insurance companies is too little, compared to other surgeries they use their time for (the complex surgeries to do J-pouches etc.).
But I'm so very scared that a general surgeon who has never even seen a Kock pouch might end up touching/messing up my Kock pouch, and/or might not be skilled enough with dealing with all the internal adhesions/scar tissue they are likely to encounter.
And I'm also concerned that maybe a "better" surgeon could manage to do it laparoscopically rather than open surgery-- I'm really afraid of how much more extensive and worse new adhesions/scar tissue may be after open surgery. I seem to be a person who always makes an extreme amount of adhesions/scar tissue every time I am cut, compared to most other typical people who get the same cut.
I'm willing to travel if I need to, but I live in northern NJ. Does anyone have any recommendations of who would be a great surgeon for this, and willing to do gallbladder removal?
[Background why I am inquiring: Currently my gallbladder seems otherwise healthy, but it has a big stone in it that has been gradually growing and I have had one moderate gallbladder attack 5 years ago, and a second moderate gallbladder attack a few days ago, both resolving within several hours after going to ER - but extremely painful and scary (mimicking a heart attack) for those hours when it was happening. I'm otherwise pretty healthy, healthy weight, my Kock pouch functions perfectly. But I'm 59-1/2 years old and it is feeling inevitable that ultimately the gallbladder will need to come out, and as I get older and older it may be more difficult to go through and recover from the gallbladder removal surgery, especially if it ends up having to be open surgery instead of laparoscopic.]
Please share any experience, advice, warning, or suggestion you have!!
And especially if you can recommend a surgeon who you think is best and would do the surgery!!
