Gallbladder?

kelleybean1
kelleybean1 Posts: 312 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
My dr. wants to remove my gallbladder (it's functioning at 20%). I have no symptoms to speak of, so I'm undecided what to do at this point. Do you know anyone that had theirs removed, and did it affect weight loss in any way?

Replies

  • jolomo612
    jolomo612 Posts: 2 Member
    For me, it had no side effects from removal at all.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Why does your doctor want to remove it if there's no symptoms? Is the doc afraid of cancer or you developing stones? It's major surgery. From the folks I know who've had it, I think you'd only lose the weight of the organ when it's gone.

    I had mine removed at 19 due to painful/dangerous attacks (developed pancreatitis). No impact on weight-loss whatsoever for me (except the weight of the organ).
  • juliebowman4
    juliebowman4 Posts: 784 Member
    The removal of the gallbladder can change how your body deals with fats........some people develop chronic diahrea.
  • North44
    North44 Posts: 359 Member
    I had mine removed after 2 attacks in one evening. I have had no side effects or difficulty in losing weight.
  • katzenfluff
    katzenfluff Posts: 78 Member
    It's usually not major surgery. Most can be done laparoscopically. Off work for a week or two. I can't see a problem with my weight. You don't want to wait until you have an acute attack or a stone lodges in the bile duct. A major attack can cause pancreatitis and in some cases that can be fatal. What I have noticed is that I can't eat a lot of fat without GI distress/diarrhea, but then it's not good for me to eat a fatty diet anyway.
  • julescba04
    julescba04 Posts: 40 Member
    I had my galbladder removed after several attacks. Operation went perfectly, with no  compilations after. Have not noticed any difference with body functions , ect at all.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    I didn't really have many symptoms either--probably because I never had a high-fat diet, ate fried foods or ate junk foods. Acute pain when my absolutely full gallbladder had a blocked duct was the only reason I had surgery. I was really shocked when they showed the the 50 or so stones that came out of me!

    I found that eating was iffy for about a week. Since then, it really hasn't made any difference for me one way or the other. I think that I have lost 30 or 40 more pounds since that surgery.
  • samantha0131
    samantha0131 Posts: 29 Member
    I had bad diaherra after the surgery for up to a year. Takes your body time to heal, but it got better and now I don't even think of it.
  • Livgetfit
    Livgetfit Posts: 352 Member
    My friend had hers removed last year after a year of violent attacks, once every month or so. She has had some changes in the way her body reacts to fatty foods but this was only obvious because she has a particularly fatty diet.

    She had the surgery because she was at serious risk due to also having gallstones which could travel at any time and - in a very severe case - might result in death.

    It would be good to understand why your doctor thinks this is the best course of action.
  • leahcollett1
    leahcollett1 Posts: 807 Member
    My gall bladder was functioning at 16% and causing me constant pain that referred to the back, they tried everything before that hida scan, having it removed was the best thing ever but I do still get attacks of pain if I have an extremely high fatty meal, since my surgery I've successfully lost 2.5 stone so it doesn't prevent you from losing at all just takes away your pain and discomfort
  • glenelliott5872
    glenelliott5872 Posts: 150 Member
    I had mine removed after serious attacks but even key hole surgery is serious. There is a probability of fatality with any general anaesthetic. So no symptoms should mean no surgery. Having a gall bladder attack is not going to be fatal. Get another doctor.

  • glenelliott5872
    glenelliott5872 Posts: 150 Member
    I also put in lots of weight after having it removed
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    juliebowman4 wrote: »
    The removal of the gallbladder can change how your body deals with fats........some people develop chronic diahrea.

    Yep.
  • IAmTheGlue
    IAmTheGlue Posts: 701 Member
    I had mine removed about 4 years ago and I still have the bile dumping issue that affects many people. I can't say it had affected my weight loss negatively because I cannot eat fatty foods. Pizza, for example, will eff up my world! Seriously, anything super greasy or cooked tomatoes will have me curled up in a ball ready to die. I have tried to be careful as I always remove any oil/grease I can with a napkin but it isn't enough. It isn't just that it goes through me like lightening (TMI) but it is gall bladder attack painful. Result? I just don't eat that kind of stuff.

    Still, I do not regret the surgery. My gallbladder landed me in the ER more than once so I like it better being gone.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Get the surgery. Gall bladder is nothing to trifle with. My late husband had gallbladder problems that went too long and he wound up getting pancreatitis and after 3 awful months in the hospital he died.....
  • kelleybean1
    kelleybean1 Posts: 312 Member
    Livgetfit wrote: »
    It would be good to understand why your doctor thinks this is the best course of action.

    I have had 3 cases of stomach ulcers. During one office exam my gastro dr. was pressing on my abdomen asking if it hurts, and decided to check my gallbladder. From what I understand, once the gallbladder starts to fail, it's downhill from there with no resuscitating it. But, on the other hand, I really don't like the idea of losing parts.
  • charlieandcarol
    charlieandcarol Posts: 302 Member
    glenelliott5872 wrote: »
    I had mine removed after serious attacks but even key hole surgery is serious. There is a probability of fatality with any general anaesthetic. So no symptoms should mean no surgery. Having a gall bladder attack is not going to be fatal. Get another doctor.

