Guest guest Posted August 24, 2003 Report Share Posted August 24, 2003 I am one of the " lucky " ones. My surgeon ordered an ultrasound as part of my pre op work. It showed stones in my gall bladder.. He took it out when I had my Open Rny. O'Connell Haverhill Ma Open RNY 2/7/02 Pre op weight:248 Now: 136 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 I disagree. For instance, appendices are removed all the time when other surgery in the area is done. The incidence of cholecistitis (sorry about the spelling) is 30 - 40% after divided gastric roux-en-y. My insurance, who is normally hard to deal with, never batted an eye. But, you know, we all gotta do what we gotta do. I'm just glad mine was removed. ---------------------------------------- It is true the appendix is removed routinely while performing gynecological surgeries and such. However, there is a big difference between taking out a healthy appendix that has no function in our day and age, to removing a gallbladder that serves a function. Also, the person who posted was asking if they would go in and specifically take out the gallbladder when she wasn't having a problem with it, as opposed to taking it out while she was having another surgery done. A lot of doctors will take it out during wls whether it is healthy or not, but from what I've been reading and hearing, seems like they are pretty much split on that debate. Maybe as we get further out and the docs have more material on long term wls patients, it may become a strong recommendation to have it removed during wls, but until someone starts a study on this it will probably depend on which surgeon you choose. IMHO Regina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 In a message dated 8/25/2003 3:32:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, mmtnc@... writes: I for one vote to have it out during wls. Saves time and money. It is usually not our choice or the surgeon's choice. I had mine out and my surgeon routinely did this. But, many hospitals and insurance companies do not allow this. They say they do not remove healthy organs, but it is mostly fear of lawsuits. Fay Bayuk **300/166 10/23/01 Dr. Open RNY 150 cm Click for My Profile http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Bayuk951061008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 Just to weigh in on the topic (GROAN...) My doc left our gallbladders. As some of you know I ran a large local support group for awhile. Those that kept their gallbladders and took Actigall religiously for the first 6 months did fine. Those who kept their gallbladders and took nothing have been having them taken out one by one... Marjie _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8: Get 6 months for $9.95/month. http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 > I disagree. For instance, appendices are removed all the time when other surgery in the area is done. The incidence of cholecistitis (sorry about the spelling) is 30 - 40% after divided gastric roux-en- y. My insurance, who is normally hard to deal with, never batted an eye. But, you know, we all gotta do what we gotta do. I'm just glad mine was removed.<<< Interesting that you would mention that. Just this weekend, I was reading Aetna's policy on removing gallbladders routinely during RNY surgery. Aetna is the company that paid for my RNY, but my gallbladder was removed almost 30 years ago. Anyway, they cited research about the prevalence of gallbladder problems following (and in part, caused by) RNY and as a result, their policy is to pay for their removal at the same time without question as to disease. We all know how much insurance companies do not want to pay for procedures, so I think that certainly speaks to greatly increased chances of having to have another surgery on the heals of RNY if it isn't removed at the same time. Sheri In Sunny Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 I guess Dr. in Dallas (very respected in the area) is totally unethical and out-of-line with all of his hundreds of patients. ======================= : Just because this doc chooses to remove the gallbladder while performing wls does not make him unethical. It's a judgement call, just like when a surgeon removes an appendix while they're operating in that area of the body. Unethical would be going in and removing a gallbladder or appendix for that matter because the patient may or may not develop a problem down the line. Also, the insurance company is aware of the surgery that is being done and has your test results etc,, they could always approve the wls and deny the gallbladder removal. It's been done before. Regina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 Being recently relieved of my gall bladder, I feel the NEED to contribute. LOL When I had WLS, back in the dark ages, my gall bladder was not removed. I wish it had. It would have saved me 21 years of suffering, or at least the last 5. The surgeon took my appendix instead. My mother, bless her little 5'3, 115 lbs heart, had hers taken out one year later, BY THE SAME SURGEON, when she had her WLS. (That was 20 years ago). She did NOT have gall stones. Why remove either organ and not both? BEATS THE HECK OUT OF ME. All I know is now I'm gall bladder and appendix free, and I like it that way. I haven't puked, or even burped in 5 weeks now. Jac Life is not a spectator sport Picture It Digital Designs <http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com> XXX Farm Paint Horses <http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints> Mail to: jholdaway@... > Re: Gallbladder > > > In a message dated 8/25/2003 