Gallbladder issues

You can always try the hiatus hernia surgery excuse lol.

Hi Renee, I cant answer your questions about gallstones as I was unaware it was a side effect too. I am having a cat scan tomorrow which will be looking at my pancreas as well, there seems to be a problem there too. I had a chuckle at your telling everyone you had your gallbladder removed, i was going to do the same thing by saying I had a hystorectomy but then found out that may be a future possibility so Ive said nothing and been very evasive about the surgery. I guess Im going to have to come clean eventually with most people. It must be easier just to be honest and upfront, I just felt I couldnt handle the presure of everyone watching you like a hawk and asking "how much have you lost now"....lol..

Anita x

I have been really worried about getting gall stones, i wasn't accually aware that this was a possible "side effect" from having the sleeve surgery. Is there a time frame you a more likely to get gall stones like in the rapid weight loss stage or can you get it further down the track?

Sorry for all the questions but when I had my sleeve surgery I told everyone (execpt a hanful of people) that I had my gall bladder removed! LOL

I hope all goes well for you tryinhard and wish you a speedy recovery.

Take care x x x

Hi steph, yes Dr France did my sleeve. I guess I could ring him. I just wasnt keen on heading back to Ashford hospital its too far from my family and I wasnt so impressed with some staff the first time.When they found my clots I spent some time in Noarlunga Private and the nurses, cleaners and caterers where all very lovely and friendly, they took great care of me. The speacialist Im seeing comes there.

Anita

Hi Anita,

Did Dr France do your sleeve surgery? Because he also does gall bladder removal too. He did both of my surgeries.

steph

Oh no, not good at all. Will be all good when the gall bladder is gone even though it means more surgery. Hope you have an easy solution for your pancreas

Hi, its official I have gallstones and now have to see a specialist to see if its gotta come out and find out why I have inflamation in my pancreas! Its all fun and games (not)

Anita

Thanks Peazles, I understand why you want to warn people, I was just having a bad day and saw everything as black. Im all good now and appreciate knowing alot more about these clots and how very lucky I have been.

Anita

Hi Anita

Sorry if I managed to freak you out too, I was very much like Carrie in that you are lucky that those clots were found and, after you've had something like that happen to someone you love, you want to warn people so that it doesn't happen again. The stats with your DVT's are very much in your favour. My Aunt recently developed two clots (one in a lung and one in her leg) and is fine, now. You will be too.
All the best xxx

Hi everyone and thank you for your words of kindness and positivity. I am feeling much better today about everything. Unfortunately I wont find out the results of my ultrasound until tuesday but thats ok I will have time to prepare better for the outcome.
I need to clear this up I had the sleeve done on st patricks day 17th march and it wasnt until april fools day the 1rst of april that they found the clot in my leg, I was sent to emergency and they did every test known to man and found 2 bits in my lungs.From further investigtion the came to the conclusion that I had them before surgery because I had the knee pain prior and I was breathless all the time and sweating profusely, I just wrote this off as being too fat, old and unfit. To be honest when I realised I had survived the surgery through all those odds I felt stangely elated and looked after but the thought of having another surgery and being that lucky twice started to look unlikely, yesterday.But today is a new day and I dont give up that easy so I'll crack this too and live the life I am hoping for. (being slim)
Anita xx

Thinking of you.

Yep, had to hve my gall bladder removed Feb this year, stones likely due to the rapid weight loss. Only 1 night in hospital, home the next day, and recovry was quicker than the sleeve recovery. Had the same surgeon so all was good. So try not to stress and good that they found the clots already so they can be dealt with. Good luck.

Hi Anita,

The shouldtip pain was just from the gas. Is quite common to get pain in your shoulder after surgery and once the gas is removed from your body all is good again lol.

