Question:
I've been told I have gallstones, but don't want to delay WL surgery.
The AB ultrasound test showed gallstones. I am hoping to have a RNY in June. Will they remove the gallbladder at the same time, or are they going to make me go thru 2 separate surgeries - one for gallbladder removal, then wait for RNY? Does anyone know? — Nannette (posted on April 17, 2003)
April 17, 2003
My surgeon removes the gallbladder at the same time as the weight loss
surgery if it is necesarry. Some doctors do not like to combine the two
expecially if it is a lap procedure. If you are having open RNY it is no
problem.
— Jane S.
April 17, 2003
hiya. check with your surgeon. mine gave me the option pre op of having the
gallbladder removed voluntarily which i agreed to BUT after having my gi
test they found it was extremely diseased and HAD to be removed -- no
problem, it came out with my wls. (i had open)
good luck!
kate
— jkb
April 17, 2003
I think many surgeons will remove the gallbladder at the same time as your
WLS. The only way to know whether yours will is to call and ask.
— garw
April 17, 2003
My ultrasound didn't show any gallstones upon first glance. I left my pre
admission testing thinking I was keeping my gallbladder. The day of surgery
just before I went in, my surgeon mentioned to me that they had found some
small stones and would be taking my gallbladder out while they did my wls.
Check with your Doc and see what his/her procedures are. Maybe you can
request it be taken out at the same time???
— daytymer
April 17, 2003
My doctor did an upper GI to check for stomach ulcers and an ultrasound to
check for stones. He did find stones and said he will definately be
removing my GB during the WLS. It is his standard practice to do the ultra
sound so he can remove the GB to avoid a second surgery
— Darren H.
April 17, 2003
Hi there, I too found out I had gallstones in the middle of my testing for
RNY. I also have been having a lot of pain 24/7, nausea, etc. So my
surgeon told me that I could wait and have it out at the same time. But
that my chances of having lap would be drastically reduced. Normally it
ends up as an open surgery due to the location of both. He left the
decision up to me as to having both done at the same time and chancing open
surgery - as well as waiting for a few extra months with the gallbladder
pain; or having them separate with the gallbladder removed ASAP. After
hoping for both at the same time, and getting weaker and in worse shape due
to the gallbladder, I asked them to do them separately. I have the
gallbladder surgery next week 4/23, and am still waiting on the insurance
approval {fingers crossed} on the RNY. Good news is I'll be much healthier
when I do the RNY now, and it should be lap; bad new is I had to have two
separate surgeries. As many below have mentioned, it will depend on your
surgeon, and it also depends on you. Do you want to take the chance of
open surgery with a much longer recovery time, or would you prefer to lap
surgeries that down time together is less than the one open surgery. It
depends on your surgeon, your insurance, and your own preferences!! Pursue
this the way you want it done! Good Luck!
— Tina S.
April 17, 2003
My surgeon recommends the gall bladder to be removed as the problems they
cause AFTER. Mine is diseased anyway and I can't WAIT for that thing to be
gone!! Ask your surgeon and get that puppy outa there and skip the second
surgery later. Jamie
— Jamie M.
April 17, 2003
Most surgeons seem to take it out at the same time.
— Tracy A.
April 17, 2003
I was scheduled for Lap RNY on March 25. But during my pre-op ultra sound
of my belly, they found I had a "packed gallbladder" - LOTS of
stones. I'd had little to no symptoms of it and was suprised.
My dr. WOULD NOT do both at the same time. Said there was a risk of a
stone getting free and lodged in the bile ducts and it was not something he
wanted to risk with the other surgery.
So on March 25 - I had gallbladder surgery and have to wait two months
until I can have my WLS (May 27). I was very depressed about that, but in
the long run - I'm putting my life in my surgeon's hands, so to speak, and
so I trust he knows best.
After my surgery I joked with him that I had still hoped he would surprise
me with a 2-in-1 surgery after all. He patted my knee, chuckled and said
"NOPE!!".
— Allee Z.
April 17, 2003
My surgeon routinely removes the gallbladder when he does RNYs if the
patient is agreeable. Many times, the gall bladder goes bad within 6
months of the surgery and he doesn't like having to go back and remove it.
He took mine but said that it was very diseased anyway. I would think that
both surgeries can be done at the same time if you aren't in distress from
the gallbladder and need it done sooner.
— Patty_Butler
April 18, 2003
I had an Open Rny last October (down 132 lbs) and the doctor told me,
preop, he removed gall bladders if it was necessary or not. I told him to
take any other USELESS thing he found up in there. ;)
— Ginger M.
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