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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member Annie7's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    I've lost and gained weight most of my life so it's possible that I have stones in my gallbladder but never been confirmed, I've never had problems. Should I have it removed? I have the option to have it removed during surgery for an additional $1000.
    How about hernias? I don't know if I have any but the surgeon is giving me an option to have them fixed for an additional $1000.

    I think $1000 is worth it if it's going to prevent me from having another surgery later on ...

    Thank you guys! I'm new here and learning a lot!!


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  3. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Ann2
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    08/18/2014
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    n.a.
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    Annie, can't tell you what to do.

    But here's my experience.

    Pre-op, I never had any gallbladder issues. On the way home from my 10-day VSG post-op meeting with my surgeon, I started having pain under my right breast that spread around to my right back. That evening, I was in my local Emergency Room having an ultrasound and looking at the bright little gallstones winking up at me from the ultrasound screen -- 30 of them! Obviously, I didn't generate 30 gallstones during the 2 weeks of pre-op dieting and the following 10 days post-op.

    Four weeks after my VSG surgery I had gallbladder surgery (done by my VSG surgeon, same hospital) and acquired four more holes in my tummy. I recovered fast, but did feel a little set back for about a week. But no biggie.

    I suspect your VSG surgery recovery would be a little bit harder if you had GB surgery simultaneously. However, and this could be important, you wouldn't have to go through a second surgery / expense / anesthesia later on if you had to have GB surgery.

    For anyone reading this thread who's having WLS surgery that's covered by their insurance ... I later discussed the pros/cons of prophylactic GB surgery with my surgeon (who said he used to take out the GB along with WLS surgery but that now insurance won't pay for GB surgery without symptoms of GB issues). So I promptly asked, "So if I had come in here initially and said, 'I don't know for sure but often wonder if I have some GB issues' and then I had rubbed the right side of my tummy and frowned, would you have ordered an ultrasound to see if I have gallstones and how many and then perhaps have been able to do the GB surgery when you did the WLS surgery?" He grinned big and said, "Yes! That's what I would have done!"

    Words to the wise out there!



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
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    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
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    M12 143 -92
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    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

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  4. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member thinmeskreamin's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    02/06/2014
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    dr Alejandro Lopez
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    Gallo bladder issues are not uncommon with weight loss. I'm lucky. Might be because of Loosing slower knock on wood that I haven't had gb issues. That being said I had that option and didn't opt because I didn't ask what you're asking. I did have a hernia that was found during surgery. They have to fox it if they see it. So cost me extra for that. Use your best judgment.



  5. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Annie7's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    Thank you Ann, I appreciate your words of wisdom, very helpful!


  6. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member brightnessofhope's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/12/2013
    Surgeon
    Dr. Reynoso
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    I had VSG in December 2013. A few weeks later, I had a horrible pain under my sternum for one whole day. Six weeks after that, the pain came back and kind of stayed with me, kind of up and down in intensity. So about 10 weeks after surgery, give or take, I got horribly, painfully ill and ended up in the hospital for 4 days with multiple surgeries to take out gallbladder, then remove stones that got in the bile duct, couldn't get them out, had to go back in a month later for another procedure, the full anesthesia thing again, and then again a month later- to remove the stent they put in. It was horrible. My husband just had the sleeve surgery last month. I insisted on an ultrasound first for him- to check for stones. That cost about $200-$300, which we happily paid. Even now, I am very anxious that he will have that happen down the road because not only was it a huge hassle emotionally and physically, but financially. I now owe 5k (deductible) for my gallbladder fiasco. So you have to weigh how it would impact you if you were to need another surgery very soon. Pre- op, I wasn't super excited about just taking out an organ that was fine (though now I know it wasn't, I just didn't know it), so I took my chances. Again, that hindsight thing- such a pest! Do the ultrasound for sure, and then insist on the medicine that can be prescribed to prevent stones from forming, at the very least. Good luck to you!



    Surgery Weight: 287

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  8. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member Fae's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    09/25/2014
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    Dr. Byars
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    Well, my story is a little different. I already knew I had multiple gallstones, because my PCP had ordered a scan after I had episodes of right upper abdominal pain. I hoped I could get both surgeries at the same time, but that pesky gallbladder wouldn't wait. After a mild, annoying tummy ache that lasted about 4 days, I was able to get in to see my surgeon one day and have surgery the next day. I had gallbladder surgery about 7 weeks before my VGS surgery.


  9. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member Annie7's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    Thank you brightnessofhope, I will go with my gut feeling and have it removed.


  10. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    08/19/2014
    Surgeon
    Dr.Umbach
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    I had a hital hernia that I didnt know about and was repaired.

    My doctor said prior to surgery, if that was an issue or even if there was gallbladder issues, he would repair/remove as a professional courtesy. No extra cost.



    Starting Weight: 355 Aug 5th
    Surgery Date: 337 Aug 19th
    Current Weight: 300
    First Goal: 300 -reached goal nov 1st!
    2nd Goal: 275 (will be lowest weight in 9 years) - reached goal Jan. 19th!!
    3rd Goal: 250
    4th Goal: 225
    5th Goal: 200
    Last Goal: Onderland
    Anything lower than that is icing on the cake!!!

  11. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member chris_1962's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    chris
    Surgery date
    11/07/2014
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    dr couch
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    Default Re: Gallbladder and hernia question for experienced sleevers

    my sister and necie had gallbladder problems after surgery and had to have it removed. My daughter is having the sleeve at the end of the year and i have suggested she have it removed at the same time as she suffers already with pain. I had a hernia of the oesophagus so that was repaired when i had my sleeve cost no extra and it was a great decision.



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