Gall Bladder Question

[Guest guest]

I was wondering; what are the short and long term consequences of

having your gall bladder removed? My doctor seems a bit cavalier with

removing my parts.

I know it stores bile from the liver for use in food digestion.

Dick

[Guest guest]

Hi,

To be honest it really depends on the individual, how the surgery goes,

if there are any other significant medical conditions that may

complicate things. Statistically, many people have laproscopic surgery

to remove their gall bladders and do fine. It seems that people that

are able to plan for the surgery do best and those of us that had the

gall bladder removed following an attack of gallstone pancreatitis tend

not to fare as well.

As far as living without the gall bladder, for most people its not a

problem. They have to be a little more careful with fat intake, some

people become a little more sensitive to spicey foods, but otherwise

most do well.

Now I have heard things and I do not know their medical validity, but I

have heard that some become more prone to sphincter of odii dysfunction

after the surgery (a condition where the sphincter the allows the

pancreatic juices out has higher than normal pressures and can spasm,

sometimes leading to acute pancreatitis)but then again if one has

gallstones one is at risk for gallstone pancreatitis. I know that I had

two attacks of gallstone pancreatitis before my doctor recommended I

have my gall bladder out, and I ended up developing recurrent

pancreatitis and eventually had to undergo a total pancreatectomy, so I

think waiting when you know you have stones might be a bad idea. I wish

I had been given different advice but who knows what would have

happened anyhow?

I probably just caused you to ask more questions than I may have helped

to answer. If that is true and even if it isn't you should discuss all

this over with your doctor. If your doctor doesn't take the time to

explain the risks and the potential benefits I would seek out a second

opinion.

Good luck!

Bert

> I was wondering; what are the short and long term consequences of

> having your gall bladder removed? My doctor seems a bit cavalier

with

> removing my parts.

>

> I know it stores bile from the liver for use in food digestion.

>

> Dick

[Guest guest]

Hi Dick, you have gotten a lot of really great info so I wont restate

all of that. However, one thing you may expect in the short term is

a lot of gas and gas can be very painful. They have to inflate your

abdomen with Co2 to separate the tissue from the visceral. It makes

it easier to visulize with a laprascope. They remove a good deal of

the co2 after removing the gallbladder however, there is not way to

remove it all.

Your best bet is to get up and start walking as sooon as you can and

well umm break wind. I have taken care of tons of patients after a

lap chole as we call it and would strongly recommend no carbonated

beverages or the use of straws as that will just introduce more gas

to your system. You may feel this gas pressure for up to a week post

op. The surgery itself is very quick. You will be in the OR for

about 2 hours and most of that time will be with the

anesthesiologist. Take in food slowly afterwards, clear liquids then

full liquids until you feel that you can move you bowells; then low

fat is introduced. Most people go home the same day and some do stay

in the hospital overnight for observation.

I hope this helps,