Gallbladder surgery

[Ttwaweru 0]

Has anyone had gallbladder surgery and a sleeve done? Can you tell me how the recovery is similar or very different?

[Arabesque 6,563]

Had my gall removed 13 month after my sleeve. Recovery was pretty similar - just no restricted diet after. 😁 I didn’t have gas pain after my sleeve but did after the gall. Similar surgical discomfort & was a bit low in energy & tired for a few days. Same restrictions on lifting & similar activity advice. My surgeon used the same surgery sites as my sleeve so no new scars.

Had some diarrhoea/loose BMs, which slowly disappeared during the first month after. Think I preferred the diarrhoea than the sleeve Constipation.

Generally was easier because I knew what to expect in regards to hospital procedures, pain/discomfort & other general post abdominal surgery requirements & effects.

Funniest was my surgeon has his bariatric patients walk to the theatre but was wheeled in for my gall. Don’t know why. The nurses said he was quirky that way.

Edited February 15, 2023 by Arabesque

[liveaboard15 1,292]

13 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Had my gall removed 13 month after my sleeve. Recovery was pretty similar - just no restricted diet after. 😁 I didn’t have gas pain after my sleeve but did after the gall. Similar surgical discomfort & was a bit low in energy & tired for a few days. Same restrictions on lifting & similar activity advice. My surgeon used the same surgery sites as my sleeve so no new scars.

Had some diarrhoea/loose BMs, which slowly disappeared during the first month after. Think I preferred the diarrhoea than the sleeve Constipation.

Generally was easier because I knew what to expect in regards to hospital procedures, pain/discomfort & other general post abdominal surgery requirements & effects.

Funniest was my surgeon has his bariatric patients walk to the theatre but was wheeled in for my gall. Don’t know why. The nurses said he was quirky that way.

so whaat happened that you needed to have your gall bladder taken out?

[Arabesque 6,563]

Simply that I grew a gall stone. Just one. It may have been from the sudden weight loss. Could have been because I was/am menopausal, or have high bilirubin levels (have Gilbert’s). All of which can cause gall stones. The only thing I know is mine wasn’t caused by high cholesterol - my cholesterol was always ok.

We discovered it about 8 months after surgery during a liver function scan. First & only symptom was horrendous pain some 16 months later. Had the gall removed about two weeks later. My surgeon said: if you’ve grown one stone, you’ll likely grow more so better it goes.

It’s not an uncommon surgery during or after weight loss surgery. Some are discovered during the pre surgery testing and the gall is removed in the same surgery. These are often the high cholesterol caused stones. Others have their stones discovered & their gall removed some time after surgery. These are often caused by the dramatic weight loss. There are always exceptions to this of course.