gallbladder

Hello. I weigh over 400 lbs and I think I may be having problems with my gallbladder. I had severe cramps on my right and left upper stomach that radiated to my back. I had belching and gas. I went to the ER and they didnt check my GB, but they xrayed my stomach and done blood work. The doctor said he thinks it was gastritis and sent me home with a GI ****tail. This isnt working. I keep getting cramps on my right side still. They're not as bad as last night but still bothersome. My question...how difficult would it be for a surgeon to remove my gallbladder with me being this heavy? And what kinds of tests would I have to undergo to find out for sure that it is my GB? Thank you.

My surgeon removed my gallbladder at the same time he did my WLS and I weighed 380lbs at that time. It is his policy to check on his patients gallbladders prior to surgery and remove them if there are any problems (I had been having attacks for years, but had put off removal). Lisa L 380/344/170

Yikes! If you are having acute gallbladder symptoms, they need to be addressed right away. If a stone dislodges from the gallbladder and ends up in the bile duct, it could be a big deal. I had my gallbladder out 25 years ago, so testing may have changed. I had an upper GI series where I drank a nastymalt (barium) and then was x-rayed. The tech forgot to turn the screen away from me, and when I saw what looked like a full bag of marbles, I said, "What's that?" The tech acted nervous and then turned the screen so I couldn't see it. Of course, I knew then it was something! I think now they can use ultrasound to check your gallbladder. I was 75 lbs heavier last fall when I had to have a PICC line put in, and was too fat for the radiology table. The PICC nurse used a doppler ultrasound to find the vein, and even through my very fat arm, she was able to see what she was looking for. Once they look at your gallbladder, they can decide if surgery is necessary, or if maybe you can get by with the medicine that dissolves stones. They may also decide to do "watchful waiting" if your problem isn't too acute. My opinion (remember, I'm not a doctor) is that it sounds like your gallbladder, and maybe you need to get a second opinion. Good luc****ep us posted. Kix

I had my gall bladder removed lap, and my rny done lap. I was about your weight. It really depends on the surgeon. If they really want to do it lap, they will. Sometimes they use your weight as an excuse, but I had no problem. When I had a gall bladder atttack, I was vomiting for days uncontrollably, most of it was green vile. I became jaundice. I was severely ill. I was so ill they quarantined me till they found out what it was, so it may not be your gall bladder. Good luck.

Hi there, I live in Ontario, so having a bad Gallbladder at this weight(374) has been quite a problem for me. No surgeons in Ontario will operate on me at this weight, so my hope is that my gallbladder problem will not become an emergency situation. I am going to have it removed when I have the RNY surgery in the U.S.. If your's is bad, and you can hold out until your WLS, the surgeon will most likely take it out then. The things to watch out for with Gallbladder problems are infection, a lodged stone, pancreatitis, peritonitis and liver problems. As long as those things don't become a problem, and you can handle the pain, Gallbladder removal is an elective procedure- as strange as that sounds. My Gallbladder went wonky in Oct.,2003, and I have been dealing with it ever since. I have had some major pain at times, but as long as I don't eat greasy, or gas producing foods such as broccoli or cauliflour(sp), I am usually okay. Stay away from high fat foods for sure, and you could ask your doc what else to avoid in hopes that things will remain stable at least until your WLS. I hope things work out for you. Take gentle care.- Shelley C