How many of you have had gallbladder problems? If so, how did it start and how long after your lap-band surgery was it? I have been feeling an ache on the right side under my rib cage - at first I thought it was from working out but now I don't think so.

I had gallbladder problems within the first 2 months. I had sharp pains in my chest...I thought I was having a heart attack. At the time I didn't realize it was my gallbladder, because I didn't think that is where I would have symptoms, but apparently, that's what happens when you have a gallbladder attack. It turns out I don't have gallstones, but my gallbladder is not functioning as well as it should.

Thankfully, I have not had an attack in a while, but if I have another one, I will have to have my gallbladder removed.

I'm not sure if what you are experiencing is a gallbladder problem, but mine was sharp, excruciating pain that lasted for an hour or so.

Good luck, and feel good!

The poll doesn't apply to me. I had my gallbladder out August of this year, which is about a year and a half after banding. But I first started having issues with it when I was on Atkins. They went away for a long time, but then came back about 2 mos before I had it removed. Never consistent.

Can't answer the poll the way it is written...

I lost my gallbladder 10 years ago PRE band.

However, I was dieting and losing weight at the time.

The band does not cause gallstones or gall bladder problems... weight loss can.

My gallbladder was removed six weeks after my band was put in. And yes, it was from the rapid weightloss giving me gall stones. I never even knew I had a gallbladder before... Then not even a month after the surgery, I'm sick, and it just keeps getting worse. By the time it came out I couldn't sit up for more than ten minutes at a time without throwing up such interesting colors and blood and so forth... and I hadn't eaten in over a week! Zofran helped for a while. Doc said it was absolutely full of tiny little stones. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound either. But I hear most aren't like that, they are less adament.

I'd be curious to see how many of us had our gallbladders out before the surgery. It's very prevalent in yo-yo dieters. I WAS the queen of that before this surgery and I had mine out three years ago. Good luck everyone.

Is there anything that can be done to avoid gall bladder problems... other than not losing weight?? :confused2:

Hello,

I had my gall bladder taken out about 5 years ago and I was also on a diet...so not worth the 30 pound weight loss...I was sooooooo sick. Hope this helps

I am so glad for this poll! I had excruciating pain over the weekend, and finally went to the ER. I have stones (ha!) and the gall bladder needs to come out. It wasn't infected, so it's not a RIGHT NOW surgery, but a SOON.

But, man!!! It hurts!!! I can handle pain, but this was bad.

What is the surgery like? Recovery time, and all??

I lost my gallbladder 27 years ago. I was on Nutri/system and lost 70 lb. and that gave me gall stones. Of course I gained all the weight back and then some ...

I had my gallbladder removed some 25 years ago! I still can remember the pain associated with it. It started just underneath the right rib cage and radiated to the right side and to my back! I couldn't sit, lay down, or anything else. I unfortunately had to have it removed the old fashioned way. I have this scar that runs from about my sternum down to the right side about 10-12 inches long. But nowadays, they try to do it laprascopically unless they have trouble getting in (too much fat, scarring etc.). This is what has me wondering if I will have to have open surgery for the lapband or be lucky and have it done laprascopically.

If you have to be opened up to get the gallbladder out, you are probably looking at about 4-6 weeks medical. If done laprascopically, usually 1-2 weeks.

Olga

Hi Gloucester,

the surgery is nothing compared to the pain associated with Gallbladder disease. I had it laproscopically, spent 2 days in the hospital, felt 100 % within 8 days...small scars, no big deal....Good luck

Do NOT worry about the surgery - it is nothing! I went in to have my gall bladder out at 9 am and was home by 1 pm. Back to work in a few days! It used to be a huge open procedure, but now it's so simple. With no complications, it should be very quick.

Good! I am getting used to the idea...the pain of the attacks was horrible!

My doctor took my gall bladder out at the same time that the lap band went in. I had a Upper G.I. and an abdomenal ultrasound before surgery, and they did find a gall stone. My doctor said that, if you have a gall stone before surgery, they usually take the gall bladder out at the same time as the banding because you more than likely will get gall stones later if it is not removed. Mine was all done laparoscopically. The gallbladder, once cut, can be folded and taken out through one of the slits made in your abdomen.

I didn't vote because I had my gall bladde removed about 10 yrs ago, so I don't have it anymore.