Question:
Has anyone had problems post op with their gallbladder?

Hi, I was told that I may be able to ask my surgeon if he would take out my gallbladder during surgery, but he thinks it isn't nessasary, and he would put me on meds for 6 months. Has anyone ever needed to get theirs removed post op. Thanks    — Lauren G. (posted on June 28, 2002)


June 27, 2002
My Dr removes the gallbladder.He has seentoo many people have problems if it is not taken out.Good Luck!
   — Stephanie B.

June 27, 2002
Hi, At the Bariatric Treatment Center in Michigan, they remove your gall bladder during the surgery. I guess there has been problems with the gall bladder after surgery, so they just remove it then. I was told if I didn't already have my gall bladder out, they would remove it for me. I would check with your surgeon.
   — stacjean

June 27, 2002
I'm 7 weeks post op and was just diagnosed with gall stones. Because my surgery was an open revision to RNY I have to have the gall bladder surgery open too. My surgeon wasn't in but I spoke with one of his partners who said we should wait until I lose a good deal of weight before doing the surgery. My thoughts are the WLS was simply too hard on me and another surgery so soon might toss me right over the edge both mentally and physically. I wish to goodness they had checked me for gall stones like they do everyone else. Looks like I'm the unlucky soul who got left out, huh. Good luck.
   — Vicki H.

June 27, 2002
Many surgeons subscribe to the "If it's not broken, don't fix it" theory. In other words, if it's not diseased at the time of WLS, they won't remove it. So, unfortunately, it's just one of those possible "consequences" that can happen.
   — Leslie F.

June 28, 2002
My surgeon checks the galbladder at the time of surgery. Mine was fine. 6 monsth later I had to have it removed. IF you can keep it, im sure that is better. There is a reason its there anyway.
   — RebeccaP

June 28, 2002
My doctor ordered an ultra sound done before surgery. I had gallstones so at the time of surgery he also removed the gallbladder. So far no problems.
   — lisab07

June 28, 2002
I have to agree with the previous poster who said that the gallbladder must be there for a reason...I asked the ultrasound tech how mine looked when I had my pre-op testing done this past Monday. He said my gallbladder is not enlarged at all and no signs of stone. I am hoping that I don't need to have it out later, but if I do, I'll deal with it then. I'm a bit reluctant to let a surgeon take out more than necessary. Also, I read somewhere that statistically about 30% of gastric bypass patients end up losing their gallbladder. So I guess I'm thinking optimistically that I'll be among the 70% who don't. If I were you, I would trust your surgeon's judgment. Good Luck - Anna
   — Anna L.

June 28, 2002
Well...........I am 5 months post-op and having gallbladder problems. I had open and everything looked great during my surgery BUT now mine has sludged up. So when the pain gets so bad I cant handle it my surgeon says lets schedule surgery. I was to get it out a while back as I was hospitalized due to pain BUT i was getting married in a few days. So when I cant handle the pain it will be off to surgery :(
   — Melody F.

June 28, 2002
Had WLS in 7/00, had GB removal 8/01... Both lap....
   — Karen R.

June 28, 2002
I begged my surgeon to take mine out while doing WLS. He would'nt. (I just KNEW that I'd have problems with it down the road). Sure enough, 10 months later it had to come out. But I made up my mind it would be done by a "different" surgeon! He would'nt do it when doing the WLS..... then he would'nt get the money for the second surgery! There was no reason he could'nt have done it while doing my RNY. Gallbladders often go bad so it was stupid not to do it at the same time. Ticks me off that I had to go through another surgery when it would'nt have been nessecary.
   — Danmark




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