Question:
Take it out or leave it in gallbladder??
— cschloesser (posted on June 17, 2004)
June 17, 2004
I would say take it out! But is it really your choice? The sugeons I
considered either took it out or didn't, it really wouldn't have been my
choice. My surgeon has an ultrasound done pre-op and if it's healthy, she
doesn't take it out. <br><br>
Well, guess what? Mine was fine back in November (2 weeks pre-op) but
exactly 6 months post-op I had a gallbladder attack that ended me up in the
ER. So I had my gallbladder taken out a little over a week
ago.<br><br>
But if you do leave it in, I should say, having the gallbladder taken out
is nothing, compared to the RNY. I had both done lap, and with the
gallbladder removal I was pretty much back to normal the day after. But if
I could do it over again and had a choice, I would have had it taken out
with the RNY. Afterall, I have read various statistics about how many
people need them removed post op, my surgeon said 20%, I have read other
articles that say as much as a third (33%).
— Patricia T.
June 17, 2004
I wanted mine out with wls and he would'nt do it. I just knew with my luck
it would mean another surgery. Sure enough 10 months after wls it had to
come out anyway, so another bleeping surgery. GET IT TAKEN OUT DURING WLS
IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE. Chances are it will only mean another surgery later
if you don't.
— Danmark
June 17, 2004
If I had the choice, I would have had it removed during my initial surgery.
But I didn't and had to have a second surgery to remove it at 5 months
post op.
— RebeccaP
June 17, 2004
I was on the wrong side of the odds for yet another thing in my life. This
past April I had what I thought was a dumping attack during Passover. I
thought it was due to the tiny bit of wine I ate in the charoses (chopped
apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine), approximately 1/4 cup. This was the only
new thing I had eaten, and I got horrible pain after the meal, lasting
approx. 5 hours. I was convinced it was dumping or a blockage. After
going to the bathroom a few times, w/ no pain relief, I called my surgeon.
By the time she called back the pain had subsided. We chalked it up to
dumping. Anyway, after reading a little bit on the Q and A page here on
OH, I saw a related question, where someone described the same situation
that I had. All the responses suggested gall bladder problems. I e-mailed
my surgeon and explained what I had read, and went for a sonogram. Well,
the gall bladder is coming out on the 28th of this month. My surgeon
claims that the occurrance of gall stones is not all that much higher in
WLS patients, it is not all that unusual for it to happen.
He did however say that some traditional methods of dealing with them are
not options for RNY patients. I am hoping for a quick, uneventful recovery
for this. If given the choice now, I'd do it and get it over with>
Good luck!
— Fixnmyself
June 17, 2004
I think they should automatically take the gallbladder out when they do the
WLS. Let's face it, probably 90% or more will end up having it out anyway.
So why have 2 surgeries?? I had to have mine out in November last year.
I was 2 years post-op at the time and had stones. I had tests done 6
months prior and knew it had to come so I scheduled it for November and
hoped I didn't have any attacks!! Luckily, I didn't.
— Patty H.
June 17, 2004
My surgeon said he would only remove my gall bladder during my RNY if it
appeared to be diseased. I don't think there are many surgeons who will
remove a healthy organ "just in case".
— koogy
June 17, 2004
I'll put in my vote for getting it done during the surgery. I had to have
mine out one year to the day after my open rny. I would have preferred to
do it all at once but had never had gall bladder problems before then.
Good luck getting your surgeon to go along with it.
— Daisy C.
June 18, 2004
I'd say take it out if you can have it done. My surgeon didn't remove mine
and I had to have it removed almost 1 year later to the day.
— Cathy S.
June 30, 2004
I say TAKE IT OUT!! I was home after my gastric bypass (Lap) for only 10
days! I had a gall bladder attack and passed out because the pain was that
unbearable and hit my head on the coffee table. When I came to, I could
not see. Let me tell you there is a light to lead you to heaven! It was
soooo bright. I had to shake my head back and forth to try a get out of
it. I told the Lord, please don't take me yet. I have a little boy to
take care of. I am a single parent and he needs me. I could not see for
close to 30 minutes or so! When I finally regained some sense, I crawled on
the floor to find the telephone to call my mother to take me to the
hospital. It was a very scary situation. I was in the hospital for 5 days
before my gall bladder was taken out.
— Janice W.
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