I've just had the past few weeks from hell. Had been feeling "off" a bit... Not quite right. I ended up in the ER on Tuesday with severe pain (that I'd had before, but had wrongly attributed to/been diagnosed as having a umbilical hernia that developed after I was sleeved).

It turned out to be a gallbladder attack and I was told I had "ALOT" (almost 20!) of gallstones. I was treated for pain and released. Took Wednesday off (only by docs orders). Against my better judgement, I went to work Thursday still in a lot of pain b/c I had a big project due. I went back to the ER after work and was immediately admitted with an inflamed/infected gallbladder so it wouldn't rupture. They performed an emergency gallbladder removal on Friday morning.

Now, my doc told me it was most likely the rapid weightloss from the VSG that I had (it could have also been from being Obese before - BUT, my pre-op testing showed no gallstones or gallbladder issues).

Has anyone else here had that problem?? This really has TOTALLY caught me off guard. It explains a lot of things I've been feeling over the past year... But still a shocker.

I asked my surgeon about it, as they didn't do any pre-surgery testing.

Sounds like they don't think it's worth testing if patients are asymptomatic, and only about 10% develop gallbladder issues post-surgery.

That's also part of the explanation for why they don't just remove the gallbladder during sleeve surgery. Also, it sounds like some people can have stones and no symptoms.

It's the rapid weight loss that makes gallbladders irritable. Dieting, other WL surgeries, and anorexics all run the risk of gallbladder problems. Fortunately, we who have problems are in the minority, though that's small comfort after you have an attack and surgery. Mine was removed 10 months post-op.

I didn't have any gall bladder issues, but, was told that during my surgery they would check my gall bladder. If it was needed, they would remove it during surgery. Luckily, my gallbladder was OK. Part of my post op instructions was to start taking Actigall (Urisipodol) one month after surgery and continue for 6 months, to prevent gall stone formation. No problems so far.

Elise

I've just had the past few weeks from hell. Had been feeling "off" a bit... Not quite right. I ended up in the ER on Tuesday with severe pain (that I'd had before' date=' but had wrongly attributed to/been diagnosed as having a umbilical hernia that developed after I was sleeved).

It turned out to be a gallbladder attack and I was told I had "ALOT" (almost 20!) of gallstones. I was treated for pain and released. Took Wednesday off (only by docs orders). Against my better judgement, I went to work Thursday still in a lot of pain b/c I had a big project due. I went back to the ER after work and was immediately admitted with an inflamed/infected gallbladder so it wouldn't rupture. They performed an emergency gallbladder removal on Friday morning.

Now, my doc told me it was most likely the rapid weightloss from the VSG that I had (it could have also been from being Obese before - BUT, my pre-op testing showed no gallstones or gallbladder issues).

Has anyone else here had that problem?? This really has TOTALLY caught me off guard. It explains a lot of things I've been feeling over the past year... But still a shocker.[/quote']

I had the same issue after losing 60lbs after the sleeve. The doc said he doesn't remove gallbladders from skinny people they usually don't have that problem. It's the overweight folks that he is removing the gallbladder.