Gallbladder questions

I need to ask for information from someone who has had their gallbladder removed, preferably since having their WLS, not at the time of their WLS surgery. I am almost 2 years out & my gallbladder has quit working. Although I don't have any stones, I have been having episodes of pain. My surgeon has determined that it has to come out. I am scheduled to have it out on Dec 5. Normally he sends his patients home right away but I will be spending the night due to a small additional surgery that I will be having that day also. Two surgeons, two surgeries but only have to be put out the one time. Now for my questions... first if I have my surgery at 11:00 AM will I feel up to attending support group at 7:00PM? We have our support group meeting that night at the hospital & the nurse said I could attend in a wheel chair if I want to come. They are having a few members share with the rest of the group & I was asked a few weeks ago to be one of the "success stories." I am very flattered that they asked me & will be so disappointed if I have will not feel up to it. Second questions concerns foods you cannot eat anymore due to the GB surgery. I have friends who have to be very careful about what they eat or they spend a lot of time in the bathroom. I am mostly concerned about salads as I eat one every night at work. Will I be able to eat salad? By the way, the two surgeons who will be working on me were formerly married to each other. I'm sure glad they get along OK now. It might be dangerous to have them holding scapels over my body. Thanks in advance for any help. Dixie

Here's my experience. Q1: At 1 year post-op, I was experiencing some discomfort in that area normally associated with the GB trouble. My PCP sent me off for a ultrasound, which saw sludge in the GB. (Sludge is what is how they describe very small stones as I understand it). In any case, it was back to the surgeon who did my RNY. After being NPO from midnight, I left work at 10:45, arrived at an out-patient surgical center at 11 AM, was wheeled into OR at 12:30 PM, woke up around 3 PM and was released at 3:30. I took a call from the office as we were leaving and stopped by the office for 40 minutes on the way home. Wife stayed with me during a meeting. If she was not there, most would not have been aware that I had undergone surgery. I was more uncomfortable the next morning and stayed home. I took nothing stronger than Tylenol for pain. I drove myself to work the following AM. Q2: I have not really observed any changes in bowel habits since GB removal. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Wow, you give me hope! I suspect you have a stronger constitution than me though. I am a bit of a WOSS but from what you say, I should be able to do it. Yeah! I keep thinking that since there are no stones, not even sludge, it should be easier to remove. I have an idea my surgeon could do it with his eyes closed. He specializes in all kinds of laperascopic surgery in addition to bariatric surgery. I told them at work I was taking off a week to recover. Maybe I won't have to, but then again, it's right before Christmas. I might need that time to prepare for the holidays. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope I am just as fortunate as you concerning my surgery experience & especially bowel habits. Dixie

I attribute it to being genetically-engineered for farm work. I am an Iowan, born on a "Century Farm" near Creston, and grew up in Oskaloosa. I get up at 5 AM on the weekends because I think I am supposed to be choring (or however it supposed to be spelled). Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

EEK, another farmer! My husband & son are dairy farmers & I understand the work ethic. They couldn't survive if they didn't have something to do but have no problem sleeping in. They just work very late at night in exchange. Now, me on the other hand, I can do without all the work and enjoy working off the farm to get away from it. My friends are accusing me of of having my gallbladder removed as just another excuse to get away from feeding calves & to be honest, I do consider it a bonus. My poor husband has had to do my chores for 3 months this year due to my recovery from 2 plastic surgery procedures & now has more to look forward to and right in the middle of deer hunting season too. We are located about 25 miles north of Waterloo in NE IA. Hopefully my lifestyle will help make my recovery just as easy as yours was. Dixie

Hey Dixie I had my Gallbladder out this year, I was about 2 1/2 years out when the pain HIT BIG TIME. It started at 7am and by noon I was in so much pain I thought I was going to DIE. I went to the ER and they told me it couldnt be my GB since it only started to hurt in the morning. Well after telling them my WLS Dr in California said it was my GB they decided to do a bunch of tests. See I live in NY and had my WLS in LA so here in NY they didnt want to or understand how a Dr in California knew it was my GB. Well after a day and a half in the hospital and me so drugged up because of the pain (if thats what a woman goes through to have a baby you can have it) they decided to take it out even though the tests showed nothing. Well it was all Gang green and they said "GEE YOU ALMOST DIED" well thank you very much I told you my Dr in LA said it was my GB. Anyway I had it out at 9pm the next night and was in the hospital for 3 days, it was a very painful recovery but maybe since they waited so long to take it out is the reason why I was kept in so long. Now I have a HERNIA from that surgery since they did me OPEN instead of LAP because they said they could not see the GB very well so now I have to have the hernia fixed. Anyway as for you going in the wheel chair it is most likely a doable thing as long as its done LAP and just take the pain meds like I did but I did had a PCA pump for 2 days because of the pain and the open surgery. Hope I helped and thanks for letting me ramble on. Tony

Wow, Tony, you were put through the wringer with that! I'm certainly glad they finally realized you & your surgeon knew what you were talking about & removed the nasty thing. Glad it all turned out OK in the end, despite the hernia. Hopefully mine will be just routine. It will be done LAP as my surgeon is THE lap specialist in the area. Dixie

One last thing (sorry) as for food I can eat anything I want just like before the GB surgery without any problems and it has not changed my bathroom habits in anyway. Tony

Hi Dixie! I had my GB out several years ago - before surgery - but I never had a dietary restriction of any kind. Don't remember ever having any problem and/or getting any warning about food. I had many stones and the surgeon said the GB "fell apart" when he took it out. YUCK! But since the pain it caused was so intense it was good riddance. My surgery was a full incision so I can't say how you'll feel that night but the day surgeries I've had, I always felt better the first 24 hours because the anesthesia is still working. You'll probably still feel good that night. Extra strength Tylenol saw me through the most of it. Good luck! Judi