3:32:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, > mmtnc@... writes: > I for one vote to have it out during wls. Saves time > and money. > It is usually not our choice or the surgeon's choice. I had > mine out and my > surgeon routinely did this. But, many hospitals and > insurance companies do > not allow this. They say they do not remove healthy organs, > but it is mostly > fear of lawsuits. > > > > > Fay Bayuk > **300/166 > 10/23/01 > Dr. > Open RNY 150 cm > Click for My Profile > http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Bayuk951061008 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 In a message dated 8/25/2003 6:55:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, jacquemil@... writes: a prophylactic removal of testicles because there is testicular cancer in the family? Gasp! Why do you suppose? The question is rhetorical, and not meant to stir anyone up! Just a bit of steam escaping It sure stirred me up, wish it would " stir " hubby up :0) Fay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 > There is no way that it's medically ethical to remove a healthy organ > from a person's body just for convenience sake. Well, it was done to me. Back when I had my gallbladder out (1980, not related to my WLS) they took out my healthy appendix, to save further complications down the road. I've not missed it a bit. ~~ Lyn G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 I wish they had taken mine during my rny surgery. I had an u/s preop and it was fine, so of course insurance wouldn't allow it. Seven months later I thought my heart was going to explode on the way to the hospital. I was writhing in the most horrific pain I've ever experienced and thought surely I would die. I remember being so ticked they offered dh morphine when he went to the ER (he had an ulcer) and for me, nothing! Just a pan to dry heave into. Oh, and I got to go outside (end of November in NY) in a wheelchair while they did a scan, oh joy! They ended up doing emergency gall bladder surgery. I vote for taking out that " healthy organ " . btdt LoriNY Re: Gallbladder > > I am SO SORRY that I made any comments about gall bladder surgery. > I guess Dr. in Dallas (very respected in the area) is > totally > unethical and out-of-line with all of his hundreds of patients. I'm just > glad > he took mine out. I'm sorry if I have ruffled feathers. I'm new here and > don't mean to cause any dissension. It's just that I feel sorry for > people > having to go through ANOTHER surgery (sometimes pretty soon) when > it can be so easily avoided. > > > > Please don't be sorry you voiced your opinion here. That's what makes > this board interesting! > > I agree, I feel sorry as well for people who have to go through another > surgery...like I said, I'm one of them right now with my hernia. Another > surgery is the last thing I want to be doing. I will say though, > medicine certainly is not an exact science....docs have to use their > experience as well as what they learn from their formal education while > following standard protocol and accepted guidelines for diagnosing and > treating patients. I am extremely grateful to my WLS surgeon for what > she did for me but I don't think that everything she recommends is in my > best interest, ie; Tums for calcium. I've worked in health care my > entire adult life, as has my husband, and I can tell you that there are > some " well-respected " doctors that I wouldn't let touch me. > > Honestly, MY goal in even addressing your original post was that I > didn't want someone to read it and think, " Oh, man, my doc didn't take > out my gallbladder....he/she probably doesn't know what they're > doing...what a quack I must have picked. " Someone wrote that they had a > strong family history of GB problems/subsequent removal. THAT'S a > legitimate reason to prophylactically remove a GB. > Sorry, I'm sticking by my thought that taking out a healthy GB is not > indicated. > > As they say, JMHO.... > Sharon in Indy, > Who will probably have a gallbladder attack in the next few days after > shooting off her mouth about all this! > > Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG > > Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 20, 2003 Report Share Posted December 20, 2003 They're doing it outpatient? They must be doing it lap. I had mine out in July, along with a revision, and I was in the hospital 4 days...But the surgeon had to open me up. He was looking for adhesions and scar tissue at the same time. Good luck! Jac Friends are angels who lift you up, when your wings have forgotten how to fly. http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/ http://members.cox.net/XXXFARMPAINTS mail to: jholdaway@... Gallbladder Guess I get to join the " no gallbladder " club. Going in Tue to get it yanked out. They are doing it on an outpatient basis. Any suggestions on what I can expect? Doc, nurses, pre-surgery clinic are all very nonchalant and don't see it as a big deal. Doing it lap. I swear that this one scares me more than the other 3 major surgeries that I have had. Maybe because everyone is so cool about such a " routine " surgery that they can screw up by not paying attention like they would on something more major? I am begining to feel like the old Hee Haw song...ya know? The one that says " You took off your peg leg, your wig and your glass eye. And you were supprised at the look on my face. I wanted to hug you and kiss you my darlin'; but you was scattered all over the place. " All prayers appreciated! Love, Reba Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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