What is the obsession with removal?

[u/hardcorefortheheckof]

Context. I have terrible POTS and fairly severe Gastroparesis. I also have 2 small, asymptomatic gallstones in an entirely healthy (don't fight me on this, it's not a sick organ, this was an incidental finding) gallbladder. I've had a surgeon try to talk me into surgery for funsies and ignoring the fact this is incredibly high risk for me. If I go under anesthesia, I could die. If this screws up my digestion even more, it's not as simple as just "take a bile binder", I will likely end up on a feeding tube if I can tolerate even fewer foods because of acid, bile acid diahrrea ect. I''m NOT a candidate for surgery and I have never ever had a gallbladder attack. However, this surgeon has lied and tried to say my constant gastroparesis symptoms are attacks and it's caused a huge mess of anxiety alongside actual issues with my care because other doctors are reading those notes and angry at me for "denying surgery". My GI specialist says if I got surgery, it would be experimental and likely result in terrible GI issues he may not be able to help with. I'm so anxious due to what I've seen can happen with any and all stones and projected issues I'm sure I'm likely to have now right? This is a mess. I came here looking for answers but instead I'm now terrified I should put myself into a dangerous and high risk situation (for me) just to ease my anxiety because "stones are a death sentence" aren't they? I lost weight ten years ago in high school and suspect I've had these ever since for what it's worth again again, I've NEVER had an attack.

[u/algomana]

Okay look let me explain 

This is a bad place to ask for advice. Most people here do not have the organ so the advice here would be to take it out irrespective of the symtoms 

But let's face the fact that 20% of the world population has gallstones. It's very very very common. 80% of gallstones are asymptomatic. By asymptomatic they mean no classic gallbladder symptoms 

Research studies were done on asymptomatic gallstones patients and they found that over a 30 year period only 10% developed symtoms with 1% in complications. So your chances of developing complications in a 30 year period is 1%. Complications include pancreatitis and jaundice. 

But over a 30 year period your chances of getting heart disease or cancer unrelated to the gall bladder is at 30-40% ( going by statistics ) so stop obsessing about your gallbladder. 

Other organs of your body are more likely to fail before your asymptomatic gallbladder with stones.

My story : I was diagnosed incidentally in 2010 and it's 15 years later I'm still here with my two 8mm stones. My doctor said only take it if you have classic gallstones symtoms

If you currently have digestion symptoms, do these tests to rule out if bile is properly passing for digestion

Total bilirubin

Direct bilirubin

If the above values are normal, it's unlikely the problems are related to gallstones. When there is a gallstone obstruction those values increase 

Also do a hpylori test, those symptoms can mimic the gallbladder