I've only found one doctor who will do it. I asked Dr. Ortiz and he said no, that I would have to get my gall bladder removed before or after I have my sleeve. I think that's rather stupid as they are both done laparoscopically.

I asked mine Dr Louisiana Valenzuela and she will for 1500 on top of the 4500 for my sleeve. I am not doing it as I can have it removed for free where I live. Means another operation though. When I asked I did say it was medically necessary as my surgeon here in Canada wants it out due to inflammation.

I just had mine out here in the US a few weeks ago. Ariel Ortiz did my sleeve last December but I never asked re: gall bladder. I didn't want to push my luck. My surgeon who took it out said that there was a stone in it almost as large as my gall bladder itself (I know TMI) and there was no way that my weight loss caused my stones - that they had been forming for a number of years. The recovery was fine. Funny, I had terrible gas pains after gall bladder removal, but not after my sleeve. Go figure I'm 3 weeks out of gall bladder surgery and will be returning to cardio tomorrow, but no weights for a few more weeks.

My doctor was open to it. When I consulted with him, he first wanted to know why I was asking about gallbladder removal. I explained that all of my siblings had had to have theirs removed on an emergency basis between ages 40 and 50 and that, being 50, I felt like it was statistically likely that I would NEED to have it out very soon (I also had the "F's" that they say commonly add up to a need for gallbladder removal Female, Forties, Fat and Fair-skinned!). I hoped to avoid another anesthesia, surgery and recovery soon after being sleeved, too.

Anyway, Dr. Illan listened to my reasoning and said he thought it made sense. He said he would plan to do it barring any issues discovered during surgery. He quoted $500 extra payment (for extended time in the O.R. and extended time that the surgical team would need to be paid for, etc., etc.). I paid for my sleeve surgery with a cashier's check the day of surgery and then I paid the $500 cash for the gallbladder removal AFTER surgery since it wasn't 100% certain that it would come out. I was supplied with time-date-stamped photos of both my stomach AND my gallbladder after removal in the O.R

I had six incisions; I was told I would have five if I did not have my gallbladder out. My surgeon (and some other hospital staff) told me my sleeve took 30 minutes to do and my gallbladder added another 25 minutes. I had a drain for about 40 hours while still in the hospital (and I would NOT have had one if I hadn't had the gallbladder dealt with). I think I was a little tender for a day or so, but the gallbladder (and the sleeve, for that matter) surgery was a breeze and I felt back to myself within days.

Good luck and let me know if I can help with any other information .

I know Dr. Hidalgo will remove the gallbladder, he charges $800us more to do so but has no problems removing it for you at the time of surgery. his website is http://www.weightlossteam.com

I've only found one doctor who will do it. I asked Dr. Ortiz and he said no, that I would have to get my gall bladder removed before or after I have my sleeve. I think that's rather stupid as they are both done laparoscopically.

Elias Ortiz or Ariel Ortiz? I had surgery with A Ortiz and I asked about getting my gall bladder out at the same time. He doesn't normally do it, but said he would if I really wanted. $500 extra. In the end I chose not to, but have had too extremely painful gall bladder attacks at 6 and 8 months postop. Ultrasound showed no stones, just sludge. Silly me, I'm waiting for a 3rd attack before considering surgery. But it's been 4 months since the last one so......

Do you have gall bladder problems or are you considering doing it for just in case? I've had two relatives have bad GI complications after having their gall bladders out, so that's part of my reluctance.

The OCC team told me 500 extra but i'm one year out and thus far knock on wood no problems. I know they will at OCC.

@@nolagirl

I think I asked the OCC and a Dr. Ortiz (can't remember first name) said no.

@@Kindle

Back in 97/98 I lost a major amount of weight and got down to may goal weight (170lbs) for the first time. Within months I started having gall bladder attacks and they were horrible. As I slowly started to regain weight the attacks stopped. I had an ultrasound done and the lady said I had huge gallstones. So it needs to come out. I'm actually not worried about the gallsones I have as I believe they are too big to even go down the duct and cause pain, but I'm afraid of forming new ones when I lose weight again. So it needs to come out.

@@samw

Did you use Dr. Hildago? He is a good doctor?

Kindle

Were to prescribed ursodiol/ Actigalll post op?

OCC didn't Rx it, but my PCP did. I was taking 300mg BID. Then the price skyrocketed this summer. I had already lost 90% of my weight at that point and since I still had attacks and sludge despite taking it, I didn't feel it was worth the insane price to keep taking it.

Edited December 14, 201411 yr by Kindle

@@nolagirl

I think I asked the OCC and a Dr. Ortiz (can't remember first name) said no.

Weird, because they told me they'd do it for $500, too.

@@Proud2BMe yes i used him and the whole trip was great, and he is a the very best!

The pharmacies in TJ charge about $75 for a 3 month supply of Actigall. It's called Ursofalk there and they are capsules. Also, goodrx will get a similar price at a local pharmacy like CVS, Walmart, etc. my doc wrote me an Rx and I will find out what the copay is.

Thanks for the info....I checked goodrx and the best price was $36 for #30 250mg at Walgreens, (which is a 90 min drive away). They didn't have the 300mg, and taking 2 a day still puts me at $72/ month. I used to pay like $24 at my local pharmacy. Unfortunately, I don't have another TJ trip planned and since the ursodial didn't work to prevent gall bladder issues in the first 8 months I guess i don't see the point. But I will talk to my PCP about it again.

Edited December 14, 201411 yr by Kindle

Thanks Rocky. I'm traveling to Wisconsin next week, maybe I'll check prices there and have my doc call in an Rx if it's cheaper.

yes I used Dr. Hidalgo he was awesome!!! (sorry I was travelling in Europe and just got back)