Question:
Is there a reason the gallblader is taken out?

I was wondering why is the gallblader taken out? Is there any symptoms to know if your gallblader is bad?    — [Anonymous] (posted on November 26, 2001)

November 26, 2001
I had an open ryn and I asked my surgeon to remov my gallbladfder to avoid a subsequent surgery. He said he couldn't remove a healthy organ. But, I lucked out! When he operated, he noticed that myn gallbladder did have "a few stones" and he took it out. I was pleased because that was one thing I'll never have to worry about!
   — [Anonymous]

November 26, 2001
My surgeon explained that after major surgeries such as the gastric bypass, the gall bladder tends to develop massive stones and taking it out would prevent a subsequent surgery to remove stones or the gall bladder itself. I decided to let him remove mine. My surgery is two weeks away. Hope this helps.
   — Nurisha L.

November 26, 2001
There is a test...gallbladder ultra sound...which will show if you have gallstones. My surgeon makes everyone take one, and yes, I did have stones, so he removed it. Evidently severe dieting causes gall stones, which can be very painful. Some rny patients will develop gall stones in the year after surgery from their restricted diets and will then require a second surgery to remove the gallbladder. My surgeon believes the gallbladder is pretty obsolete, anyway. It served the cave man well, helping to digest the huge quantities of very fatty meat he ate, but is not really necessary with our healthy, low fat diet. There is one thing I didn't learn until very recently...it seems that some of the dumping I had the first year post op was caused more by the gallbladder removal than the rny. I just do not digest french fries at all well anymore! It's amazing how healthy your diet becomes when you eliminate all fat, sugar, and most grain products!
   — Anne G.

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