Guest guest Posted September 6, 2001 Report Share Posted September 6, 2001 Question, Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder and / or the appendix removed?? Thanks GH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2001 Report Share Posted September 6, 2001 In a message dated 9/6/01 10:51:30 AM, duodenalswitch writes: << Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder and / or the appendix removed?? >> GH: i know of at least one group of surgeons that do not routinely remove the gallbladder or appendix. They will only remove the gallbladder if it is diseased, etc. These are the surgeons at Mt. Sinai, NYC. There may be others as well. As for the surgeons who routinely remove these organs, I don't know if you request they do not if they will refrain? something to ask about.. all the best, lap ds with gallbladder removal january 25, 2001 Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC seven months post-op and still feelin' fabu! preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 now: 222 (hey - losing!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2001 Report Share Posted September 6, 2001 It is possible, but it depends on the surgeon. Some of them automatically remove them while they are there in order to rule either out as a cause of post-op abdominal pain. Some of the check them out and, if they're diseased or abnormal in any way, they are removed. maria > Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder > and / or the appendix removed?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2001 Report Share Posted September 6, 2001 > Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder > and / or the appendix removed?? Absolutely. Some doctors would rather leave them in. The gallbladder is removed if it has damage already OR if the Doctor thinks there will be many gall stones as the result of your weight loss. The appendix is removed almost as a courtesy so that if you have intestinal or " stomach " pain some day in the future they can rule out appendix right away and proceed to what may more likely be the cause, a blockage, adhesion or twist. Some doctors remove the gallbladder after it fails and do the tummy tuck at the same time and this is how some people get the tummy tuck covered by insurance. Danine' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2001 Report Share Posted September 7, 2001 > Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder > and / or the appendix removed?? Thanks GH> Dear GH, I still have my gallbladder and appendix. My gallbladder was healthy and I wanted to keep it. Same thing for my appendix. I subscribe to the " if it ain't broke, don't fix it " philosophy. Jane J. Lap BPD/DS Dr. Ren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2001 Report Share Posted September 7, 2001 Do you happen > to know which doctors these are, as I would gladly travel to have the > GB and appendix stay, and have the procedure done with lap. ********************** You'll find that Dr. Gagner will perform your surgery lap without removing the other pieces. For him the surgery is more difficult if you add the gallbladder to it, so he prefers to leave it in. He is considering writing a paper addressing the gallbladder removal during WLS. He is a renowned NY Mt. Sinai surgeon and one of the early pioneers. The only thing I have heard recently that has been negative is that he is taking less insurance companies than he used to. He is on the surgeon list from the duodenal site. Good Luck to you. Danine' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2001 Report Share Posted September 7, 2001 Yes, you can but most drs. advice that you have the gallbladder taken out. This surgery tends to make us get gall stones and you'll have to have it out anyway. I don't know about the appendix. I still have mine. It's a useless organ. So, I don't know why you would need to keep it or have it taken out. Micky Gallbladder > Question, > > Is it possible to have this surgery and not have the gallbladder > and / or the appendix removed?? > > Thanks > > GH > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2001 Report Share Posted September 7, 2001 My surgeon (Dr. Hares) routinely removes the appendix and the gallbladder. it was a good thing because both of them ended up being diseased. My appendix was hidden behind my bowel and he had a hard time finding it.I am glad to have both of them gone. I figure if they are already in there and I don't need it, take it out. Kathy M. ************************* I don't need my uterus anymore either but, I would want my gallbladder and appendix removed too if they were diseased. Since in my case both organs were healthy, I did not believe in just taking organs out for no good reason. My husband had his gallbladder out and he is now plagued with chronic, sometimes explosive, loose runny stools which at times are a nuisance. That is with following a lowfat diet. When he eats a meal higher in fat, he can't leave the house. I just wasn't willing to risk this in light of the fact that my presurgical ultrasound and examination during surgery found my gallbladder to be healthy, stone/sludge free and functioning just fine. BTW, I have never had diarhea after my DS. A week or so of loose BMs but never diarhea. The downside is that I have to take Actigall for 6 months. YMMV. Jane J. Lap BPD/DS Dr. Ren NYU Medical Center, NYC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2001 Report Share Posted September 7, 2001 I lost my gallbladder to my liquid fast in 1999 (glad to see it go)...and that was AFTER taking Actigall for eight months. Sometimes you just can't win. >The downside is that I have to take > Actigall for 6 months. YMMV. > > Jane J. > Lap BPD/DS > Dr. Ren > NYU Medical Center, NYC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.