Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Gall Bladder Issues after Weight Loss Surgery



Recommended Posts

I would really like to know the chances of having gall bladder issues after WLS. Ive seen some posts wiyh people having to get them removed. What causes these issues? What are some red flags ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The chances of having gall bladder issues after WLS are quite high. Obese women are at higher risk to begin with as estrogen appears to influence the development of stones and obesity is thought to cause reduced bile salts in bile, leading to the formation of stones. Add rapid weight loss (when cholesterol is concentrated in the bile due to weight loss) and the risk increases again. Older people tend to have more gallbladder problems, as well, simply because there is more time for stones to develop, and a diet low in Fiber and high in fat also can lead to stones. About 1/3 of WLS patients will end up having gallbladder surgery. Mine was removed 2 weeks ago when I was 10 months post-op. Watch for upper right quadrant pain, under or just below the ribs, sometimes radiating into the back under the shoulder blade or into the right armpit. I also had nausea (some people vomit) and felt truly sick.

Some people take Actigall if their doctor prescribes it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting. I work in the medical field and was told that gallbladder issues can occur following rapid weight loss, NOT just due to WLS. There are other risk factors as well, one of which is being obese and eating a diet high in fatty foods.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The symptoms of gall bladder problems are pain on the right side, and abnormal looking

poops ( sorry, no other way to describe this) Instead of being brown, they are tan.

Is this what you mean about red flags? I ignored my symptoms and thought they would just go away. Instead, it caused pancreatitis and I was in the hospital a lot longer than I would have been, had I gone to the dr. as soon as I started having symptoms.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

it can also be caused by a very low caloric diet.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ocean-Ophelia - you are right - gallbladder problems can happen after any kind of weight loss - whether as a result of WLS or an extreme diet. Back in 1987, after having loss 100 pounds on Modi-fast in 9 months, I had a severe gallbladder attack - I was early in my maintenance phase. I had the gallbladder removed the old fashioned way - this was pre-laparoscopy.

My surgeon said I must have had gallbladder problems for years, because of the size of the stones. I hadn't recognized the symptoms as gallbladder - I thought I just got stomach pains after I ate because I was overeating. I think other heavy people may have existing minor gallbladder problems and don't know it. During the weight loss phase the symptoms go away due to the great diet that this being followed. The problems recurr when the person is trying to eat a diet that includes a normal amount of fat (or whatever trigger food sets off the acute response). So the gallbladder issues "suddently" appear.

Getting your gallbladder out isn't normally a bad surgery now. If you show symptoms, go to the doctor. Don't ignore it like Oregon Daisy did. Bad things can happen.

Good Luck.

Sharon

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ocean-Ophelia - you are right - gallbladder problems can happen after any kind of weight loss - whether as a result of WLS or an extreme diet. Back in 1987, after having loss 100 pounds on Modi-fast in 9 months, I had a severe gallbladder attack - I was early in my maintenance phase. I had the gallbladder removed the old fashioned way - this was pre-laparoscopy.

My surgeon said I must have had gallbladder problems for years, because of the size of the stones. I hadn't recognized the symptoms as gallbladder - I thought I just got stomach pains after I ate because I was overeating. I think other heavy people may have existing minor gallbladder problems and don't know it. During the weight loss phase the symptoms go away due to the great diet that this being followed. The problems recurr when the person is trying to eat a diet that includes a normal amount of fat (or whatever trigger food sets off the acute response). So the gallbladder issues "suddently" appear.

Getting your gallbladder out isn't normally a bad surgery now. If you show symptoms, go to the doctor. Don't ignore it like Oregon Daisy did. Bad things can happen.

Good Luck.

Sharon

Sharon you and me BOTH lost weight AND our gallbladders on Med-i-fast! I lost mine 13 years ago after doing an all liquid diet for 6 months through a bariatric dr. I too, was in the early maintenance phase and started having the worst pain imaginable. I had not yet had kids but now that I have 2 I can safely say the pain was as bad as labor.

The pain is related to "passing" a stone or stones through your system. Nothing aleveiates the pain. NOTHING. Until the stone is passed. To me it felt like someone had taken hold of my insides and squeezed as hard as they could for hours on end. Once the stone passes, then you can resume normal life. Until the next 'attack'. I was also told eating high fat content foods could help trigger an attack, but that isn't the ONLY trigger.

You definitely do not have to lose weight through surgery to be at risk, but since the risk is rapid weight loss (your gall bladder tends to form a sludge during the rapid weight loss phase that then can turn to stones) those who undergo WLS are at a pretty high risk for developing gall stones. Sorry!

Although my hubby is sleeved (he is 9 months post-op and so far no issues) but I keep a pretty close eye on him and will definitely be able to help spot an attack should it occur.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow. Thanks for all of the replies! I'll do some more reading up on that topic!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a coworker who had the sleeve 2 years ago. Good news - she lost 200 LBS!!!!

Bad news - her doctor never told her to take Ursidol (spelling?). She had her gallbladder out Wednesday (this week) and had 12 stones. So believe me - I am sucking down that pill every day even though it is huge.

I personally had a gallbladder attack, fortunately not severe enough to have removed after doing the HMR diet at my doctor. They had prescribed it that time also, but of course I knew better. This time I am not taking any chances. The sleeve was enough fun - I want to keep my gallbladder.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon took out my gallbladder at the same time that he did the Lap-band revision to a sleeve. He said that I had an ancient, calcified stone the size of a jaw-breaker, and didn't want to take any chances with me having to have yet another abdominal surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The surgeon checks us for stones when we have the sleeve surgery. If you have any stones they take it out automatically. It helps reduce the chances of having two surgerys. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon mentioned he saw a scar on my gallbladder. I will be having an ultrasound on Monday, but now I am nervous. My mom had hers removed a few years ago after an attack. I am starting a new job in January and will be losing my insurance for a few months. I would almost like it removed now just to be on the safe side.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If I would have had a choice or knew to ask about it , I would have had it out at the time of my revision surgery. I went through hell with my gall bladder and it causing pancreatitis.

I didn't know about the weird color of poop. I thought that had something to do with being sleeved.I read that somewhere after I had my gall bladder out. I would have gone to the dr. a lot sooner if I knew that meant a gall bladder attack would be coming!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×