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Hey all!

My sleeve surgery is scheduled for March 14. I have been reading that many people end up having to have their gallbladder out after surgery due to the rapid weight loss. Should I just go ahead and get mine out now while I'm already there? My insurance sucks and won't cover anything, so ultimately it would be cheaper to do it at my initial surgery. Suggestions?

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I am sure your insurance would cover gallbladder removal if you needed it later on. I haven't had to have my gallbladder out and I'm glad I didn't remove it unnecessarily. You should probably consult with your PCP and your surgeon about it.

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Ask your surgeon. I asked mine and he said he doesn't routinely remove gallbladders. Most of his patients don't end up with gallstones that block the bile duct (the only problematic kind). I can't think of an insurance company that would deny coverage for a medically necessary surgery later in the event you need it.

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My Surg put me on a medication for 6 months that is suppose to stop any damage to mine. It's kinda expensive but so far so good.

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I asked my surgeon that exact question because I didn't want to have to have another surgery later to remove my gall bladder. He ordered an abdominal ultrasound and said if there were any stones or anything that looked problematic, he would remove it during my sleeve. Turns out my gall bladder is in great shape! I guess it's staying for awhile.....I hope for forever.

Btw, I'm scheduled for March 14 too. Woohooo

Edited by MeFirst

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I did have to have my gall bladder out 6 months after surgery but I HAD gall bladder attacks before my sleeve surgery took place. I did put that on my surgery paperwork but they opted not to do anything at the time.

I had another major attack and it became necessary to have it removed. The surgery was done as outpatient and I was out a week and back at work. It really wasn't that bad.

I agree that you should keep it if it doesn't need to be removed but don't worry if it does. The diet for someone without a gall bladder is low fat and that is something we do already so it doesn't really require any major life changes.

Ask your surgeon if you have maternal family history or have had issues yourself and they can check before surgery to see if you need any special attention there...Good luck!!

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I asked my doctor to do an ultrasound of my gallbladder before surgery. She did and it was okay. I was also of the mindset that if is really common just take it out. I still have mine and keeping my fingers crossed I don't have any problems later.

Edited by ExcitedAt55

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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