Anyone have their Gall Bladder out with a band?

[outside*looking*in 0]

So - I am at 6.5cc and finally starting to feel a wee bit of restriction. BAM! I woke up early (2am) Saturday morning with horrible stomach pain and a searing pain in my back. Went to E.R and by 1pm the next day they FINALLY diagnosed it as gall stones. Blood work looked good, CT looked good but they finally showed up on an ultrasound. So, they contacted my lap band surgeon and he said to make an appointment and EXPECT to have to have my gall bladder removed.

Has anyone had problems with their Gall Bladder and been able to keep it but do some other treatment?

If you had surgery, did you have to have all of you band Fluid removed and if so, how long to get back to where you were pre-surgery?

[Fordgal88 7]

I had this last summer - and boy did it stink!!! I suggest letting them take it out. It is no big deal I had it out on a Thursday and was back at work on Monday. They did not remove any Fluid. The whole surgery takes last thank 30 minutes. If you don't have it out the attacks will get more frequent and you will have to avoid certain foods that will aggrivate it. It is a common thing for gall bladders to go "hay wire" after losing significant amounts of weight because your fat intake is less.

HTH

Shawna

[outside*looking*in 0]

Thanks for the reply. I have to go see my primary I guess and have him refer me out to the surgeon. I definitely do NOT want anymore of those attacks! That was some kind of pain. I also don't want of have to start over with the Fluid in my band. I guess I will get more questions answered tomorrow after a few phone calls. Thanks again.

[honk 780]

I am preband but had my gall bladder taken out when I was 19 after losing about 100 pounds. Get the thing out. The attacks only get worse. To prevent attacks don't eat fat period. Even "good fats" will trigger an attack. They now do gallbladders with one insistion I had to have a regular open surgery. Went back to college 4 days later! Looking back that was Crazy!!!!

[EndlsDremer 0]

Hi-

I am pre-band as well, just starting my 6 month journey...surgery in December. I was diagnosed with Gallstones about 2 years ago after a HORRIBLE and frightening attack. Since weight loss can cause an increase in attacks :smile2:, does anyone know if they will remove the gallbladder during the Lapband surgery?

Thanks!

[honk 780]

My surgeon does not remove gall bladders as part of the banding. At a PreBand Class the nurse mentioned the only time they removed a gallbladder was because it was necrotic. Meaning the tissue was dead and could lead to gangreen. It would have been medically negligant to leave it so they had to remove the gallbladder.

[Jeni 85 0]

Hi-

I am pre-band as well, just starting my 6 month journey...surgery in December. I was diagnosed with Gallstones about 2 years ago after a HORRIBLE and frightening attack. Since weight loss can cause an increase in attacks :biggrin:, does anyone know if they will remove the gallbladder during the LAP-BAND® surgery?

Thanks! :thumbup:

talk to your band surgeon and see what he says.. band surgeons are usually trained in taking out gallbladders.

They even do both procedures in one surgery, so its worh the time to ask.. and i think with your history they may do it.