Question:
gallbladder questions
Anyone take actigal and still get there gallbladder out? Jen refused to take it and although all test results arent in it appears her gallbladder has stones. I wonder if the actigal would of prevented this?<P> Any chance of a non surgical fix for her gallbladder?<P> She wants to put off surgery to remove it. Is this a good idea?<P> I would appreciate some good advice. Jen is a small person and fears being intubated awake again. For her that was the worst part of WLS. — bob-haller (posted on October 4, 2002)
October 4, 2002
As a pastor, I am around a lot of people having surgery and in hospitals.
Though the advice of medical professionals is certainly best, I can only
tell you what I've seen and heard. I've never heard of anyone being able
to treat gall bladder problems nonsurgically. I can't imagine what it must
have been like to be intubated awake (I'm also an EMT). That must've been
a horrible experience. However, I will say that it seems the best way to
avoid conscious intubation is to plan for the surgery and be under the
anesthetic when intubated rather than being in an emergency situation where
rapid intubation is necessary -- though I don't know if gall bladder could
cause such problems. I guess that's a lot of double talk saying 1) talk
with the doctor and 2) I haven't ever heard of being able to put it off.
Good luck and God bless.
— Jenni K.
October 4, 2002
A small number of unfortunate folks are intubated while awake. Its because
if their out first and the tube desnt go in just right they could die. I
too am one of those. It was scary but not horendous, but to be avoided.
They put anthestic paste on a tongue depressor, have you hold the yuk stuff
in your mouth. Eventually they lay you down and insert the tube. Once its
in they knock you out instantly. Jens gag reflex is real strong, and her
small size contribuited to a real bad time. I dont blame her for not
wanting to go thru that again. <P> For pre ops reading this its very
rare and in my case well worth the 130 pounds I lost. I just wish Jen would
of taken the actigal as her doctor prescribed. This could of been totally
avoidable.
— bob-haller
October 4, 2002
I am lucky in that i have already had my gallbladder removed and I am in
the process of going through WLS. My doctor did tell me that you can take
medicine for gallbladder stones but it is a temporary fix eventually she
will have to have it removed.
— davesband1
October 4, 2002
The Curezone.com has a gallbladder cleanse on it that has
saved several ladies at my work from surgery. These folks
weren't wls patients though... Check with wls surgeron before proceeding!
— lessofme170
October 4, 2002
My Surgeon takes the gallbladder out during WLS due to the number of
additional surgeries that are needed for this AFTER WLS. As I understand
it, there is not much that can be done when the Gallbladder starts having
problems - so the only recourse is Surgery. But, I understand the
Gallbladder surgery is fairly easy to recover from, and the incisions are
the same as the LAP RNY, only fewer. Good luck.
— beryl
October 5, 2002
Hi Bob, Sorry Jen is having problems. Would Actigal have helped?? Who
knows. I think that surgeons that take the gallbladder out with the WLS are
the smart ones. I begged my doc to take mine out, but he refused, even
though insurance would have paid for it. Oh, well. As far as going forward,
the majority of gallbladder removals can be done laproscopically. It is
quick, and recovery is pretty easy. I do not think that she would have the
sme problems with the intubation she had with the WLS, but you should talk
that over with her docs. as far as waiting, that is a debatable question.
IF she can wait to have her gallbladder removed with some plastic surgery,
that would be better. BUT, if she is having attacks frequently, it can
cause other problems that she does not want ot get into, so getting it out
now would be best. Agian, I would go on your doc's advice for waiting. Hope
that this helps some.
— Vicki L.
October 5, 2002
Like the previuos poster, I too BEGGED my surgeon to take mine out with
WLS. He said the insurance would'nt cover it. I don't know if that was
really true or not. But I could'nt swallow pills for 3 months so when I got
my actigal scrip at one month post op I did NOT take it. By the time I
could swallow pills I figured it was to late. I too am curious if it would
have made any difference. (My gallbladder HAD to come out at 10 months post
op).
— Danmark
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