Question:
has anyone had to have their gallbladder out 18 months post op ?

I'm 18 months post op RNY, my surgery was a complete sucess. I've surpassed my goal weight and loving life, but have been having great difficulty with my gallbladder. I'm scheduled for surgery 11-27-02, I'm completly terified though. I keep looking for reasons not to have the surgery but I'm so tired of being sick and tired. Everything I eat now comes up and I'm completly nauseated all the time. Is this comman to have gallbladder difficulties at this stage? I guess part of my fear is I don't want anyone messing up my surgery while their in there. Sounds crazy HUGH! Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated.    — LAURIE W. (posted on November 23, 2002)

November 23, 2002
Yep it's real common. I had open RNY and 13 months later had gall bladder out lap. It's not bad. I went in early, had surgery and out that evening. Everything went well, a little painful when I woke up, but quickly brought under control, no complications. It's nice not to have that pain every time I eat. You'll feel much better after!
   — Randy L.

November 23, 2002
Hi, I just wanted to say that I am 4 months out, and am having to get mine out the 17th of Dec. I am a lightweight, but have lost clsoe to 100#'s so far, with only 50 more to go. My doctor attributes it to such a Rapid loss. He was unsuspecting of it. I begged him while he was in there to take it out the first time, but he wouldn't now I have to go back, and I am scared to death of it. Huggs and hang in there. ~Ang~
   — angel_wls

November 23, 2002
I am 9 months post op and will be having my gallbladder removed next month due to gallstones. My starting weight was 230 lbs...and I now weigh 123 lbs..which is 3 lbs below my original goal weight of 126....my new goal is 115 lbs, so only 11 more lbs to go. I also asked my surgeon to remove my gall bladder at the time of wls, but he said he couldn't remove a healthy organ for no reason. I'm trying to arrange it so I can have abdominoplasty at the same time...so having to have the gallbladder out now, may be a blessing in disguise. I am really nervous about having another surgery also....I feel so lucky that all went well with my wls, I'm just nervous about something going wrong. Good luck with your surgery!!
   — Kelly T.

November 23, 2002
I had my gall bladder out at 6 months post op...insurance wouldn't "allow" it to come out at time of WLS...so in it stayed and within 6 weeks of my WLS I was having problems with it. I held on until 6 months post...reached goal and my wonderful surgeon took out my gall bladder, removed 4 lbs of droopy skin and gave me a belly I can bounce a quarter off of. It's great!! The pain fromthe TT was pretty awful...but all in all, I look at the Gall Bladder problem as a blessing. Would've never gotten ins. to cover the TT otherwise. :0) Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
   — Mustang

November 25, 2002
Hi, I had my Lap RNY surgery on Oct. 10, 2002, everything went great. I was really feeling good. At the start of my 3rd week out I started getting very sick, I had a constant nauseauness that would not go away. I couldn't eat or drink because of the sickness. Come to find out it was my Gall bladder. The same surgeon who did my Lap RNY took my gall bladder out 3 weeks after my WLS. verything went fine. That was done Lap also.
   — Patricia C.

November 25, 2002
Yes, it is common with either a large weight loss or gain to have GB problems and although I was earlier than you- I had mine out a 12 mos, it was a breeze! In fact I had the same LAP suregon do my GB who did my WLS. He said when he was in there, he made a point to view my pouch and he said my surgery "looked great" if anything it gave me real peace of mind. I took a week off of work, but probably really only needed 4 days max.
   — Karen R.