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Post by jojo99 on Mar 31, 2015 16:56:41 GMT -5
I'm in the research mode and as I read, I am seeing quite a bit about gallbladders. Is it usual to have to go back in and have them removed? Should I try and get the doctor to remove it during the DS surgery? I know there could be an insurance issue around that.
Any comments are appreciated:-)
Johelen
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shawnern
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Surgery Date: November 24,2014
Surgeon: Michael Kendrick MD
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Post by shawnern on Mar 31, 2015 17:20:29 GMT -5
Well I just had to have mine removed last week emergency surgery and I had my DS on 11/24/14. I asked my surgeon before the DS of he should take it out for preventing and he said no because he doesn't like to pullorgans out for no reason. The gallbladder surgery hurt more than my weight-loss surgery because they had to go through the same hole and it hurt Shawn
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Post by Joanne on Mar 31, 2015 18:10:41 GMT -5
It's really surgeon preference.
In one camp, the surgeons who like to remove them do so because it's common to have gallbladder problems as a result of massive weight loss. And the gallbladder is near the "switch" part of the surgery. My surgeon's point of view is that he removes it as a precaution. He said he doesn't want one of his patients showing up in an ER needing emergency surgery with someone not familiar with the DS.
The other camp of surgeons don't remove them because they don't want to remove a healthy functioning organ that doesn't need to be removed.
It really comes down to opinion. Neither is 100% right or wrong. Luckily I had my gallbladder out 15 years prior to my DS so I didn't have to worry about this.
If your gallbladder doesn't come out, there is a medication called Ursodiol that some surgeons prescribe that can offer some protection to your gallbladder.
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shawnern
Junior Member
Posts: 52
Surgery Date: November 24,2014
Surgeon: Michael Kendrick MD
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Post by shawnern on Mar 31, 2015 22:04:52 GMT -5
I did take the Ursodiol but it didn't work for me. Oh well it wasn't the end of the world and I would have the DS all over again if I had to . It has been a great tool so far! Shawn
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Post by newyorkbitch on Mar 31, 2015 22:51:53 GMT -5
I'm in the research mode and as I read, I am seeing quite a bit about gallbladders. Is it usual to have to go back in and have them removed? Should I try and get the doctor to remove it during the DS surgery? I know there could be an insurance issue around that. Any comments are appreciated:-) Johelen Yes. Get it out at the time of your DS.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Mar 31, 2015 22:56:58 GMT -5
It's really surgeon preference. In one camp, the surgeons who like to remove them do so because it's common to have gallbladder problems as a result of massive weight loss. And the gallbladder is near the "switch" part of the surgery. My surgeon's point of view is that he removes it as a precaution. He said he doesn't want one of his patients showing up in an ER needing emergency surgery with someone not familiar with the DS. The other camp of surgeons don't remove them because they don't want to remove a healthy functioning organ that doesn't need to be removed. It really comes down to opinion. Neither is 100% right or wrong. Luckily I had my gallbladder out 15 years prior to my DS so I didn't have to worry about this. If your gallbladder doesn't come out, there is a medication called Ursodiol that some surgeons prescribe that can offer some protection to your gallbladder. I think the risk of removing a gall bladder is much smaller than the risk of having a gall bladder problem after the DS. It is just established medical fact that rapid weight loss causes gall bladder problems. So why risk it? Nobody wants emergency surgery, or a gall bladder attack, if they can be avoided. And rapid weight loss is known to cause those things.
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Post by nursemelanie on Apr 1, 2015 1:47:57 GMT -5
My surgeon was one who doesn't routinely remove the gallbladder, but agreed to if mine had stones or other signs of a problem. Luckily, mine was full of stones and he removed it along with my ds. I would push for a removal. There are just way too many who have had to unnecessarily suffer through an emergency surgery during their recovery.
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Apr 1, 2015 8:05:47 GMT -5
When I had my lapband, it wasn't removed then I lost just a little weight and had the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. They had to remove it on an emergency basis, leaving some stones in causing complications, I ended up being in the hospital two weeks for a gall bladder that should have been removed with the original surgery, in my opinion. I say get it removed while they are in there, why experience another surgery if it can be done at the original time? Good luck!
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PeteA
Full Member
Posts: 221
Surgery Date: 4/15/13
Surgeon: Dr. Phillip Schauer
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Post by PeteA on Apr 1, 2015 8:23:54 GMT -5
My surgeon doesn't remove the gall bladder. I'm 2 years out and no problems so for me that was an OK decision. It seems just one of those things where people react differently.
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Post by goodkel on Apr 1, 2015 11:08:57 GMT -5
Mine was taken out during my DS surgery. Since rapid weight loss is a risk factor for gallbladder problems, why risk another surgery when it is easy to remove during your DS?
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Post by goodkel on Apr 1, 2015 11:23:12 GMT -5
I'm in the research mode and as I read, I am seeing quite a bit about gallbladders. Is it usual to have to go back in and have them removed? Should I try and get the doctor to remove it during the DS surgery? I know there could be an insurance issue around that. Any comments are appreciated:-) Johelen I've never heard of it being an insurance issue. He's in there already in the vicinity. I've never heard of someone needing a second insurance approval to have it removed during a DS. From an insurance viewpoint, I guess it is better to get it out at the time than pay for an emergency room visit, another surgery, and hospital stay.
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Post by Melinda on Apr 1, 2015 13:02:55 GMT -5
I had my gallbladder out when I was only 23 and it was 3 weeks after having an emergency C-section for my 2nd child. It was awful in that situation. The pain of the gallbladder attacks were unlike anything I had ever experienced. I had them while pregnant. The plan was to get it out 6-8 months later (after Allison was delivered). Then I had a gallbladder attack unlike any other and a stone fell into my liver bile duct. I turned jaundiced and everything, it was horrible. I was so badly infected I had to live in the hospital for 5 days before the surgeon could even touch it, it was way too inflamed so he wanted the infection to die down a bit first.
I tell you this because I am obviously in favor of getting the damn thing out if you still have it when you go in for your DS surgery!
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Apr 1, 2015 14:36:37 GMT -5
Melinda, it sounds like we had the same experience, I was literally yellow! What a horrendous experience! Your pictures is great, by the way!
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Post by Melinda on Apr 1, 2015 14:49:49 GMT -5
Ugh - I had a yellow big giant circle around my neck! Weirdest thing I ever saw. Thank you about the picture compliment!
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Post by jpcello on Apr 2, 2015 13:44:59 GMT -5
I did not have my gallbladder out when I had my DS. I'm 12 years post-op and still doing OK.
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Post by jojo99 on Apr 9, 2015 19:26:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback folks. I will definitely talk it over with Dr. Sudan.
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kingy
Full Member
Posts: 213
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Post by kingy on Apr 16, 2015 3:34:25 GMT -5
Had mine out with the DS. So glad I did.
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Post by jojo99 on Apr 16, 2015 10:12:27 GMT -5
Thanks for all the comments! I will talk to Dr. Sudan when I meet with him in two weeks.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Apr 16, 2015 10:23:58 GMT -5
Thanks for all the comments! I will talk to Dr. Sudan when I meet with him in two weeks. Get that gall bladder out!
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Post by PrettyGirlBounce on Apr 17, 2015 16:36:08 GMT -5
My vote is to get it out at the time of surgery, FWIW. Good luck to you!
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derinoe
Junior Member
Posts: 75
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 06/04/2014
Surgeon: Dr. Marek L.
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Post by derinoe on Apr 29, 2015 11:46:03 GMT -5
Mine was removed during surgery, he removed my appendix as well. Good luck!
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