Any women with their gall bladders removed?

Unfortunetly every woman in my family has had to have their gall bladders removed, and recently i've been suffering from gall problems as well so surgery is my best option at this point. Have any of you ladies had yours removed? and if so, does it effect weight loss/weight gain in the long run?

I'm quite nervous about this procedure:(

I had my gallbaldder removed last August.  I have to say, it wasn't fun, but it sure beat the alternative of the painful attacks.  This is before I started my weight loss journey, so I can't say how it will effect you since you're in the middle of yours.  But I have been successful at losing weight since January and that was only a few months after. One thing I do remember is being told not to do any sit-ups/crunches or weight lifting for a few months (possilbe hernia complications) and to start exercising slowly. 

I actually think that it helps me eat better as well.  My body reacts... umm.. violentely to friend/greasty/unhealthy food now. I feel so gross that I could never eat that food again. 

Best of luck with the procedure.  You'll be doing fine in just a few days after.

thanks for your reply! Yeah my  body doesn't react well at all to unhealthy foods now..mostly due to my gall bladder problems, so I have no problem giving up fried, fatty foods. I'd rather eat veggies and whole grains than spend my free time in the bathroom, haha. gross.

My  gallbladder and I parted company, rather tragically about 10 years ago.  I suffered too long before getting the surgery.  Please do not make the same mistake I did.  Because I waited, I have a 10" scar across my abdomen, and my abdomenal muscles routinely cramp up there.

 

Please, go get it done.

I got mine out last Feb. It started me on my weight loss journey because my pulse was so darned high I was scared (though the docs didn't seem to care too much about that). Mind you, the pulse was only high because the gall bladder was diseased (it was 3 times the normal size of a gb). They were able to remove it laproscopically and I was out of the hospital within 24 hours (this was emergency surgery, unplanned) and back to my normal life within a week.

I have lost 180 lb since then by normal dieting and exercise (this is since Feb 2007).

Original Post by verveonica:

My  gallbladder and I parted company, rather tragically about 10 years ago.  I suffered too long before getting the surgery.  Please do not make the same mistake I did.  Because I waited, I have a 10" scar across my abdomen, and my abdomenal muscles routinely cramp up there.

 

Please, go get it done.

 I take it from your scar that you had to have to old fashioned surgery due to number of stones and/or slippage into your common bile duct.  That is what happened to me because it was over three months of pure agony and hell before they figured out what was wrong with me.  By that time, I couldn't eat anything but jello and boulion without getting horrible attacks.  Needless to say I lost a lot of weight in the interim and was pretty slim when I had the surgery. I had no trouble maintaining my weight loss until I got pregnant with my second child.  Having my gall bladder out did not hamper any of my eating habits.  I can eat fried and greasy food (although I refrain from it because it's unhealthy), and anything else I wish to eat.  All my gallbladder did as far as I'm concerned is cause me the worst pain I've ever had...it dwarfed labor and delivery.

congrats on the weight loss aovermy! around my age (21) my mother had to have emergency surgery because her gall bladder was so diseased it was making her violently ill (she was literally green from all the toxins in her body). I don't want to wait till that happens so i'm going in as early as i can, the doctors don't think its necessary yet but I know that if you wait too long they can't do it laproscopically, and i LOVE my stomach and would be very upset to have a huge scar and damaged muscle tissue (i know its very vain of me).

Caverlady,

That is exactly what happened to me.  I simultaneously had an ulcer and they assumed that the pain was all under the ulcer.  It wasn't.  They had to do an emergency surgery the hard way and clean my abdomen out.  I was hospitalized for 2 weeks.

 

 

Had mine out 18 years ago.  The attacks were excruciating.  Had to have the big incision because stone(s) lodged in bile duct.  If you go while the stones are in the gallbladder, they can usually do laproscopic surgery ... you'll save yourself the big incision and a long recuperation time.

After surgery greasy foods gave me the runs.

But I don't think it affects weight loss one way or the other

i had mine removed laproscopically 2 months ago .. i've remained pretty much the same weight. sure, i eat more now that i'm not in pain every time i eat but i've managed to maintain my weight. i have lots more energy now too now that i can eat more! i'm 20, 5'3 and 107, if that helps any. good luck!

first off, dont be nervous. i got mine removed about 3 weeks ago and was soo nervoud after reading all these storys online about weightgain and stomach problems. i got gallstones from losing weight to fast. they take you in, you get an i.v, and they put you under. the next thing you know yer up, and tired.. but you wont feel pain. and when you do it will be more like you pulled a muscle. im still recovering but i was able to walk the next day, with a pillow to my stomach. after about 4 days at home i could walk with no pain, but bending down is still a little uncomfterbul. ive lost about 15 pounds since having it removed, so dont worry about weightloss, you'll do just fine

 

 

make sure you have chicken broth and sugar free jello when you get home, for a few days.

I had mine out gosh, 10 years ago. I had heard all the stories about fats, weight, etc and I can only speak for myself, none of it was true. No surgical procedure is fun and they all carry risks best discussed with your doctor than here. All I can say is I wish I would have done it sooner rather then deal with all those painful attacks. I have had no trouble since and I can eat anything I want with no problems. I have had no trouble with weight gain due to that surgery, my problem is strictly hand to mouth!

I had mine out in 2005, just the normal laproscopic way where they fill you up with gas. I didn't like the first few days after the procedure because the elimination of the gas from your body is slow and somewhat uncomfortable; however, the pain isn't nearly as severe as the attacks.

I did gain about 10 pounds post surgery but I was able to lose five of those pretty easily.

I have several women family members that have had the same procedure, about half lost weight and about half gained.

I think it really just depends on your body, but either way it is better to avoid the risky complications that are associated with not having the surgery done.

Hi amanaco.  I am 41 now, but had my gall bladder out when I was about 23.  I had had many severe attacks over a 2 year period but would level off and not have one for 3 or4 months, then another severe one. When I had finally went my last mile with it I had to go to er.  they had to pump my stomach, the bile, out for about 3 days before they could even perform the surgery. I was very blessed that the laproscopic surgery had just come to Lufkin Tx, and I had a surgeon that was capable of doing it.  I had quite a few complications with mine  before and after( but they did do the lap)  I was in hosp. 12 days back then.  don't wait until you are in terrible pain.  My pancreas became blocked with stones and was not functioning at all for many days. this is what sent my to er with the pain.  I was not throwing up, at that time which is a miracle in itself. as I said, they had to pump my stomach for 3 days and give boat loads  of Iv's to flush out the stones out of my pancreas. It was very painful.  Take care and don't wait too long.    I too will have problems some with greasy or spicy foods ( tomatoes - not all but some of them, will sometimes send my immediately into the bathroom.     I have just learned over the years where all the bathrooms are and learned to adapt and cope. I really don't sweat it any more and eat pretty much what I want.  Since I have gone on healthy life plan I don't eat much greasy foods or whatever anyway. I use olive oil if we have anything to fry.  expensive but worth it for healthy heart etc..... good luck........lonestarpenny