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Gallbladder removal BEFORE surgery


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Hi guys. I had my gallbladder removed a couple years ago due to gallstones. I've been reading online and lots of people are saying ever since their gallbladder removal surgery they gained LOTS of weight which is what I feel happened to me. I used to be fairly thin and could lose weight easily and now it's almost impossible.

I was just wondering if anyone went into this surgrey with NO gallbladder and had a successul surgery with lots of weight loss?

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I haven't had my surgery yet, but I actually lost a significant amount of weight after having my gallbladder removed. Granted, I cut out all greasy foods, but I lost almost 100 pounds after the removal simply by modifying my diet. Of course I've gained most of that back, but still. I wouldn't sweat it too much, since the surgery just takes out a good portion of your stomach. The gallbladder aids in digestion by housing bile that breaks foods down, and as long as you're following the post-op instructions on what you can and cannot eat, you won't be eating greasy foods or large quantities.

Good luck, stop worrying, and we'll compare stories in a few months!

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I had my gall bladder out about 12 years ago, and don't think I gained weight due to having it out. But I had the same concern that you did, talked to my surgeon and he said it makes no difference at all whether you have one or not. Basically just one less thing to worry about down the road (since there is a higher incidence of gall stones post rapid weight-loss).

Hope that helps!

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Hi guys. I had my gallbladder removed a couple years ago due to gallstones. I've been reading online and lots of people are saying ever since their gallbladder removal surgery they gained LOTS of weight which is what I feel happened to me. I used to be fairly thin and could lose weight easily and now it's almost impossible.

I was just wondering if anyone went into this surgrey with NO gallbladder and had a successul surgery with lots of weight loss?

I'm pre-op and I need to get mine removed. I can't imagine how someone could gain a ton after the surgery?. I thought you were prone to bathroom issues when eating fatty foods once it is gone.

One poster here Tiffy--she had hers removed at 8 months out from VGS and she lost weight even though she was trying to maintain at that point.

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I have not been sleeved yet but I have had my gallbladder out. THe reason most people gain after having their gallbladder removed is because, like me, I can eat whatever I want with no issues now. When I had my gallbladder, fatty, greasy would set off an attack, now they do not. I do not believe it will be an issue after surgery since I wont be able to eat the fatty greasy stuf anymore like I can now.

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I have not been sleeved yet but I have had my gallbladder out. THe reason most people gain after having their gallbladder removed is because, like me, I can eat whatever I want with no issues now. When I had my gallbladder, fatty, greasy would set off an attack, now they do not. I do not believe it will be an issue after surgery since I wont be able to eat the fatty greasy stuf anymore like I can now.

That makes sense. I was afraid I would never be able to eat normally.

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My Dr. removed my gallbladder during my sleeve surgery & now I have bathroom issues everytime I eat! It doesn't matter if it's fatty, greasy, healthy, etc...I have to run to the potty approximately 30-45 minutes after eating! I hate it! I am hoping this gets better over time...please someone assure me I will not have bathroom issues the rest of my life!

Rhonda

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My Dr. removed my gallbladder during my sleeve surgery & now I have bathroom issues everytime I eat! It doesn't matter if it's fatty, greasy, healthy, etc...I have to run to the potty approximately 30-45 minutes after eating! I hate it! I am hoping this gets better over time...please someone assure me I will not have bathroom issues the rest of my life!

Rhonda

I have a non-functioning gall bladder which will be removed with the surgery. The symptoms you describe are what I experience now. So I guess, from what you say, this will continue after surgery. It has to do with not breaking down fats and things go through faster.

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I also had my gall bladder removed during my sleeve surgery. I was actually glad we killed 2 birds with one stone! I understand that many people have to have their gall bladder removed after losing a significant amount of weight anyway.

I doubt that having your gall bladder out will make you gain weight with the sleeve. It's a pretty powerful tool.

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Rhonda,

I also had my gall bladder removed the day of surgery. I typically have a bowel movemnet within an our of every meal. I noticed this week (I am 4 weeks post-op) that I actually skipped a few. So, I guess it gets better, but I understand this is typical with gall bladder removal.

I think I rather go than be constipated : )

My Dr. removed my gallbladder during my sleeve surgery & now I have bathroom issues everytime I eat! It doesn't matter if it's fatty, greasy, healthy, etc...I have to run to the potty approximately 30-45 minutes after eating! I hate it! I am hoping this gets better over time...please someone assure me I will not have bathroom issues the rest of my life!

Rhonda

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Rhonda,

I also had my gall bladder removed the day of surgery. I typically have a bowel movemnet within an our of every meal. I noticed this week (I am 4 weeks post-op) that I actually skipped a few. So, I guess it gets better, but I understand this is typical with gall bladder removal.

I think I rather go than be constipated : )

Yep, sounds like we're in the same boat lol.

I don't like being constipated, but sometimes I wish I could stop myself up just so I don't have to go potty so much. This might be a little TMI, but my booty is RAW from so much pottying! Enough is enough...I'm 5 weeks post op & it hasn't gotten any better 4 me. So let's hope after 8 weeks I'll be back to normal. :)

Rhonda

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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