Looking for Gallbladder advice

After reading everything about rapid weight loss leading to gallbladder issues a fair percentage of the time, I have asked my surgeon to remove my gallbladder when he does my VSG. I'm self-pay so it's not an insurance issue and my sister's surgeon did it for her. 

My surgeon has refused. Thoughts?

Even though you are self-pay for the WLS, do you have insurance that would cover a gallbladder removal if you needed one later on?

Yes, I do have BCBS but I work for a small employer so our plan doesn't cover bariatric surgery. Probably my fault since I pick the plan as CFO and I'm really cheap.

I'm not worried about the money for a second surgery and the insurance would cover it, it's the pain and extra holes in my body that bother me. I'm so chicken. I would never have weight loss surgery if I thought I could lose the weight permanently without it.

I figure I should kill two birds with one stone and have both done at the same time. Other surgeon's do it.

HAHA! I have had my gallbladder removed, a hysteroscopy, hysterectomy, and WLS. My stomach looks like the target sheet of Mr. Magoo.

A lot of people DON'T have issues with their gallbladder.

I'd say you've picked a good surgeon if he won't do a surgery that isn't medically necessary.

I wouldn't worry about it. If you end up having to get hacked open a 2nd time for the gallbladder, you can come here and tell me off.

LOL. Slim you are too much.

I had both done at once, but only because I had gallstones I didn't know about. Have you had an ultrasound of your liver yet? That's where my gallstones showed up. 

If I were to choose, I would have the gallbladder removed as a second, separate surgery. Having to do both at once made my surgery longer and more complicated. It has also made my recovery harder. I'm glad it's gone because I DID have stones, but if I hadn't, I would wanted to have kept it.

Thank you for your advice.

My surgeon will not automatically do it either.   You have a better than even chance that this would not be necessary.  If you already have gall stones, then that's a whole other issue.  Have you had an ultrasound check to see what it going on in there?  You might have gall stones and not know it yet. 

I have not had an ultrasound and have never had any issues. I'm willing to take the chance, if he will prescribe gallbladder medicine, but I am just so chicken to think it's about 30%/70% that I will have to have more holes poked later.

Take a really good look at the medicine that is prescribed to help you keep your gall bladder.  It has many down sides and most doctor's will agree that it has to come down to personal choice on whether it is really worth taking.  I am serious, read up on it and speak to your doctor about the side effects.  I don't have a position one way or another on it, but it is really worth understanding what the trade offs are in this case. 

Here is a quote from WebMD about gall stones and RNY, it should not be any different with the sleeve as it's the rapid weight loss that causes the issues and the weight loss is about the same in both surgeries.

Gallstones commonly occur with rapid weight loss. Up to 50% of people will develop gallstones after gastric bypass surgery and these are usually harmless. However, gallstones can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, requiring surgery. About 15% to 25% people require gallbladder removal after gastric bypass surgery.

Also, here is another link that tells you that about 20% of men have galls stones and most don't know about it.  That is why I am saying that you might want to have an ultra sound to check it out.  Also, obesity and weight cycling increases your chances of developing gall stones, so you might have an even greater risk factor for having them and only 1-3 % of the people who have them know they have them or have any signs of having them.  Might be worth checking out.

http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/guides/000010_4.html