Question:
gallbladder questions

Anyone take actigal and still get there gallbladder out? Jen refused to take it and although all test results arent in it appears her gallbladder has stones. I wonder if the actigal would of prevented this?<P> Any chance of a non surgical fix for her gallbladder?<P> She wants to put off surgery to remove it. Is this a good idea?<P> I would appreciate some good advice. Jen is a small person and fears being intubated awake again. For her that was the worst part of WLS.    — bob-haller (posted on October 4, 2002)

October 4, 2002
As a pastor, I am around a lot of people having surgery and in hospitals. Though the advice of medical professionals is certainly best, I can only tell you what I've seen and heard. I've never heard of anyone being able to treat gall bladder problems nonsurgically. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be intubated awake (I'm also an EMT). That must've been a horrible experience. However, I will say that it seems the best way to avoid conscious intubation is to plan for the surgery and be under the anesthetic when intubated rather than being in an emergency situation where rapid intubation is necessary -- though I don't know if gall bladder could cause such problems. I guess that's a lot of double talk saying 1) talk with the doctor and 2) I haven't ever heard of being able to put it off. Good luck and God bless.
   — Jenni K.

October 4, 2002
A small number of unfortunate folks are intubated while awake. Its because if their out first and the tube desnt go in just right they could die. I too am one of those. It was scary but not horendous, but to be avoided. They put anthestic paste on a tongue depressor, have you hold the yuk stuff in your mouth. Eventually they lay you down and insert the tube. Once its in they knock you out instantly. Jens gag reflex is real strong, and her small size contribuited to a real bad time. I dont blame her for not wanting to go thru that again. <P> For pre ops reading this its very rare and in my case well worth the 130 pounds I lost. I just wish Jen would of taken the actigal as her doctor prescribed. This could of been totally avoidable.
   — bob-haller

October 4, 2002
I am lucky in that i have already had my gallbladder removed and I am in the process of going through WLS. My doctor did tell me that you can take medicine for gallbladder stones but it is a temporary fix eventually she will have to have it removed.
   — davesband1

October 4, 2002
The Curezone.com has a gallbladder cleanse on it that has saved several ladies at my work from surgery. These folks weren't wls patients though... Check with wls surgeron before proceeding!
   — lessofme170

October 4, 2002
My Surgeon takes the gallbladder out during WLS due to the number of additional surgeries that are needed for this AFTER WLS. As I understand it, there is not much that can be done when the Gallbladder starts having problems - so the only recourse is Surgery. But, I understand the Gallbladder surgery is fairly easy to recover from, and the incisions are the same as the LAP RNY, only fewer. Good luck.
   — beryl

October 5, 2002
Hi Bob, Sorry Jen is having problems. Would Actigal have helped?? Who knows. I think that surgeons that take the gallbladder out with the WLS are the smart ones. I begged my doc to take mine out, but he refused, even though insurance would have paid for it. Oh, well. As far as going forward, the majority of gallbladder removals can be done laproscopically. It is quick, and recovery is pretty easy. I do not think that she would have the sme problems with the intubation she had with the WLS, but you should talk that over with her docs. as far as waiting, that is a debatable question. IF she can wait to have her gallbladder removed with some plastic surgery, that would be better. BUT, if she is having attacks frequently, it can cause other problems that she does not want ot get into, so getting it out now would be best. Agian, I would go on your doc's advice for waiting. Hope that this helps some.
   — Vicki L.

October 5, 2002
Like the previuos poster, I too BEGGED my surgeon to take mine out with WLS. He said the insurance would'nt cover it. I don't know if that was really true or not. But I could'nt swallow pills for 3 months so when I got my actigal scrip at one month post op I did NOT take it. By the time I could swallow pills I figured it was to late. I too am curious if it would have made any difference. (My gallbladder HAD to come out at 10 months post op).
   — Danmark