gallbladder frustration

Hey all, just expressing some frustrations here. Before the surgery, an ultrasound reveiled that I had multiple stones in my gallbladder but no disease. I also had no pain. Dr. Richards said that if the surgery was going smoothly they would take it out becuase of the stones. However, while the surgery went smoothly, what they found on my liver did not. The surgeon noticed that my liver looked awful and decided to do a liver biopsy (while in there) instead of the gallbladder. Ok, so the liver thing will correct itself with diet exercise and weight loss because the biopsy proved that I haven't moved into hepatitis or scirosis. Great... Now, I am having pain in my upper right quadrant radiating to my back...just like they said the gallbladder pain would be. He wanted to eventually take my gallbladder out..after at least three months, but it's only a month out. I called the office today and I have to come in this thursday and the surgeon is going to do the ultrasoud and see if it needs to come out right away. This is so frustrating. I dont want another recovery so soon. sigh Rachael

You poor thing! They should have snipped it out while they were in there since they knew it was full of stones. The good thing is that gallbladder surgery is done lap and is usually outpatient surgery. This soon after WLS they may decide to keep you for a day or 2 though. Hope you feel better soon! Susan

Hi Rachael, the gallbladder may be plugged up from the stones and will cause the pain. If it's plugged up with stones, it will need to come out. I had to have mine removed in 1998, there were two large stones blocking multi little ones and they couldn't pass. This surgery can cause gall bladder stones, or even kidney stones. That's what I have is a kidney stone in both kidneys, but they haven't tried to pass. I'll know more on July 3 when I see my urologist. If you don't get the gallbladder out soon, the pain will continue to get worse, and because of the pain, it can make you really sick to your stomach. Get it out as soon as possible. I'll keep you in my prayers. Kathy

Sorry 2 here about ur pain but if it is ur gallbladder it will only get worse. I had mine removed 2 years ago and it was horrible first i had it laporscopic and 5 days later had 2 be opened up due 2 a bile leak. Hope they get it fixed right the first time cause the second time i wished i was dead with the pain being so bad. I spent almost 2 weeks in the hospital had 2 drains and lots of bags hanging on my iv pole constantly. So good luck and be careful. I went 2 the er when i couldn't even dare 2 lay on my right side not even a little.

That is frustrating. My surgeon didn't remove my gallbladder either but I didn't have stones or anything, he said it was one of the healthiest gallbladders he had seen in years. Well, one year and one week later, to the day, my gallbladder attacked with a vengeance. It was so bad that it caused pancreatitis and I had to go into the hospital on IV antibiotics and get it removed asap. This is a very easy surgery to recover from, much quicker turn around than your WLS. I was back to work in a week and a half. Don't let them fool around with it though, if it irriatates your pancreas, that can really cause some serious problems. Good luck Toni