Taking gallbladder out during sleeve surgery?

[Rubygirl 32]

Hi everyone, I am 59 and I have appointment Jan 12 in Mexico with Dr. A Ortiz for sleeve surgery. I have read a lot about people who have gallstones after rapid weight loss and I am just wondering if anyone has proactively had their gallbladders out? Any thoughts and advice will be appreciated. Thankd

[RickM 1,747]

My doc's general practice with the VSG is that if he feels stones in there when he's doing the procedure, then he will take the gallbladder out; otherwise he leaves it in as the risk/reward doesn't warrant removing it. With his DS patients, however, he removes it as a matter of course as, should the gallbladder give trouble later on, he doesn't want another surgeon going in there and getting lost in the altered anatomy in that area - something that's not a problem with the VSG.

There are some medications that I have seen some docs prescribe for their WLS patients that is supposed to prevent or minimize such problems - that may be an option to discuss with your surgeon or PCP.

I don't know what the specific numbers are, but my impression is that it's something on the order of 5-10% of WLS patients may have these problems, but when reading these forums it may seem like a much more common problem as you don't hear much from those who have had no problems and only hear from the few who do. For the record, I had no gallbladder problems and never took any medication for it.

Good luck,

Edited October 14, 2014 by RickM

[Miss Mac 6,261]

Just for the record.....I had my gallbladder out (it ruptured) when I was 21 years old. That was in 1973 when the surgeons still cut you half in two and nothing was being done laparascopically yet. (and phones hung on the wall, music was still vinyl even though 8 track cassetts were new technology, women were just learning how to pump their own gas, and cars did not have to have seat belts)

I have not missed it at all, and have gotten along well (digestively)without it. So, at whatever point you may have yours removed, I would bet money that thirty years from now, it would not have made a negative impact on your overall health.

[haleytrim 244]

Hi everyone, I am 59 and I have appointment Jan 12 in Mexico with Dr. A Ortiz for sleeve surgery. I have read a lot about people who have gallstones after rapid weight loss and I am just wondering if anyone has proactively had their gallbladders out? Any thoughts and advice will be appreciated. Thankd

I have requested that mine be removed during the surgery along with repair of a small hernia. I have been having what I feel are some pains from gallbladder (not diagnosed) and are the same type symptoms my dad had with his. I surely don't want another surgery 5 or 6 months out and from all accounts I won't miss it.

[finediva 979]

I asked for mine to be removed during my sleeve surgery and my surgeon refused. She stated mine was fine, based on my ultrasound results, and the insurance company wouldn't pay for the procedure. She also refused to give me medication to prevent any future issues. I hope she's right, because if I end up with trouble I'll be mad.

[happychic80 58]

When I had an ultrasound done on my gallbladder, I was told I have sludge and that they recommend me to go ahead and have it removed. I still haven't made the decision yet. Like some of the previous posters, I'd really hate to have another surgery, so am leaning towards having it removed.

[robga999 129]

i had mine removed with my vsg and im 8 days post op and feeling fantastic!!I had an ultra sound done on it and I had gallstones.i had larproscopic surgery thru my belly button and gall bladder and stomach came out of the single incision.

[Rubygirl 32]

Thanks everyone for your input. I had an ultrasound 5 years ago and was told that I had sludge in the gallbladder. I definitely don't want to end up in the OR a few months after just having surgery.I I'm going to seriously think about this and talk to the doctor. I'm so thankful I have found this forum.......I have learned so much from all of you and am looking forward to the surgery as it comes closer.

[KayleeC14 159]

So back in the day when they first started doing the gastric weight loss surgeries they used to yank out the gallbladder when they did the surgery because it is a proven fact that with sudden weight loss the gallbladder will produce stones and sludge. Now days they do not because well insurances wont pay for the extra procedure while the surgeon is in there unless its a necessary procedure to remove it. I have learned all this because this summer I had to have surgery to have the gallbladder yanked out. Some bariatric doctors will prescribe Actigall to take to protect your gallbladder. My surgeon broke it down for me like this if you take the Actigall you have basically a 25-30% chance of not having the surgery to remove the gallbladder, if you choose not to take it the chances increase of having surgery to 50-60%. Now this drug is pretty pricing, the generic form was $50 even after insurance. I couldn't afford it and took the risk and knew that sooner or later I would be on the operating table again, just didn't think it would be super soon. I would talk to your surgeon and doctor and see if it is a possible choice to have it removed during surgery and also talk to your insurance company to make sure it is covered. If not, see if you can fight it and have it covered.

[mrsto 2,925]

I don't have the sleeve, but I did choose to have my gallbladder removed during my band/plication surgery. I wasn't having any issues with it, but there were some small stones. Given that, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had issues that would put me back on the operating table. I have no issues without the organ, and neither do the numerous people I've know through the years who had theirs taken out.

[BeagleLover 1,020]

I have requested that mine be removed during the surgery along with repair of a small hernia. I have been having what I feel are some pains from gallbladder (not diagnosed) and are the same type symptoms my dad had with his. I surely don't want another surgery 5 or 6 months out and from all accounts I won't miss it.

I had one gall bladder attack and I was given a sonogram which showed them all. If you had the test, I imagine it would be covered by insurance.