What are the dangers of having your gallblatter removed and what are the pluses? I need to know because I may have a problem with mine and I need to wiegh my options now so that I don't have to do it later. Much love Sunnie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif

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Life may grab you by the horns if you don't grab it first!

I had my dysfunctional gallbladder removed laproscopically in May 2000. The surgery was easy to recover from and I was back to my normal routine after 2 weeks. I haven't had any complications from the surgery and my symptoms from my dysfunctional gallbladder are gone. I've been experiencing complications from a different GI procedure performed shortly after my gallbladder surgery, but as far as the gallbladder removal is concerned, I'm completely satisfied.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need additional info.

(I put vitamin E oil on the scars and they were barely visible after a few months.)

Thankyou so much for your response first of all. Now I do have a couple questions. I was told that if you get your gallblatter taken out that if you eat french fries or anythings with grease for fat in it, that it will make you terribly sick because the grease has nowhere to go. Is this true? Also does it make you gain weight after you have it removed? I am really worried about it. Thank you and anyone else that can give me some advice. Much love Sunnie

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Life may grab you by the horns if you don't grab it first!

Hey Sunnie, how ya doing? As far as GB removal, I'd have mine removed again in a heartbeat (done in '97) for as rotten as I felt when it was in. And I'm one of the 5-10% of GB patients who suffer from chronic diarrhea after surgery - but there's medication to control it, so I no longer see that as a problem.

PROS - if you feel like s*** because of your GB, you'll feel so much better having it out; most people can return to eating anything they want to (at least I could); surgical recovery is fairly quick if done laproscopically.

CONS - 5-10% of GB patients will suffer from chronic diarrhea (called bile salt diarrhea) - but there's medication for that; yes, I gained weight after surgery, but only because I felt so good again, and eating became pleasurable again. You don't automatically gain weight, but you may have to watch your diet and exercise.

The choice is yours alone, but I'm a firm believer in the fact that you can live without a GB, and if it's affecting your life, then why leave it in?

Good luck,
Katie G

Hey Katie I am okay. How are you? Thanks I really appreciate the advice and info. I have an all out hippy that believes that you should keep every body part you have even if it causes pain and also that I should just change my food preferences into not eating meat, bread, pastas, sauces, or greasy foods. Where's the fun in that? Anyways, I think I like what I have been hearing so far. Anyone else? I need as much support as I can get. Well gotta go. Much love Sunnie

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Life may grab you by the horns if you don't grab it first!

I had my gallbladder out five years ago due to nonfunction. Had it done laporoscopically and was feeling fine within a week; I even cooked Easter dinner four days later! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif Yes, you'll have a bit of pain afterwards as with all surgeries; but the recovery is very fast as long as you don't overdo it.

It seemed shortly thereafter, I would have some bouts with diarrhea after eating something a bit too rich or fibrous, but it rarely happens now. My body must have adapted to having lost its gallbladder. Sometimes, though, I feel like my gallbladder is still there after eating fatty foods; for example, bacon, or a doughnut, etc., I get phantom pains; so I try to stay away from stuff like that. My doctor said I just am one of the ones who cannot digest fatty foods very well.

All in all, I'm virtually pain free compared to what I went through before I had it out and can't imagine living the rest of my life with that pain on my right side. I'm glad I had it out even if there have been a few minor side effects.

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Dianek (edited 04-12-2003).]

Hey I do have one question. Did anyone gain weight from the surgery? I mean just by simply eating more but really do to the surgery. because I have heard that will happen. Please let me know. Much love Sunnie

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Life may grab you by the horns if you don't grab it first!

Hi there Sunnie. Yeah, I gained back the 25+ pounds I'd lost before my GB was taken out, but I really think it's because I felt so good about eating again, I overdid it. I tend to gain weight more easily now that I'm in my 40's and have to be sure to watch how much I eat, and exercise too. I don't know if I can blame my weight gain on surgery alone; I really think it's due to enjoying food too much again!

Good luck and keep us posted,
Katie G

No, I didn't gain weight due to the gallbladder being removed; I did gain only because I tend to like my potatoes and gravy, etc. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif As the previous poster posted, you feel so good you tend to overeat and that's what my doctor told me, but you won't gain weight if you still watch what you eat, it doesn't change your metabolism or anything like that.

Hey everyone,
Well I think I have diagnosed myself. I think I have another cyst so that pretty much outrules the gallbladder. The symptoms have gotten worse and they are exactly like when I had a cyst on my left ovary. But now it is on my right side. thanks for all you help. Much love Sunnie