Question:
Gallbladder- Removed after Surgery?

I would like to hear from other 1 or more year post ops who have had their Gallbladder removed AFTER their WLS, in a seperate surgery. I think I am expiriencing gallbladder attacks, will visit surgeon tomorrow to verify, and curious about surgery affects etc. How did the surgery go? Any concerns with my having previous WLS, that may affect my gallbladder surgery? What does it change? Is the gallbladder really useless? If so then why does it affect us when it goes "bad"? Any reason why the surgeon wouldn't encourage the removal of it (ie if I just had stones?) because the attacks HURT! Curious for any and all expiriences! Thanks    — Karen R. (posted on July 17, 2001)

July 17, 2001
Hello Karen. I am 10 1/2 months post-op. I had emergency Gall Bladder surgery back in March (7 months post-op). I was in a lot of pain, but I was diagnosed pretty quickly at the ER because my Gall Bladder started poking up just below my rib cage. However, most of the pain was centered at the top of my (Open RNY) scar. My surgeon usually removes the GB during the WLS, but on occasion will leave it in if it looks unusually healthy during the Ultrasound. Note that I lost weight VERY quickly during those first 7 months. My GB surgery went very smoothly. However, the surgeon attempted to remove it Laprascopically (sp ?), but had to resort to open when my inflamed (and enlarged) GB wouldn't fit through the smaller opening! So, I have 3 little scars to go along with the one larger GB scar. When looked at in addition to my Open RNY scar and my Appendectomy scar, my abdomen looks like it has a Chinese Character carved into it. As to the effects of losing my GB, I haven't noticed anything different since surgery, and I'm sure my previous WLS had little (if any) effect on their ability to perform the GB surgery (if it's not being performed by your WLS surgeon, just make sure the GB surgeon is aware). Good luck to you - I'm sure you will do fine. Kevin
   — meilankev

October 26, 2001
I am less than 1 year post-op, but I had my gallbladder removed exactly 6 months afterwards. Through some kind of test it was determined that mine was no longer working and needed to be removed. The surgeon who performed my WLS also performed a laparoscopic cholecysectomy on me. I know this is several months after you posted this, so I guess you've had yours removed by now, right? I don't miss it LOL! Pathology determined it to be diseased, as opposed to having stones in it, as my surgeon believed it was prior to removing it (my treating gastroenterologist believed it was diseased, and he was correct).
   — Susan W.