Question:
two surgeries or one.

Ok I just found out that my gall bladder is bad. It has to go. I sould not be having WLS until somewhere around Febuary 03. Should I have the gall bladder taken out now or wait for the WLS. The attacks happen about every week and only lasts a couple of seconds but are really painful. By waiting will I be causing more harm to my body? Will this slow down the WLS procedure at all? how long is the recovery for gall bladder removal? Thanks in advance for your help.    — Teekay80 (posted on September 13, 2002)

September 13, 2002
I would find out just how "bad" it is and discuss with your doctor if it can wait or not, of course one surgery would be best, but I had Gallbladder problems for awhile (long before WLS) and I had tests that showed "multiple tiny gallstones" well I was having auch painful attacks that we would call for an amblance, I thought I was having a heart attack, the doctor said that there must be somthing else wrong with me, there was no way that the tiny stones that I had could cause that much pain, I had several attacks that ended up in the e.r. with no answers to the problem, finally one day after eating a steak dinner, I had another severe attack, this time the doctor said I had to have the gallbladder removed, the surgeon told me after surgery that it was so diseased that I would have died if I did not have it out then....WOW I was terrified to think of what would have happened if I was turned away again....I tell you this story because even if your doctor says you can wait, if yuor attacks are coming often, you may want to speak up and get it taken care of..mine was done lap and recovery was only a week or so, the not lifting things was longer, but all in all it was easy. Make sure, get an ultrasound or whatever is needed to see just how diseased it is now... best wishes
   — Patricia R.

September 13, 2002
I had galbladder problems before my surgery as well. I was put on a very expensive medication to slowly disolve gallstones for the months leading up to my surgery. It's called actigall or generic was ursidol I think. The university hospital here gives it to their patients for 6 months after wls to help decrease chances of galstones. I had a couple of attacks while on the meds...but it did help in the long run to get me by till my surgery date. Hope this helps.
   — robinleigh

September 13, 2002
Feb is a long time to wait with a bad gallbladder. I think you should get it out now. I had the Open RNY and my surgeon would'nt take my healthy gallbladder out. So 10 months later it had to come out. It was taken out LAP... perhaps you can have yours out LAP right now. You would probally heal quite quick. Shoot I had the LAP gallbladder and a rotaor cuff done the "same time" and the gallbladder part was a piece of cake.
   — Danmark

September 13, 2002
I had my gallbladder taken out laproscopically 2 years before WLS surgery. Its a quick overnight stay in the hospital, little teeny scars, and your all better in a week or two. I do think 1 surgery is better than 2 but if you are having an attack every week, you may want to consider getting it out now...
   — Cindy R.

September 13, 2002
I would get this taken care of now and here is why I say that. My father ended up on the hospital and nearly died as they were wheeling him into surgery. He was going into septic shock from a diseased gall bladder. You don't want to wait until the gall bladder is so diseased that your life is in danger. I wouldn't risk waiting if I were you. WLS will still be there, even if you have to wait a little longer.
   — rebalspirit

September 14, 2002
I had my gall bladder removed June last year, i had to go to the emergency room cause the pain was unbearable and my surgery was done laparascopy and it took me 2 weeks to recover because they want you to walk a lot. I think since your surgery is all the way in february 03 you should have the gall bladder removed now because i know the pain you are going thru right now, and i really don't think is going to affect the wls at all.
   — diana C.

September 15, 2002
I would get your gallbladder removed now, if the GB gets too infected...it could actually postpone your surgery for a few months, they won't touch your stomach if you have any kind of infection.
   — autlex65

September 15, 2002
NOWNOWNOW. I was in the hospital for 5 days with a GB infection -- ended up having to cancel a vacation to N'awlins...it was miserable. And the pain! I thought I was having a heart attack. Here's an idea, though -- right before the GB surgery, bat your eyelashes at your doc (male or female) and say, "hey, doctor, while you're in there...mind transecting my stomach and rerouting my intestines?" Good luck, honey.
   — Tamara K.