I keep reading about gallbladder problems, and people having them removed postoperative. How common is this? Why?

It's very common but hard to find consistent stats. As to why - here's a really simplified explanation. Your liver produces bile. Bile is used in part to break down fats. Most people who need WLS have been breaking down more fats than average for a very long time. Your GB is a bile "pump". When you go from having lots of fat to digest (pump in overdrive) to having very little (restricted diets with lower fat), your pump kinda wigs out and doesn't know what to do. That's the gallbladder dysfunction or "attack".

It can also need to be remove dbecause of gallstones (attacks and stones often go hand in hand, but not always). Gallstones are usually caused by chemical imbalance in the gallbladder. Too much bilirubin, or too much cholesterol, are really common causes of chemical imbalance.

Gallstones themselves can cause lots of problems, especially if they are passed through the bile duct. Major organs can be seriously compromised.

The last stats I read were something like 40% of WLS patients needed a cholecystectomy (GB removal) within the first I think 1-4 years, and 20% increased risk each year thereafter. I don't remember the source so I can't re-check, or look into the validity. It's pretty common.

I had mine out at the same time my lap band went in four years ago. I was having gall stones at the time as well, and so my surgeon recommended that it be removed at the same time laproscopically. I just had my lap band removed and sleeve put in, and in class, they recommend that you have it removed. Gall bladder pain is excrutiating when you get an attack. I spent the night in the emergency room one night 20 years ago when I ate a slice of pizza after being sick for two weeks and having liquids only.

I was put on actigall for 6 months , three times a day as a gall stone preventative, maybe you can ask about that.

After reading all of this, yes, I will ask at my next appt. about gallbladder meds. That is scary though. I don't want to have another surgery!

It's very common but hard to find consistent stats. As to why - here's a really simplified explanation. Your liver produces bile. Bile is used in part to break down fats. Most people who need WLS have been breaking down more fats than average for a very long time. Your GB is a bile "pump". When you go from having lots of fat to digest (pump in overdrive) to having very little (restricted diets with lower fat)' date=' your pump kinda wigs out and doesn't know what to do. That's the gallbladder dysfunction or "attack".

It can also need to be remove dbecause of gallstones (attacks and stones often go hand in hand, but not always). Gallstones are usually caused by chemical imbalance in the gallbladder. Too much bilirubin, or too much cholesterol, are really common causes of chemical imbalance.

Gallstones themselves can cause lots of problems, especially if they are passed through the bile duct. Major organs can be seriously compromised.

The last stats I read were something like 40% of WLS patients needed a cholecystectomy (GB removal) within the first I think 1-4 years, and 20% increased risk each year thereafter. I don't remember the source so I can't re-check, or look into the validity. It's pretty common.[/quote']

Thank you for this detailed info. I have been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and fatty food was never my problem. I hope that might help me?