After having problems with my band for the last year and a half and gaining back 65 of my 125 lbs I originally lost...I was having repeated episodes of throwing up. One night it was every hour - so I went to get my band unfilled. I was dilated and blocked. I was asked to go have my gall bladder evaluated for gall stones.

After a very thorough upper GI ultrasound - I was found to have multiple gall stones. So off to my band doctor and he put me in the hospital for a gall bladder removal and adjustment/replacement of my band. Once he was in there, he decided to replace it with the new AP model and strip out scar tissue from the first banding...then removed my gall bladder.

So, now I am two weeks out from having surgery and recovering well. The pain was SIGNIFICANTLY less than the first time around - the doc said it was because he used my original port. I'm very slowly moving back to solid foods - even though he said he wanted me on solid foods by Thanksgiving....I'm a little nervous about pushing it. The original food path was 6 weeks to solid foods - he wanted it done in 3 weeks this time. I guess because I'm "experienced" and need Protein intake...but I'm still taking it easy but getting tired of mashed potatoes and Protein shakes.

Long story short...he said I was among the 3% of lapband patients that get gall stones (guess it happen much more often in RNY) and required gall bladder removal.

Has anyone else needed their gall bladder removed after weight loss?

Hi Texas Rose:

I had my gallbladder removed about almost a year after starting my diet, and almost 9 months after lap band. I was down about 100 to 110 pounds at that point. My band was fine, so I just had it emptied day of surgery, and had fill put right back day after gallbladder surgery. So good to get rid of the gallbladder pain.

Best wishes to you.

I'm guessing it's more than 3% for people with significant weight loss. I remember my doctor saying a percentage that was alot higher, but don't remember what the number was.

Sue