Re: Gallbladder removal

Posted By Lissette on April 15, 1999 at 19:13:08

Topic Area: Gallbladders
Is it necessary or preferred to remove an otherwise healthy gallbladder incident to gastric bypass surgery?  I was told that the Gallbladder may shut down post gastric bypass and should be removed.  However, I have read that resultant bile dumping upon removal of the gall bladder could lead to increased risk of cancer.  Also, what non-surgical treatments (prescriptions) are available to treat an inflamed gall bladder or gall stones?




Samantha, I would not suggest removal of your gallbladder unless it is absolutely necessary. I am 44 yrs. old and had suffered what "seemed" to be gallbladder attacks (severe indigestion after drinking merely orange juice for breakfast--would last 1-3 hours--nothing would help). Last September (7 months ago now) I developed a low grade temperature which would not go away; I also had some diarrhea off and on. This lasted about 2 weeks and I was put in the hospital, and an ultrasound indicated a "diseased gallbladder with several small stones". My liver enzyme count was extremely high (believed to be from taking so much tylenol to control the fever I was having). I was advised by a gastroenterologist to have my gallbladder removed, and did. I was then put on a drug called "Bethnacol" (not sure if it is spelled correctly or not). That was 7 months ago and I experience digestion problems every day. Most of the time what happens is that within 30 minutes or an hour after I eat a meal, I develop cramping and the need to have a bowel movement. It is very embarrassing since this is not always convenient (at a shopping mall, Wal-Mart, etc.), but I have learned to expect it and live with it. The medication I'm on doesn't seem to control it. I wish I had waited longer to have my gallbladder out--I have missed it immensely!!! I now stay bloated all the time (look pregnant), and I don't eat alot of fatty foods either--never did. I just think it's best to keep it if you can, I was sick (but they never did really know if the gallbladder was what was causing my fever--kinda doubt it). So, do what you have to of course, but think about it.





Did anyone have their gallbladder removed due to multiple stones?  This is what I am faced with and I would like some feedback from anyone who had this surgery done.  

[Pati__0__0]

Posted By Patti on April 15, 1999 at 19:57:37

Lissette- I had my gallbladder removed in Feb. of this year because of stones.
They were able to do the laproscopic method and the surgery itself was fine and I felt a little discomfort from the surgery but nothing bad.  Let me give you a warning though.  Two days after my surgery I began experiencing severe back pain and severe pain after eating.  When I went back to the surgeon to have the staples removed it said it was from the anesthisia. To make a long story short I ended up back in the hospital April 1st and had to have a miserable procedure done called an ERCP because although the surgeon removed the gallbladder he never checked the bile duct and there was a stone the size of a golf ball lodged in the duct.  I would suggest if you are having attacks to go ahead and get the gallbladder removed but tell your doctor you want him to explore the bile duct at the same time to remove any stones lodged in there.  Good Luck!

[JG__0]

Posted By J.G on May 22, 1999 at 14:26:39
I just had my gallbladder removed 5-17-99 and I am having stomach burning,they dont know what was wrong w/my gallbladder,so they sent it off to be tested.I was having severe stomach pains before surgery and they ran all kinds of tests including a hidascan/that is the test in which they ran the dye in my veins,and the dye would not enter the gallbladder. The doctor said that their was a blockedge. So they removed the gallbladder by laproscopic.Any info please!     Thanks,J.G

[Debie__0__0]

Posted By Debbie on May 23, 1999 at 00:56:01
You probably had a stone caught in the duct....or maybe some sludge!

