Gall bladder

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if anyone would know why I have to have my gallbladder taken out before I have WLS. I thought that my surgeon said they do it at the same time. I called him and Im waiting for a call back, but I just thought I would ask here. Thanks!

Hope everyone is doing good.

Hey girl, How did the GI apt go? I never heard anyone say to have your gallbladder out prior, but I would definitly have it out during the surgery.
Wake is tonight and funneral tommorow then things should calm down. I am exhausted

Audra

Well, not sure why they insist on having the gallbladder out first.

I DO know that my DH was gonna have his out and the band placed at the same time.  The doctor had a very hard time getting the GB out and had to postpone the banding. Unfortunately, they scheduled his band surgery about 4 weeks after the GB came out.  Since the doctor had gotten authorization for both proceedures at the same time, they didn't pay for the band surgery. I guess because it was so close to the GB surgery and  because they said all the charges for the banding should have been included with what they paid for the GB surgery.  We haven't heard anymore from insurance on doctors on this.  I hope the surgeon rebilled it and got it all starightened out.  My DH has medicare and Tri-Care for Life so we never pay anything anyway. We just see the EOB's.

So maybe that is why they want to do one first then the other.  So the insurance company will pay for BOTH. 

Hey there!

Definitely ask why they want to take your gallbladder out before rather than at the same time as wls. You should understand the reasoning and agree to proceed.

I had surgery almost 4 years ago and my gallbladder was removed at the same time. Dr Pryor said my ultrasound showed I had gallstones and the surgery may cause them to flair up, so she wanted to take it out at the same time.

I was like ‘sure’ cause you only get one time to go in! I was not having any symptoms and would not have know about any gallstones unless she had something. The funny thing was during the appointment that she shared this with me, I had come, as usual, with 1500 question (ok may 20 for that appointment but I am sure the staff felt like it was 1500 total). That month, several folks on Duke’s online board (disabled now) had reported having to go back within a month of wls to have their gallbladder removed. I was worried, but Dr Pryor already had me covered!

So ask, ask, ask, and ask again!

I

Sharon,

It varies from practice to practice and patient to patient. It used to be 'standard practice' to remove the gallbladder, but with time many surgeons do not remove it unless as in Valerie's case above it is found to be diseased. As she said, I would certainly ask why they want to remove it and discuss the pros and cons with your Dr.