About 3 weeks ago I had what I thought was either something stuck or just a plain upset belly due to some fresh onions I ate. It was bad but it passed within an hour. Well Saturday night it happened again. Around 11 pm I woke with the worst pain imaginable. Now I've had 7 laps (due to endrometriosis), a C-section and cut two more times like a C-section. I honestly would rather be cut hip-to-hip again than experience that pain again from Saturday night. It lasted for hours and would not ease up. I ended up having to go to the ER (which I'm not looking forward to that bill since I don't have insurance but that's another issue). I thought it had something to do with the band and it turns out it was a gall bladder attack. But they did a CAT scan and it didn't show any signs of stones or inflammation. The only indication was my pain and some of my liver enzymes are elevated. They did an ultrasound pre-op and my gall bladder was fine. I've never had any problems with it and now they're recommending surgery to remove it.

I've read in various places that WLS patients can end up having gall bladder problems after the surgery. Why is that? Does anybody know? Any recommendations to help elevate the possiblity of another flare up?

I start work in a week and will have health insurance immediately. I will get this taken care of but I want a week without that pain!

HELP!

What casues gallbladder attacks?

The pain can come from a stone making its way down the biliary duct (or bile tube) toward the (duodenum) small intestine. It can also be caused by a back up of bile in the gallbladder (with or without stones) that causes it to swell from fullness causing discomfort. Or it can come from an infected gallbladder itself that becomes inflammed (cholecystitis).

http://www.markfuscomd.com/gallbladder.htm

Been there had it removed. I remember my first attack which I thought was a heart attack was after I had some potato chips and while I was eating a taco from Taco Bell. I had another one after eating some Beans. I was told to stay away from fatty, gasey foods until surgery.

I am happy to hear you will have surgery soon. You will have to watch your diet until then.

Nutrition

• Decrease total fat intake, especially saturated fats (meat and dairy products).
  
• Eliminate food allergens. Eggs, in particular, may irritate the gallbladder.
  
• Eat more fiber. Consider fiber supplements such as flaxmeal (1 tsp. one to three times per day). Combine 1 heaping tsp. of flaxmeal in 8 oz. of apple juice for a drink high in fiber and pectin.
  
• Lecithin (1,000 to 5,000 mg per day) for cholesterol excretion
  
• Choline (1,000 mg per day) and lipase (10,000 NF units with meals) stimulate gallbladder function.
  
• Vitamin E (400 to 800 IU/day) and vitamin C (1,000 mg two to three times per day) promote bile production.

http://www.adam.com/democontent/IMCAccess/ConsConditions/GallbladderDiseasecc.html

My mother said her gallbladder attacks were terrible, but I never had any pain with mine. only when they pressed on me. (poke me there again, and I'll hit you!)

See if you can stay away from any food with fat in it. The gallbladder's function is to help break down fat, and it squirts bile. If you are blocked, then that could be causing the pain. But seriously, don't let the pain go to long, I feel for you hon, misery!

Sounds very similar to what happened to me...it happened twice and I ended up calling the docs emergency number. One sonogram later i am scheduled to get my gallbladder out on Saturday. Don't eat foods that are spicy, greasy or high in fat and don't over eat. STAY AWAY FROM CHINEESE FOOD.

Sounds a lot like what I went through. My ultrasound was good too, they ended up doing a HIDA scan, that showed that the gallbladder wasn't functioning properly. I had it out, no more pain and no more trips to the ER. I am really glad I had it out and my recovery was easier than the band surgery (I had no stones so it was a pretty simple operation)

Thank you for all of your replies! I took a chance last night and ate 1/2 cup of LF cottage cheese and BAM another attack. I just met with my doctor and I'm meeting with a surgeon on Tuesday. Until then I'm on liquids....

I can honestly say I never saw this coming. I didn't have any problems with my GB before banding.

Justy, I know EXACTLY what pain your talking about.

It's so bad, nothing else matters and you can't do anything but be with the pain. I never had a child, but I always said that if I can go through those gallbladder attacks, I can go through anything.

They did not find stones in mine either, when that first started.

Then, my pancreas became compromised from the gallbladder disease and it came out. That is serious business and I was lucky no permanent damage was done. I have heard of people who get chronic pancreatitis from such things and that is a horrible disease.

Turns out there was so many stones, my doctor said he could have paved a driveway with it. 150 stones. It was distended, scared and just a mess, he said.

Since then, I have not had one of those horrible "attacks"..thank god.

You really become religious and get close to whatever higher power your associated with during those attacks...hehehe