[ronda-]

Posted By ronda  on October 16, 1999 at 13:31:55
SOMEONE HELP QUICKLY! I AM A 23 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH NO PREVIOUS MEDICAL PROMBLEMS. UNTIL NOW!  I HAVE HAD STOMACH PROBLEMS FOR OVER 4 MONTHS NOW.  THEY STARTED OFF MILD AND HAVE PROGRESSED INTO AN UNBEARABLE STATE.  AT FIRST I WAS FEELING NAUSEA AND VOMITING AFTER EATING ALONG WITH OF COURSE STOMACH ACHES. DIARREA (diarrhea)/ CONSTIPATION. AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY PAINFUL AFTER EATING NOW ITS A DULL ACHE CONSTANTLY BUT INCAPACITATING AFTER FOOD. I CUT BACK MY FOODS TRYING TO NARROW DOWN IF I WAS LACTOSE INTOLERANT, FOOD ALLERGY, ETC.  NOTHING WORKED.  I STARTED GOING TO THE DOCTERS ONLY TO PLAY THE APPOINTMENT GAME(KNOW OK YOU CAN COME IN 2 WEEKS FROM NOW LETS TRY THIS MEDICATION COME BACK IN 3 MORE WEEKS FOR A FOLLOW UP...)NOTHING WAS WORKING AND MY SYMPTOMS WERE BECOMING ELEVATED.  THEY FOUND I WAS POSITIVE FOR H PYLORI SO I TOOK THE REQUIRED MEDS, AND NO RELIEF.  WENT BACK AND THEY SUSPECTED ULCERS, BUT TESTING PROVED NO ULCERS. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH UPPER GI'S, CT SCANS, ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY, COLONOSCOPY, BLOOD TESTS, STOOL TESTS..NOTHING. MY DIAGNOSIS HAS GONE FROM YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR APPENDIX REMOVED TO CANCER, TO CROHNS(WHEN MY MOTHER HAS ALONG WITH SPASTIC COLITIS) TO AIDS, TO IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME( WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A CATAGORY DOCTORS PUT YOU IN WHEN THEY CANT FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH YOU) TO OF COURSE IT IS PSCHOSYMATIC ALL IN MY HEAD, TO NOW A DISEASED GALL BLADDER WHICH IN 4 DAYS THEY HAVE SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY TO HAVE IT REMOVED.  ALONG MY JOURNEY I HAVE FOUND TO HAVE A YEAST INFECTION FROM MY ESPOPHAGUS TO MY STOMACH ACCOMPANIED WITH A VERY LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT, H PYLORI STILL PRESENT AFTER 4 MONTHS.  THEY HAVE DONE AN ULTRA SOUND AND FOUND SLIGHT THICKENING OF THE GALL BLADDER WALL AND A HEPATOBILIARY GB EJECTION TEST WHICH SHOWED MY GALL BLADDER EJECTION FRACTION IS ONLY 17% NORMAL IS AT LEAST 35%. THIS IS WHERE THEY STOPPED ALL TESTS BECAUSE THEY FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING THOUGH NOT ALL THE DOCTERS ARE CONVINCED THIS IS THE ANSWER. I HAVE BEEN ON PREVACID, DONNATAL, DIFLUCAN, BENTYL, PEPTO BISMOL, LIMBRUM, LIBRAX, METAMUCAL, PRILOSEC, AMOXICILLIN, CLARITHROMYCIN, PERCOCET... NOTHING HAS WORKED.  I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO EXTREME STOMACH PAIN IF I INGEST ANYTHING FOODS & DRINKS. I WAS DOWN TO BASICALLY A SALTINE CRACKER DIET AND CHICKEN BOULLION FOR WEEKS AND NOT MUCH MORE FOR MONTHS.  I WAS FINALLY HOSPALIZED BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO FUNCTION LIKE I SHOULD NO ENERGY(WONDER WHY) I AM VERY VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS GALL BLADDER SURGERY, NOT CONVINCED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE ALL MY PROBLEMS I HAVE NO UPER RIGHT QUANDRANT PAIN EVER. ALL THE TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE AND EVERYTHING IS COMING UP NEGATIVE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO I CANT GO ON LIKE THIS I HAVE NO MORE WEIGHT TO LOSE I WAS ALREADY VERY THIN, ITS HARD TO MAKE YOURSELF EAT WHEN YOU KNOW YOULL BE CRYING WITH PAIN AFTERWARDS. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF TAKING THIS CHANCE MAYBE IT WILL WORK MAYBE IT WONT. PLEASE RESPOND I NEED TO KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE SYMPTOMS AND IF THEY ARE GALL BLADDER RELATED.










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