Gallbladder sludge preop, removal or not?

[ange117 93]

Did any of you have gallbladder sludge, but no stones, in your pre-op ultrasound? And if so, did you surgeon remove/suggest removing your gallbladder during the wls? My ultrasound report says 'mild billiary sludge,' and I know my center will take your gallbladder during surgery if you already have stones, but I'm not sure for just sludge. Frankly I'd rather have them take it during the bypass, but I don't get to see my surgeon for a while yet to ask him.

[Djmohr 6,965]

My bariatric center of excellence automatically removes the gallbladder when performing WLS. Had I had one they would have taken it out.

I lost mine about 23 years ago when I went on a diet and lost 60lbs. Rapid weight loss can have a impact on your gallbladder and you see many folks having to have it removed after WLS. Therefore they simply take it out at the same time.

[Cervidae 2,389]

My surgeon and every other surgeon at my bariatric center also removes the gallbladder at the time of surgery if you still have one. It just makes sense, considering most people end up with gallbladder issues after surgery and end up needing it out anyway. Why go under the knife twice? I had mine out last summer, but I definitely would have been happy to get rid of it 6 weeks ago when i had surgery because I just don't want to deal with the high chance that there will be complications.

[Daisee68 2,493]

​My surgeon didn't even check it - I guess since no symptoms? My insurance specifically states it won't cover removal of gallbladder if not "medically necessary", so they wouldn't automatically do it. have had some symptoms since so I really wish it had been at least checked before my surgery.

[ange117 93]

My insurance won't cover it unless medically necessary, also. I guess I'm just confused on whether or not sludge counts as 'gallbladder disease.' A few of the other threads here seem to suggest that people have had theirs removed independently because of issues related to sludge (with no actual stones), and given that I do have some symptoms, I'm hoping they just remove it.

Going back into surgery just a few months out from the bypass would really be upsetting.

[drmeow 323]

If you are having symptoms of gallbladder disease but no stones, ask for a hepatobiliary scan AKA HIDA scan. This checks for the contractility of the gallbladder. I had GB symptoms for close to 7 years, having seen numerous doctors, had multiple negative ultrasounds, before one clever doctor ordered that test. They called me that afternoon to set up surgery ASAP based on the results. At surgery, it was found that my GB had previously ruptured in at least 3 places, hence the agonizing abominal pain I'd had. Better to find out before your bypass and get it all done at once.