Question:
Perhaps I should have asked my surgeon, but how

would you know if your gallbladder was taken out? I know this question may sound dumb, but I've never thought about it until recently when I was asked the same question. Can you imagine how stupid I looked and felt? I don't know if I have a gallbladder or not. Proximal LAP RNY 9/3/02 5'2" 265/176/126-115 Hadiyah, a.k.a.~~    — yourdivaness (posted on November 18, 2005)


November 18, 2005
If you have a copy of the hospital bill, look for that procedure to be listed. My doctor did an ultrasound first before deciding to remove mine. If your surgeon didn't discuss this, he probably left it. Don't be embarrassed to ask, though. Ruth
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 18, 2005
Get a copy of your surgical report. It will state there. But unless they told you going in that they were going to take it out and you agreed its still there. Taking the gallbadder out with WLS is done but its NOT automatic.
   — star .

November 18, 2005
I certainly hope your surgeon would have at least informed you that he had removed an organ. o.O I know there are many surgeons who remove the gallbladder during WLS, but it is not standard practice. I would assume you still have it, but you might give your surgeon a call to be certain.
   — RebeccaP

November 19, 2005
I think the last answer was pretty rough. I have experienced over and over in the last 5 years medical personnel that either cannot or will not answer my questions. At that point I don't usually go back and now I'm being condemmed because I'm "doctor shopping". You can try and ask all the right questions - but that doesn't mean you will get the answer. The sugerical report "should" have this info, but again I have experienced that is not always true either. I got burned really bad on my RNY surgery, it's really easy to look back and see what I could of done different NOW! I hope you can get an answer to your question about your gallbladder. I would suspect a cat scan would confirm if it is still in there or not. Good Luck
   — Nut Picker

November 19, 2005
There is no such thing as a stupid question! Before surgery you are wrought with nerves and home details to attend to; after surgery there are those very good drugs which limit your cognitive abilities and they can affect your memory. You could have been told and "lost" that info. Just call your surgeons office and ask. They know they see us at our worse, and I'm positive they have had the questions before.
   — Pamela G.

November 19, 2005
I'm sorry one of the responders to this question was so insensitive to you. DON'T FEEL BAD THAT YOU DON'T KNOW! The surgeon should have told you at your follow-up visit right after surgery if it was taken out. But if he/she didn't, simply call their office and ask the receptionist to check your file. Good luck!
   — johare

November 19, 2005
If the doc did not tell you he was taking it out, he probably did not. Look at your medical bills and see if a cholecystectomy is listed. That is a gallbladder removal.
   — Novashannon

November 19, 2005
Probably not - because the doc should've told you before surgery if he was going to do that. My guess anyway. And, they don't always take the gall bladder if there is nothing wrong with it.
   — talkingkatz




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