Gallbladder removed at time a WLS?

[mbuczkowski 272]

Knowing that many people have issues with their gallbladder after surgery, has anyone asked to have it removed as a preventative measure at the time of WLS?

Also, if self pay, does insurance cover complications after the fact, like the gallbladder if not done pre-WLS?

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[KristenLe 5,979]

They most likely will not remove your gallbladder unless there are existing problems. Removal after the fact would be covered if problems arise.

[theantichick 2,204]

I asked my surgeon about it, she said the gallbladder doesn't need to come out as often as people seem to think. So it is not routinely removed during surgery. They'll sometimes take it out at the same time if there have already been problems with it.

[trekker954 421]

I has mine removed but had sonogram showing gallstones. Surgeon even checked my scan again in the prep room, he said he would never remove a healthy organ.

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[Djmohr 6,965]

My surgeon its an automatic. If you have a gallbladder they will remove it.

Unfortunately I lost mine 10 years before in an open gallbladder removal. Left me a nice 5 inch scar right across my belly and 4 days in the hospital.

Now having an abdominalplasty and that lovely scar puts me at further risk for healing. Still having the abdominalplasty........cannot live with this huge apron of skin and residual fat.

[shedo82773 1,236]

They removed my husbands when they tried to do his revision from Band to RNY. Failed the revision but came out with no gallbladder. LOL But seriously he did have some stones that showed up in an ultrasound. Personally, I had mine removed in 1980 after having MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!! My pain started when my son was born 6 years before!! I would never ever wish that pain on anyone.

[PorkChopExpress 824]

Fortunately, I had mine out about five years ago already...so I didn't have to worry about it. I guess gallstone issues are common enough after WLS that some surgeons just take it out preventatively, you'll have to ask if yours would. Some insurance companies may not see it as medically necessary until you have complications with it though, so your mileage may vary.

[mbuczkowski 272]

Fortunately, I had mine out about five years ago already...so I didn't have to worry about it. I guess gallstone issues are common enough after WLS that some surgeons just take it out preventatively, you'll have to ask if yours would. Some insurance companies may not see it as medically necessary until you have complications with it though, so your mileage may vary.

I am self pay, so I'll ask at my appt next week. Since the gallbladder isn't required, I'd rather get it removed if it is likely it will become an issue later.

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[Hammer_Down 631]

Your gall bladder serves a distinct and well understood purpose in digestion and metabolism of dietary fats. It's not like an appendix, where there are only theories as to it's purpose, or tonsils which were long thought to be vestigial and removed from every kid with a sore throat.

Your gall bladder contains bile required to digest fat. On low fat diets or cholesterol reducing diets left over from the fat phobic 80s, there is evidence of bile stones and cholesterol stones building up. Eating fat regularly can help keep your gall bladder healthy.

[Aggiemae 739]

The practice I use recommendations it. I had mine it a few years ago but if I hadn't I would have let them remove it. They did do a hernia repair.

If you watch bariatric surgery on line you would see why it makes sense.

[teedsg 253]

I never had issues with my gallbladder, but I'll ask my surgeon about it.

[Fredbear 397]

My surgeon checks out the gall bladder and will remove it if it looks diseased or if there are already problems. They also check out the liver for problems and will do a biopsy if it looks bad.

If you have a healthy gall bladder, it stays.

[teedsg 253]

My surgeon checks out the gall bladder and will remove it if it looks diseased or if there are already problems. They also check out the liver for problems and will do a biopsy if it looks bad.

If you have a healthy gall bladder, it stays.

Does the endoscopy show whether there's a bad gallbladder or not?

[Fredbear 397]

My surgeon checks out the gall bladder and will remove it if it looks diseased or if there are already problems. They also check out the liver for problems and will do a biopsy if it looks bad.

If you have a healthy gall bladder, it stays.

Does the endoscopy show whether there's a bad gallbladder or not?

No, they visually check it when they've got the laparoscope in.

[teedsg 253]

@@Fredbear, oh ok.