Gall Bladder???

Hi everybody, Question for you all Is anyone else having their Gall bladder out as part of their surgery? My surgeon does it as a standard part of his surgeries because he said he had so many patients that ended up developing Gall stones and he had to open them back up. What's ya'll take on this or what have you heard? Thanks, Debbie

Hi Debbie, I have been thinking about that for awhile now. I am going to disscuss it with my surgeon at my Pre-op because i do want mine removed. I want the least amout of could go or might go wrongs to happen hehe. ~Amanda (Haveing Open RNY 06\30\04)

Hi Debbie, My surgeon required a gall bladder ultrasound prior to setting my surgery date. He said if the gall bladder looks fine he does not remove it. He said that sometimes the rapid weight loss can cause gall stones to form, but he puts you on a medication to help prevent this for the first 6 months. Good luck!!

HI Debbie, I am scheduled for surgery on June 23rd, I also am having my gallbladder out. This is standard. If you do not have it out, you might have to go back into surgery down the road to have it. dont worry, this is a good thing

I have already had mine removed, but I have been told by many people including my surgeon that 95% of the people that have WLS surgery if they don't have it removed during WLS surgery that they will be back in at a later time to have the gall bladder removed. NOW this is just my personal opinion!! If you can live with out it an not have to worry about possibly having to go back in and have it removed do it all at once this will save on complications later. Again this is just my opinion. I would rather have them take it while they are doing everything else. This is in NO WAY any medical advice!! This is just my personal opinion and I am NOT in any way, shape or form in the medical field. You should absolutly consult your own surgeon and get his professional opinion on it. Ask the questions and demand the answers and ask what the chances are of having to have a second surgery. Again my opinion but if my insurance company is going to pay for it all to be done at one time save yourself some money on co-pays and have it done all at once. Hope this helps. Tom

I agree with Tom. I talked with my surgeon about this. I asked him to please remove my gallbladder while he was in there and he refused. He said this surgery already comes with many risks and we don't need to add anything else. This was very disturbing to me since I know a very high percentage of patients who have WLS end up back on the operating table at a later time to have their gallbladder removed. I am an extreme chicken - I'm terrified of needles. The least amount of visits to the hospital the better! - JJ

Debbie, My gall bladder is coming out, but it was coming out with or with out this surgery!! It's full of stones and Cholestic (not sure if I spelled it right). It is not standard practice for my surgeon to remove it unless it's necessary like my case. You can take Bile salts after surgery to help reduce gall stones. I wonder if they put it in a jar and let you keep it...seriously, my kids would love to take it for show and tell at school, I will have to remember to ask my surgeon. My surgeon should also be able to do it Laproscopically, which is normal procedure for gall bladder removal anyway. Check it twice, cut it once! The less you have to go under the better. Hope I helped, Michelle