Question:
Has anyone had problems with gallbladder surgery?

I just found out that I have gallstones (1 1/2 yrs post op) and was wondering if anyone had any problems have a lap operation? My dr says it may be a problem due to adhesions and scar tissue and may turn into major surgery. How did you do with this surgery post op??    — RODEO CLOWNS S. (posted on December 18, 2002)

December 18, 2002
Hi there, Call me the adhesion queen. I have had 4 tummy surgeries one including a complete hystrectomy (sp) and of course my last one which was my gallbladder. My doc said he spent 1 1/2 removing adhesions and scar tissue then he was finialy able to get to my gallbladder. Don;t sweat it that is what the doc gets paid the big bucks for. Anyway the only difference i believe is that people how do not have adhesions my heal quicker with less pain. Who knows it is different with everyone. Good luck on your surgery. All the best Sarah
   — sarah C.

December 18, 2002
Well, I can give you a bit of a reverse answer. I was worried about the opposite. I had lap gall bladder surgery first and I will have lap RNY on 2/6/03. My doctor said that it shouldn't be any problem because we're basically dealing with 2 different sides of the abdomen. With lap RNY, the incisions are mostly on the left side of the abdomen and with lap gall bladder removal the incisions are on the right side of the abdomen (but with one larger 1 -1.5 inch) cut in the upper middle part of your abdomen. So, any scar tissue you may have from WLS should be on the opposite side of the abdomen from your gall bladder. Hope this helps!! Good luck!!
   — Teresa W.

December 18, 2002
Well, I can give you a bit of a reverse answer. I was worried about the opposite. I had lap gall bladder surgery first and I will have lap RNY on 2/6/03. My doctor said that it shouldn't be any problem because we're basically dealing with 2 different sides of the abdomen. With lap RNY, the incisions are mostly on the left side of the abdomen and with lap gall bladder removal the incisions are on the right side of the abdomen (but with one larger 1 -1.5 inch) cut in the upper middle part of your abdomen. So, any scar tissue you may have from WLS should be on the opposite side of the abdomen from your gall bladder. Hope this helps!! Good luck!!
   — Teresa W.

December 18, 2002
I had my first gallbladder attack on 7/5 and had my Lap RNY and gallbladder surgeries on 9/16. My doctor said my gallbladder was in terrible shape and he had to dig to get it out and it was very hard on him. He did not have to open me up. I did have some complications due to a bile duct leak (which is rare) and I was re-hospitalized and had another procedure done (stint inserted in my liver). That worked and after 5-1/2 weeks, I got both drains removed. My doc says mine is an extreme case and doesn't happen often. He had warned me that he might have to open me all the way up due to the gallbladder but he didn't. If you have more questions, let me know. I am doing terrific now! (Like having a baby, after it's all over with, you forget how bad it was!)
   — Nell C.

December 18, 2002
I had the same situation. I had open RNY and 13 months later had to have gall bladder out. Doc was able to do it lap. He did say that there was a lot of scar tissue though. But everything went fine; in and out the same day.
   — Randy L.

December 20, 2002
I had to have an open gall bladder operation after mine nearly ruptured. It was far more painful than my RNY. I was in the hospital five days and then had to rush to the emergency room because of dehydration. They tried to do it lap but the gall bladder was too enlarged. So I wound up with a nine inch incision under my right breast. I was in the hospital five days, and even now at three months out still get a twinge in the sugical site. I think I've developed adhesions. One piece of advice. Make sure you have lots of pillows or a recliner to sit in afterward, because it's hard to lay flat for months. Also you'll probably have trouble laying on your right side. Make sure you ask for heavy duty pain medication and get it filled in advance. Don't mean to scare you but to prepare you. I'm doing so much better. Color is good, pain is so much better. In the end it was worth it. I was so sick. Good luck!!! Leigh
   — Leigh P.

December 20, 2002
I had an open gall bladder operation 2 1/2 years ago, way before I even thought of WLS. The surgeon intended to do it lap, but it was so infected he didn't want to chance having it rupture when he removed it. I did not have much pain and was back at work 2 weeks later. I had never had an attack until the one that started 5 days before surgery and would have tolerated more pain from the surgery just to get rid of the way I felt when the attack started.
   — garw