Re: Re: dream surgery/ Save the gall gladder?-Kathy

[Guest guest]

Post-op gall bladder problems is one of the biggies that WLS opponents

frequently mention, and rightly so.

The problem is for the 20-25% of the people who have a problem - the

results, if the problem isn't caught in time, can be fatal. It is more

evident with the RNY because the surgeons don't routinely remove the gall

bladder. Retaining the gall bladder is way too risky in my view.

This is one of those issues where there is a big difference in DS surgeries

and where it is incumbent upon each of us to do our research.

Another of those issues is where the surgeon cuts the duodenum. Different

surgeons have very different ideas about this and some of them have

increased complications because of how they do it.

Best-

Nick

Re: dream surgery/ Save the gall gladder?-Kathy

> Dear Kathy,

>

> In January, my husband had his gallbladder taken out. He still gets

> terrible diarrhea, gas and bloating if he ingests even a small amount

> of fat. He also gets frequent indigestion and an " upset " feeling to

> boot. His surgeon told him that some people just don't " adjust " when

> they get their gallbladder out and my hubby just has to be very

> careful with what he eats. I felt " if it ain't broke " , don't fix it.

> Statistically, I was told that only 20%-25% of patients that lose a

> great deal of weight will end up needing their gallbladder out. I

> was willing to take my chances. A routine lap gallbladder surgery is

> not a big deal if I eventually need one. I am 6 months post-op, only

> took Actigall 2x (it made me sick) and just had a routine ultrasound

> of my gallbladder done by my PCP and I am fine. YMMV but I just don't

> believe in taking healthy organs out because it " may " go bad one day.

>

> Jane J. 38 yrs. old

> 230/155 (-75 lbs.)

> Lap BPD/DS

> 4/26/01

>

>

>

> > Nick,

> >

> > I hadn't realized that the GB is only a " holding tank " , so to speak!

> >

> > I just know that several people I know,including my mother and one

> of

> > my sons-in-law, who have had their GBs removed MANY years ago,

> still

> > get deathly ill ingesting fats. Evidently their bodies didn't

> adapt.

> > Perhaps some do and some don't?

> >

> > I don't want to be in THAT position after the DS for Pete's sake.

> And

> > at 54 years old, a slower weight loss would be worth it to me. I

> > don't want to be Mrs. America or even play her on TV,

> >

> > I WANT MY bit o' CHEESECAKE, darnit!!

> >

> > Any other ideas of how to keep quality of life?

> >

> > Kathy sen

> > BMI 58, 352.5 lbs

> > Surgery scheduled Nov 19th

> > Dr. Welker

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve-

It is really amazing how differently surgeons perform this surgery. I

really thought that I was totally informed as a pre-op. I am continually

finding out things that I had no idea about. It was my luck to find a

surgeon who takes great pains to do each part of the surgery in the way most

calculated to make things work in the best possible way.

Dr. K echoed the experience with helping eliminate leaks by hand-sewing. My

recollection is that he does the staple line as well. I think Baltasar does

it the same way.

Thanks for this information. It really helps make sense of some of the

things that have happened.

Best-

Nick in Sage

> I hasd recently posted this note from Dr. Elariny (with his

> permission). . .