Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Gall Bladder Issues Post Op



Recommended Posts

So I've been having severe pain in my back.. First it started out in my lower back, then eventually moved to my shoulder/neck area. It's currently behind my bra strap area.. My doctor sent me for a ultrasound of my gall bladder and a CT scan of my abdomen (for back pain, odd! I know) anyway I have an appt tomorrow to discuss whatever my results are with my doctor. A nurse at the imaging center said gall bladder stones are common with weight loss surgeries..

My question is, did any of you have gall bladder issues post op?

Banded 7/5/2012 :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had to have my gall bladder out after loosing 100 lb when I was 19 (preband). Gall bladder pain can be deabilitating!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my gallbladder out before being banded. I had it removed two weeks ago and I'm getting banded the first week of august. It is common to have gallbladder issues after losing a significant amount of weight. That is why my doctor decided to take it out before I was banded, so that I don't experience any pain after being banded and losing weight. I hope that you can take it out soon and be pain free!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So I've been having severe pain in my back.. First it started out in my lower back, then eventually moved to my shoulder/neck area. It's currently behind my bra strap area.. My doctor sent me for a ultrasound of my gall bladder and a CT scan of my abdomen (for back pain, odd! I know) anyway I have an appt tomorrow to discuss whatever my results are with my doctor. A nurse at the imaging center said gall bladder stones are common with weight loss surgeries..

My question is, did any of you have gall bladder issues post op?

Banded 7/5/2012 :)

what side did the pain come from?? im currently having pain in my left side... around where the port is. its pretty bad sometimes. ive had it for a week off an on now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hmm.. Well the pain seems to move around. Please don't suggest it's gas, my doctor and I have ruled that out already.

Banded 7/5/2012 :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hmm.. Well the pain seems to move around. Please don't suggest it's gas' date=' my doctor and I have ruled that out already.

Banded 7/5/2012 :)[/quote']

I think what Judy means is whether the pain is on the left or right side? Gallbladder pains are usually underneath the right rib cage/ underneath right breast. Also, sometimes right shoulder pain is associated with gallbladder pains and indegestion may be present as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine removed 7 months post banding after losing about 80 pounds. It took awhile to diagnose mine since nothing showed up with CT scan, ultrasound, or bloodwork. Eventually I had a HIDA scan done which showed no stones... just that it stopped working.

My pain was below my ribcage. Lots of nausea, sweating, intense pain.

If it is your gallbladder... highly recoend removal. Best thing I ever did. The attacks were horrible!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine out when I got banded. My surgeon said that most of the time, patients with extreme weightloss have to have their gallbladder out, usually within a year of being banded. I was lucky, I had gallstones but never had the pain from it.... Never even knew that I had gallstones really.

I hope you feel better!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My wife had her gallbladder out yesterday and is doing well. This was done due to gallstones. They knew she had them before the lapband surgery. They just now started to cause pain so they removed it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It is very common to have get gallstones as a result of weight loss. I had to have my gall bladder removed 1.5 yrs before lapband.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think what Judy means is whether the pain is on the left or right side? Gallbladder pains are usually underneath the right rib cage/ underneath right breast. Also, sometimes right shoulder pain is associated with gallbladder pains and indegestion may be present as well.

thanks nenwskinnygal... yes, thats what i meant. lol. most of my problems are on my left hand side... i would say, probaby in the descending colon.. in that vicinity anyway. not sure if its due to spicy foods or not. i have to start eliminating foods now to see whether they are at fault. I did think that gall bladder pain was on the right hand side.. but wasnt sure about how much the pain travels over the body.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My wife had her gallbladder out yesterday and is doing well. This was done due to gallstones. They knew she had them before the lapband surgery. They just now started to cause pain so they removed it.

glad to hear that she is doing well. is she just over night stay in hospital?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine out when I got banded. My surgeon said that most of the time, patients with extreme weightloss have to have their gallbladder out, usually within a year of being banded. I was lucky, I had gallstones but never had the pain from it.... Never even knew that I had gallstones really.

I hope you feel better!

Its very interesting how many weight loss patients suffer from this. I wonder why the gall bladder starts having problems? I know there is dietary changes, but if the diet is more healthy and there is less food being eaten... why would it have problems? i must ask my dr about that one. Years ago i had xrays in that area... checking for gall stones and the drs found three calcified stones outside the gall bladder, just underneath. i have no idea what that was about.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine out when I got banded. My surgeon said that most of the time, patients with extreme weightloss have to have their gallbladder out, usually within a year of being banded. I was lucky, I had gallstones but never had the pain from it.... Never even knew that I had gallstones really.

I hope you feel better!

so what happened to draw the drs attention to your gall bladder if you didnt have the pain?? im curious...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had mine removed 7 months post banding after losing about 80 pounds. It took awhile to diagnose mine since nothing showed up with CT scan, ultrasound, or bloodwork. Eventually I had a HIDA scan done which showed no stones... just that it stopped working.

My pain was below my ribcage. Lots of nausea, sweating, intense pain.

If it is your gallbladder... highly recoend removal. Best thing I ever did. The attacks were horrible!!!

..how awful. were they long in getting to the source of the problem? it sounds really painful. what sort of test did they do to find it? i dont recognise HIDA ...judy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×