Question:
Should I have a good gall bladder removed during open RNY?
PLEASE HELP! My doctor completed pre-op testing (surg scheduled 4/12/01) and said the my gall bladder is in good health however suggested that it be removed during wls to prevent need of future operation and probs with GB. Sounds odd to remove healthy organ? Please help me decide by posting your comments and experiences re. this issue? Thanks. — Joseph E. (posted on March 30, 2001)
March 30, 2001
Hi, just wanted to let you know that I have gallstones and it is the most
miserable thing. I imagine that they formed during my last weightloss, I
have been having problems for quite some time getting progressively worse.
Nausea, vomiting, diahhrea. I'm post-op planning a revision. I'm not sure
if there are any statistics as to how many patients develope problems, but
i do know that it is related to weightloss. I also know that you don't need
this organ, removing doesn't affect your absorption or digestion.
Personally I would go for it, save yourself the possibility of future
surgery. Some docs even remove the appendix. Best of luck.
— Lisa B.
March 30, 2001
I don't know that removal of the gall bladder is necessary. My surgeon
explained it to me like this (but I don't know specifically where he
obtained these statistics). Approximately 70% of the general population
will NEVER have a problem with their gall bladder, regardless of having
WLS. 10% of the general population will need their gall bladders removed,
or have problems with stones, etc, regardless of not having WLS. The
remaining 20% is where the WLS may sway us from having or not having
problems. My surgeon prescribes Actigall after WLS to those patients who
have healthy pre-op gall bladders in the hopes that if you are part of that
20%, you will not need it removed. Maybe you could talk to your surgeon
regarding the effectiveness of Actigall as a preventative post-op
medication instead of removing a good organ?
— Toni B.
March 30, 2001
My surgeon does not remove gall bladders unless they are diseased. I have a
strong family history of gall bladder problems and I asked him to PLEASE
remove mine while he was in there. My gall bladder ultrasound came back
just fine. He explained that apparantly he actually gets in trouble with
the hospital for removing healthy organs. (and maybe with the insurance
company too). So, he stuck to his guns and left it in. I am 11 weeks post
op and down 67 pounds and having no problems with my gall bladder.
— Shelley.
March 30, 2001
I just had my Gall Bladder removed a week ago, as a direct result of having
the WLS 7 months ago. I was prescribed Actigal, however i couldn't afford
the medication, so i didn't take it...bad choice. My Gall Bladder not only
quit functioning, but i also had stones. I have had a rough last 3 months,
in Jan i started throwing up almost everytime i ate, i had alot of pain
around my "bra line" and pain in my back, not to mention frequent
trips to the rest room. I really wish i could of had my gall bladder
removed during the WLS, however my gall bladder was healthy then, so my
surgeon wouldn't remove it. Best Wishes, Marie
— Arianne B.
March 30, 2001
I had an ultrasound for my gallbladder before surgery and it was normal, I
was asked if I wanted it taken out and I said yes so I wouldn't have to
have a second surgery. Well when they were doing the surgery I had 1
gallstone the size of an egg, that didn't show up on the ultrasound. I
never had any problems, with my gallbladder, but I am glad I made the
choice to have it out.
— [Anonymous]
March 30, 2001
I vote Yes..
trust me after this surgery you will not want to think
about having another surgery in the next year...lol
my Doc removed my gallbladder because he said more then likely
I would lose it anyhow..
— Kathleen M.
March 30, 2001
DEFINITELY have it taken out! Gallbladder pain is the WORST pain I've ever
experienced - and I've had some bad pain, beleive me. I had lost 100 lbs in
OA many years ago and that is when my gallbladder acted up. This SOOOO
common in people who have lost a lot of weight that it is MADNESS not to
just take the darm thing out while they're in there. you will NOT regret
getting it out - you don't need it, you won't miss it, and you might be
sparing yourself some excruciating agony.Consider yourself lucky that they
want to do it now!
— Veronica D.
March 30, 2001
Why would you want your gallbladder removed? Do you know what your
gallbladder does for your body? One of the tings it does is help breakdown
fat with its enzymes.Once the gallbladder is removed, the food gooes
straight to the intestines and have to be broken down without the
assistance of the gallbladder. I would not opt for the gallbladder removal.
You are probably going to have problems with diarrhea anyway after the
surgery. If you have your gallbladder removed you may have more increased
problems with diarrhea.
I had my gallbladder removed several years ago and I have multiple problems
with diarrhea because of it.
Ask your surgeon what the rationale for removing your gallbladder is.
— Jennifer P.
March 31, 2001
Hi. I had open RNY on 6/23/00 and my surgeon takes the gallbladder as part
of the RNY surgery. He has been doing this surgery for 15 years and said
that 80% of the time the gallbladder needed to be removed within a year of
the RNY so he just gets it over with so his patients don't have to undergo
another surgery.
I have had no negative side effects and am glad I don't have to worry about
it. Apparently the best way to develope gallstones is rapid weight loss
which is the whole point of our surgery.
Good Luck!
— Andrea P.
April 1, 2001
Gallstones and diseased gallbladders are common in overweight people,
especially if you are a woman. I vote take it out because you will prevent
a later surgery that is quite possibly in your future. I am having surgery
on 4-26 and I will be having my gallbladder removed. I have been having
pain for ove a year and my PCP said there was nothing wrong. I saw the
surgeon for WLS and he put his finger right on the "nothing
wrong" problem
— Margaret M.
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