2nd thoughts about gallbladder removal

**BelleKreyol** · 01-08-2017 05:33 PM

Maybe it's just pre-surgery jitters, but I am having second thoughts on my gallbladder removal. I know it's laproscopic and the risks are fairly low, but I'm just nervous that combining a lap-band removal and gastric sleeve might be too much. Surgery is surgery after all...risky. BI could wait to have it done. I have only had two gallbladder attacks. Since I had the ultrasound, I have been drinking more lemon water and I haven't experience any gallbladder pain. Now, I know my risks of having another attack is high, but is it worth it? Your thoughts please!

Belle

**Cherub** · 01-08-2017 07:17 PM

Have your gallbladder removed. You can live without it and the short time it will take them to take it out while you are under is better than going back under anesthesia in the future to get it out. I was only under 1.5 hours for my sleeve. So add on your band removal and the gallbladder out and you will be under less time than my husband was with his ligament surgery on his arm that was 3 hours.

**BelleKreyol** · 01-09-2017 10:10 AM

Than you Cherub. I guess I saw someone died on another blog and I went into panic mode. I know I need to have it removed, but was thinking it somehow increased my risk. And I kept reading online the risk of gallbladder surgery being elevated. But I also inquired about the death of the person, and there were other co-morbidities.

I just need prayer at this point, I am really nervous.

Belle

**Ann2** · 01-09-2017 11:36 AM

Do you actually know that having your GB out at the same time as WLS is more dangerous? Or are you just worrying about it?

If you're just imagining what could happen, please stop doing that to yourself. Instead, ask your surgeon what the risks and odds actually are.

Here's what happened to me: I had WLS on August 18, 2014. Four weeks later (after my first-ever GB attack - ugh!) I had to have a second operation to remove my gall bladder. That involved a second hospitalization. And four more incisions. And a second surgical recovery less than a month after WLS. Happily, I had no complications and recovered nicely.

A few weeks later I asked my surgeon why he couldn't have had the GB taken out during my WLS surgery, since many WLS patients have post-op GB issues. He said, "We used to do it that way. Then insurance companies stopped authorizing GB surgery for patients who hadn't had any prior problems with their GBs. So we stopped."

Frankly, I wish I'd had the foresight to complain about my GB prior to WLS. Although the second surgery wasn't that big a deal for me, I think I'd rather have gone through one surgery, not two.

As always, others' mileage will surely vary.

**seecshrink2017** · 01-09-2017 01:03 PM

I had mine out at the same time... I think it has slowed my recovery time a little bit... but happy it was only one surgery instead of two.

**BelleKreyol** · 01-09-2017 03:03 PM

Thanks guys for the feedback. Your reasoning certainly makes sense. I was particularly worrying about it because I just panicked hearing someone died. Naturally I started searching a variety of sites and of course that didn't make it any better. One board had folks saying things like gallbladder removal is more dangerous than WLS, etc. Anyhow...I think I am in a better place for now. I suspect as the time draws near I will have a few more nervous episodes. I honestly want to just get it over with and have a safe revision.

Belle