I was just wondering if anyone who had taken the gallbladder medication still ended up needing to have their gallbladder removed.

I hope not! I just finished my prescription.

Despite taking it, I had my first gall bladder attack at 8 months postop. Had 4 more over the next year. Now with ultrasound confirming many stones I'm having my gall bladder removed on November 25. My PCP told me from the very beginning he's never seen very good results with ursodial and thought it was a waste of $$$$. He was right.

The funny thing about it is that I felt better about my VSG than I do about this surgery. VSG only has a 1-2% complication rate (even lower with my surgeon) but 17-40% of cholecystectomy patients end up with a certain degree of chronic diarrhea. YIKES!

@@Kindle,

I hope your gallbladder surgery goes well. I had mine removed about 5 years before my VSG, I have not had any significant issues, certainly no chronic diarrhea.

I took the medication and I just had my gallbladder out three weeks ago. I have never had problems with it before but had a massive infection and was hospitalized for a couple of days and had no choice but to get it out. Good luck @@Kindle with your surgery. I have had no complications thus far.

Gall bladder issues are really gall stone issues, which form during the rapid weight loss phase when patients are no longer eating high fat foods. The bile builds up in the gall bladder and solidifies into gall stones. However, this process can also occur at other times so it is possible to get gall stones after the initial rapid weigh loss phase. Gall stones are quite painful. If you are given an option of removing your gall bladder at the time of surgery take advantage of it. You don't need your gall bladder to survive. All it does is to store excess bile. Without it the bile is just dumped into the colon.

@@Kindle - thanks for you note. My PCP agreed - and I am at 8 months too. We are not waiting - and going to remove the gallbladder in 2 weeks. Just get rid of it I say....