    You are horribly misinformed. I worked in ICU for a long time and saw plenty of people die from gall bladder "attacks" and their associated complications. Sometimes it was their first and only attack.
  • SunflowerCat74
    SunflowerCat74 Posts: 258 Member
    I had mine removed after I started having horrible attacks. I wanted to die during those attacks so waiting 3 weeks was the worst part. I lost 15lbs during the wait becuase I could not eat anything. The surgery was easy and the only side effect was diareeah the first year after, but that was only if I ate fast food or very high fat foods, so not entirely a bad thing. It made me more mindful of my diet. I'm 3 years out from surgery and can eat anything now.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    I had mine removed. I was never informed of the complications. I have ibs c due to it and it can cause other digest ive isuues. I had it out at 22 just now at 34 I was told when you remove your gall bladder you should take a oxbile supplent and enzymes because you can no longer properly digest your foods. I also heard if you take a probiotic and prebiotic this will help with bile dumping. There are ither tgreads on here about weightloss and complications from this surgery on here just go under the spyglass and typ in gallbladder complications.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    edited June 2015
    glenelliott5872 wrote: »
    I had mine removed after serious attacks but even key hole surgery is serious. There is a probability of fatality with any general anaesthetic. So no symptoms should mean no surgery. Having a gall bladder attack is not going to be fatal. Get another doctor.
    glenelliott5872 wrote: »
    I also put in lots of weight after having it removed

    I really don't like conflict, but please don't listen to this person. Getting a second opinion is fine, but do so quickly. If your gallbladder is really functioning that poorly, your original doctor is most likely correct. Don't wait for symptoms to appear because they are excruciatingly miserable and can result in emergency surgery.

    Also, the only effect I've ever heard of is losing weight (which is mostly water weight) due to the diarrhea that can appear afterward while you adjust to processing fats a little differently. (Unless you're already low fat, in which case, the adjustment will be minimal for you.) Check with your surgeon to see if any perscribed medications would result in an increased appetite, but don't worry about gaining weight from the surgery and the removal of the organ itself.

    Note, I am not a medical doctor in any way, shape, or form. But every person in my immediate family (and some in my not-so-immediate family) has gone through this surgery.
  • GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS
    GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS Posts: 2,573 Member
    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    Why does your doctor want to remove it if there's no symptoms? Is the doc afraid of cancer or you developing stones? It's major surgery. From the folks I know who've had it, I think you'd only lose the weight of the organ when it's gone.

    I had mine removed at 19 due to painful/dangerous attacks (developed pancreatitis). No impact on weight-loss whatsoever for me (except the weight of the organ).

    I don't know when you had yours taken out; but, they did my laparoscopically 17 years ago and I had not had any problems and it was full of stones. I had not been feeling well; but, the day I had an 'attack' . . . during my son's graduation - I was passed out in the restroom and some lady came in and found me. I was able to tell her where my family was sitting and they took me directly to the hospital and I had surgery that day. About the only issue I have now is 'acid reflux' for which I take Nexium (and most of the time, it works). Weight-wise, I never could tell because I take a lot of other medications ... all with the side effect of weight gain.
  • suruda
    suruda Posts: 1,233 Member
    I would get a second opinion or at the very least have this conversation with your doctor. Don't hesitate to ask questions...

    what are the risks of having the surgery?
    What are the risks of not having surgery?

    I had mine out years ago...easy peasy for sure!
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I had mine out in 2005 and it has had no effect on me at all.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    kelleybean1 wrote: »
    Livgetfit wrote: »
    It would be good to understand why your doctor thinks this is the best course of action.

    I have had 3 cases of stomach ulcers. During one office exam my gastro dr. was pressing on my abdomen asking if it hurts, and decided to check my gallbladder. From what I understand, once the gallbladder starts to fail, it's downhill from there with no resuscitating it. But, on the other hand, I really don't like the idea of losing parts.


    Well.... would what would you prefer, loosing a little part of your body or loosing your life? Because it is that serious a thing. Gallbladder surgery is so common these days, and the surgery is so easy, that people make the mistake of thinking it is not serious. They are wrong.

  • dredremeg
    dredremeg Posts: 202 Member
    I had my gallbaladder removed when I was 21, now 53. I had several attacks (it was worst than labor pain) before I decided to have it remove. I have not had any problems. It did not affect my weight.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    dredremeg wrote: »
    (it was worst than labor pain)

    My mom assures me this is correct, as her gallbladder started failing when she was pregnant with me. She couldn't have the surgery until after the delivery. She was on strict bed rest and had a decent dose of toxemia, but she still swears that getting her gallbladder removed was more of a relief than finally being able to deliver.

    Seriously, it's not a pain you want to mess around with if you don't have to.
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