Gallbladder complications

[Tanya Gif 23]

Hi All,

I am pre-surgery and, if all goes according to plan, should be getting "sleeved" around late January/early Feb. I'm getting a little paranoid over gallbladder complication. I hear that happens with VSG and some people even get their gallbladder removed at the time of their surgery. Has anyone faced this complication or can shed some light on this. Thank you!

[Miss Mac 6,261]

First of all, my gallbladder ruptured when I was 21 (in 1973) and It had to be removed. I do not miss it at all. The gallbladder helps your body to digest fats, but you can get along quite well without one. If your surgeon offers to be proactive and remove yours while he is already right there with his instruments, I would let him do it. Gallbladder pain feels like someone stabbing you in the back, under your right shoulder blade, and twisting that knife around while digging in. If you have that chance to avoid that pain - avoid it.

[PittsburghRNYgirl9814 18]

I had bypass 9/8/14 and am now having my gallbladder out on Friday. I wish they would have just taken it out when I had my bypass but that wasn't even an option.

[gaudjosl 22]

I had gallstone attacks often. I'm so happy to have been sleeved and my gallbladder out. Today is 1 week and I feel alive!!!!

[BitterSweet* 835]

Next time you go in for a routine pre-op appointment, claim that you have started having pains in the right upper abdomen after you eat. It'll prompt them to do liver function tests (LFTs) to check the health of your gallbladder. If there is sludge or stones your lab results will be abnormal and they'll do an ultrasound to confirm or rule out gall disease.

[Kindle 8,667]

Next time you go in for a routine pre-op appointment, claim that you have started having pains in the right upper abdomen after you eat. It'll prompt them to do liver function tests (LFTs) to check the health of your gallbladder. If there is sludge or stones your lab results will be abnormal and they'll do an ultrasound to confirm or rule out gall disease.

Actually your labs won't always be abnormal. I have had 2 gallbladder attacks (worst pain EVER) and ultrasound shows thickened walls and sludge. All 3 of my liver function tests have been normal.

[BitterSweet* 835]

@@Kindle, you're right, but it's the only thing they can do to initially check for issues. If a surgeon does not order an EGD pre-op, there's no other way to check beforehand to see if there's a problem. You're accurate though, labs won't always show an issue, especially if it's just sludge like you had. When stones are present, labs are always abnormal because they affect the fluidity of bile between the liver and gallbladder.

[chasingpolaris321 214]

I second the idea of being proactive before your sleeve. I was a month out from surgery and started having pains and ended up having my gallbladder out around the two month mark (a little over a week ago). They went back in through my same incisions and it was actually much more painful initially than my sleeve was. I'm happy to have it gone, but I really wish I had had it checked out before my sleeve. The doctor said that for the amount of stones I had there was no way I didn't already have them before the sleeve, even though they hadn't been causing me any pain.

[Tanya Gif 23]

Ok, so you guys are saying that if my labs, or ultrasound, or whatever other tests show a gallbladder abnormality BEFORE surgery then I should have the GB out at the time as the sleeve and if the test do not show abnormalities then continue as is and only do the sleeve?

[chasingpolaris321 214]

That's what I would say! If you already have a gallbladder issue that you don't know about, you might as well save recovery time by just having it out while you have the sleeve. Looking back I wish I had insisted on an ultrasound. If they don't find anything, a lot of doctors prescribe a medication that reduces your chance of stones developing post-op, which should relieve some of your fears about your gallbladder if it's healthy now.

[Kindle 8,667]

Definitely have it out at the time of VSG if there are any issues found. The part about having it out if there are no préexisting problems has met with debate. You have a 30% chance of developing gallstones from drastic weight loss postop. You and your surgeon should talk about it. Even with my current gallbladder issues and the indescribable pain of the attacks, I am delaying getting mine out because I have two family members that developed long term GI problems after they had there's removed. But it's really just a matter of time for me....

[BitterSweet* 835]

Yes. If you gave known gallbladder disease before VSG surgery, reputable surgeons will remove it during your sleeve operation. Not all of them will, but I can guarantee you if you have stones and they don't remove it, the attacks will come as massive weight falls of you; you'll likely end up with a second surgery to remove it later.

Surgeons who won't remove it during sleeve surgery put patients on a medication that is supposed to help dissolve stones. The point is, every surgeon has such different guidelines both pre & post-op, and not all of them rule out gall disease or check for hernias prior to surgery. You have to be proactive if you have one of those surgeons. A gallbladder attack will have you praying to sweet baby Jesus! It is horrible!!!

[BitterSweet* 835]

Btw, @@Kindle, per your suggestion I read that lengthy thread about OCC and thanks to your input and two other girls, I have chosen my surgeon. I'm so happy and feel at peace. So, thank you so much. It's people like you that help make the world a better place.

You are far out from surgery, have surpassed your goals, look fantastic, and still take the time to come on this forum and help others. Usually we never know whose lives are touched by the things we do or say, but I just wanted you to know that you touched mine. Thank you. I hope to pay it forward one day. =)

[Tanya Gif 23]

Thank you so much for all your help everyone! You've been wonderful @@Kindle, obviously you've been very successful post surgery, congrats to you! Do the gallstones eventually fade or pain subsides as you reach you goal and no longer loosing weight?

[Kindle 8,667]

Thanks @@BitterSweet and @@Tanya Gif. My opinion isn't always popular on here, so I'm glad I have helped at least a little.

Bittersweet, I'm so excited for you and know everything will go fantastic.

Tanya gif, Unfortunately gallstones don't just go away on their own. I actually didn't have my attacks until I already lost 90% of my weight. Looking back now I wish I'd had my gallbladder removed at the time of VSG. I did consider it and Dr. Ortiz would have done it for just $500. At the very least, I guess I should have had my PCP Rx ursodial to try and help prevent the sludge/stones from forming. Once formed, the ursodial takes years, if ever, to dissolve them. And even more unfortunately, the price of ursodial has recently skyrocketed. Looks like I'm just a ticking time bomb for now. Keep us posted on how things progress with you.