Question:
gallbadder problems?

Hello has anyone had gallbladder problems before your WLS? Will this issue stop the surgery?    — Pilar12 (posted on October 28, 2009)

October 28, 2009
I still have my gallbladder but my surgeon asked enough questions to cover my overall health & I was asked to convey any new health situations during the time I was under his care pre-operatively. If you think you are having gallbladder symptoms, please let him know about it before surgery. No sense in putting yourself thru a painful episode if it can be taken care of before or at the same time as WLS. A lot of surgeons remove the gallbladder at the same time as WLS to circumvent gallbladder issues later on as it is fairly common to develop stones, etc after WLS due to the rapid weight loss.
   — Arkin10

October 29, 2009
If you have gallbladder problems now, it is likely to get worse after WLS. WL patients are 30-50% more likely to develop gallstones. I just had my gallbladder out last Thursday. I would talk to my WL surgeon. He can probably do both at the same time.
   — corky1057

October 29, 2009
Generally if you have a healthy gallbladder pre op, then the doctors usually won't take it out during surgery. Although some do, just to prevent people having to go through a second surgery to remove it. If you don't have problems now, you might not ever have problems. I still have mine and I didn't have problems and it has been almost 5 yrs for me.
   — Kristy

October 31, 2009
It is common to have gallbladder problems when you are losing weight. Especially when it is coming off fast. I was having gallbladder trouble about a yr ago before I was contemplating WLS. The surgeon I saw for it recommended I have WLS, and he said that I might be able to have it out at the same time. However, when I went to see the WLS surgeon he told me he wouldn't take out the gallbladder at the same time. I opted to have it out Sept 1, 2009. In a way I am glad I had it done before my WLS because I have felt what it is like when you eat high fatty or sugary foods and get the dumping. It isn't pleasant. You can have the surgery done and then have WLS within a month. Good luck with everything and I hope you feel better soon.
   — Hilkerrt