Has anyone had their Gallbladder removed prior to surgery?

Hi Everyone,

 

I am a patient with Mid Ohio Surgical Associates out of Mt. Carmel West.  I have been completing all of the items that need to be done prior to having Lap-Band surgery.  However, a couple of weeks ago I started having this horrible pain in the right side of my chest area that went through my back and into my shoulders.  I went to the ER because it was in the middle of the night and I found out that I was having a Gallbladder attack.  My Gallbladder is basically full of gravel.   I contacted my surgeon, Dr. Choban, who is going to do my Lap-Band to see if she could take it out during the Lap-Band procedure.  This way I would only have one surgery.  Unfortunately, she is not able to do that because the risk of infection is too high, so I must have 2 surgeries instead of 1.  I also found out that the Gallbladder must come out first. Has anyone ever experienced this and if so, how long did it take to recover from your Gallbladder surgery?  Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Marie

Hi Marie. I had surgery on 8/13, I was supposed to have the RNY but ended up with the sleeve..which was due to complications from a surgery on my colon in January of 2006. What I wanted to tell you was that I had a nasty gallbladder and my doc took it out after he did the sleeve..I ended up with an infection where the drake drain..think thats what ya call it was. So if your doc says she wants to take the gallbladder out before u have the RNY its probable a good idea..might save you some infection.  I'm doin well cept for the yukky infection problem,  I wish you well and hopefully all goes well.!!!

You take care.

Carmen

whoops..sorry Marie..said RNY for you..meant lap band...i'm a ditz LOL Carmen

I am pre WLS and had my gallbladder out 3/06. From the sound of it, you're having the same kind of attack I did. I actually spent more time in the hospital getting the go ahead to get my gallbladder out than after the actual surgery. Luckily we were able to do laproscopic removal so I was released not even 24 hours after surgery. I was still sore for a couple days, but it wasn't really a big deal for me.

Carmen - I'm sorry to hear that you had an infection after all you went through.  However, I appreciate you sharing your story with me.  I will mention this to my doctor as well.  Take care! Afullmargin - Thank you also for letting me know that it's not very painful and it sounds like I won't be down for very long either.   When I was in high school, I had horrible stomach pains one day.  They took me to the doctors and then admitted me to the hospital and ran every test under the sun.  They all came back negative.  After my stomach calmed down, I was sent home and then back to school.  Well after only being in school for two days, my pains came back.  They rushed me back to the hospital took a few tests that came back negative.  The next day I was scheduled for "Exploratory Surgery of the Abdomen".  I was only 16, talk about being scared.  When I woke up from surgery, the doctor told me that they found my problem, part of my bowel had broken and was wrapped around my appendix, while my appendix was ready to burst.  The doctor couldn't understand why none of my tests showed anything but someone was watching over me that day because I had my surgery just in time........Thanks again for your input.........Marie

Marie,

Since you have to have gallbladder surgery, you may want to check into the other surgery options.  I can speak for the Duodenal Switch.  My doctor takes out the gallbladder and appendix at the same time as the WLS.  The gallbladder often has to come out later, if it is not taken during the WLS.  I believe some of the RnY doctors also do that.  Hopefully, one of them will reply to your post.

Good luck in your research.  

Caroline

At Barix clinic they take out the gallbladder with the surgery (RNY), lapband I'm unsure of. I had my gallbladder out MANY years before my RNY. It took 3-5 days of pain (not too bad except the first day), then I was off work for 2 weeks. After that I felt tons better. I'd check with your surgan, some surgans say you have to wait 6 months between surgeries to let you body heal.

I had my gall bladder taken out laproscopically i*****  I had the surgery Friday am, discharged Sat am, ate steak that afternoon.  Sunday I did about 3 hours of shopping with then hubby. I had to be off work 6 weeks because of lifting restrictions but felt pretty good.   Gabby