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Post-op Gallbladder Issues



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Hi guys I just wanted to know if anyone has had issues with your gallbladder since surgery. I spent 12 hours in the emergency room on Saturday because I was having adnominal pain and severe burning in my chest. I thought I had a leak our blockage, but after every test in the book and blood work I was told that I have a build up of bile in my gallbladder and might have to get it removed.

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I had an attack of gallstone pancreatitis 10 months after my sleeve surgery abd had my gallbladder removed on 11/30. Gallbladder issues are pretty common with rapid weight loss, in people who are obese, and in women, just to name a few risk factors.

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I am just 5 weeks out and have lost about 30 lbs i didnt think this would happen so soon.

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4 weeks out and have had no problem so far. They told me that I might have problems with my gallbladder when I was on a Liquid Protein shake diet for 8 months but never did. I think that this can be a hit or miss thing with each person being different.

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Can one ask the surgeon to remove it during the surgery? I'm still a pre-op and I'm tempted to ask him to just take it out alone with my stomach...lol.

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I seem to recall on some of the posts on here that their doctors do take out the gallbladder when they do the sleeve. You can always ask as it never hurts. Since they are in there they might as well get it out with one surgery if you are worried.

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Good topic - I was wondering the same thing - I've had a couple of gall stones that were IN-FRIGGIN-SANE in the pain area - and I have an extremely high threshold for pain. And...to be honest, I can deal with the pain. I just CAN'T. THROW. UP. I hate hate hate throwing up - I know it'll make you feel better yadda yadda yadda - but I just will do anything to make it NOT happen. (So as you can see, bulimia was never an issue for me :) ) I think I might ask my surgeon to remove it. Thanks for the tip!

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Oddly enough, my surgeon didn't remove my gallbladder either. I was told it is a very pretty gall bladder. I was put on medicine though to keep it that way while the rapid weight loss occurs. I would rather keep mine.

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At about 10 weeks out, I had two gallbladder attacks in 4 days. Scared the crud out of me!! Painful too! I'd never had one before and I hope to never have another!!

I did find that if I have one, drinking 2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a cup of Apple juice will take the pain away within 30 minutes. (Gotta love home remedies)

I do not want to have another surgery unless absolutely necessary.

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Yep - Just had my gallbladder out on Dec 12. My VSG was Jan 6, 2011. I did not start having problems until this past November when I had a couple of GB attacks that dropped me to the floor in a fetal position.... PAINFUL.

Now that its gone I am just adjusting to what I can eat (most things) and what I cannot eat... Get it out - that is my advise!

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My doc told me he found scars on my gallbladder during surgery but didn't remove it. He ordered an ultrasound and found that I do have gallstones. He wants to wait about 4 months before removing it. I am so scared of an attack. I have never had one, didn't even know I had gallstones.

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My surgeon put me on actigal for a year which is a prescription to help keep your gallbladder in tact after surgery. If the surgeon doesnt remove it during surgery I would ask for something to take after surgery because it is a popular problem that can be prevented.

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    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

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

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