Look forward to hearing how you get on today.

steph

I suggest anybody about to have a sleeve have an ultrasound and check their gallbladder BEFORE the sleeve. If it shows signs of stones or inflamation then you can put money on it playing up as weight comes off. Ask your surgeon to remove it at the same time he does the sleeve. I had mine out at the same time as my sleeve was done. There is a very slight risk that the surgical field will get contaminated when removing the gallbladder and the sleeve may not go ahead. But like all things pick your surgeon with care and this should not be even a consideration. My surgeon had never dumped the contents of a gallbladder when removing it in his career so felt comfortable removing it at the same time. I would be a tad concerned at the skill of a surgeon who did not want to whip that sucker out at the same time as doing the sleeve IF it already showed signs of desease.

I know the risk of gallbladdr deasease is only 10-15% after weight loss surgery BUT I swear everybody I know is that 10-15% then hehehe It is a reality check before the sleeve and save yourself a second surgery. I am told a bit more nausea in the first day or 2 is about the only thing you notice when having it with the sleeve, I felt no pain from where it was taken,

applesauce

Hi Anita

Thanks for sharing your story....the amazing thing that strikes me when I read it, is that, if you did have the clots BEFORE the sleeve surgery...then you couldn't have been in a better place for them to find them...given that it's something that they're on the alert for after sleeve surgery...
Being already in hospital meant they were able to get onto the clots and treat them quickly...what a wonderful, positive, (unintended) immediately-life-affirming outcome of sleeve surgery...

Hope you get some answers from the ultrasound today.

S

Hi Carrie, its ok I was just feeling a bit sad and sorry for myself yesterday and wasnt dealing with things properly. I'm feeling much better today and a bit more optimistic. I am going to ring Dr France and speak to him about the risks etc.. so I can stop letting my imagination run wild. I appreciated your input I just got a little frightened thats all.
Thank you
Anita Better to be safe than sorry!

Hi Anita,
I am sorry I contributed to you being freaked out. I didn't mean to do that

I just meant that you were so lucky that your blood-clots were found and dealt with. And trying (obviously badly - sorry) to explain my own paranoia.

My husband didn't know what his first DVT episode was and so it was a bit more serious by the time he went to the Dr with what he thought was a pulled tendon at the back of his leg (after about 3 days of putting up with it). The second time he recognised it straight away and was admitted to hospital while the clot was still quite small.

My brother in law was in the country and like my husband (his brother) thought he'd injured himself and just put up with it for a few days. He didn't realise something was seriously wrong until it was too late.

My mother had all sorts of blood problems and was on medication to help her clot for over 8 years. Her medication was reviewed every fortnight and I suspect an error in her medications may have led to her ending up in ICU full of huge blood clots at only 38years old.

I believe that the Bakers cyst means that there is a chance you may be liable to have it happen again but, I am sure that should that ever happen you will recognise that very specific pain again, and have it dealt with ASAP. As long as you let your Dr's know that you have had a problem with clots they will be cautious and keep you safe. Also, your Dr's have probably already told you this, but you should wear those "flight stockings" for airline trips or very long drives.

I hope I've made it better not worse by explaining the circumstances. There are always risks associated with surgery but, as long as you and your medical team are aware that this is one of yours, they will keep you safe. My hubby had had 2 ops in the last few years (prostate & vericose veins) and hasn't had any problems with clots.
Big big Hugs - Carrie

Hi Steph, whats the shouldertip pain you are refering to? and was this after the gallbladder was removed. After the sleeve op I had a pain from my left lung that went up to my left shoulder but that stopped as soon as they took that horrible drain out.
My biggest fear are these clots and with all the death stories I am very freaked out.
Thank you for taking the time to answer that for me.
Anita

tryinhard wrote:

Hi steph, I am so not prepared to have another surgery already. What was the surgery for that like and how long was your recovery.Ive only lost 7kg as yet. Did Dr France do that surgery too?
Thank you for replying and preparing me.

Anita

Hi Anita,

I just had to read back on my entries in my diary post so that I can answer your question lol.

Anyway the surgery was done by keyhole and by Dr France. I spent 2 nights in hospital and recovery time was very similar to the sleeve.

The following is taken from my diary:

The surgery went well and I had around 40 stones in my gall bladder and one stuck in my bile duct. They were all only small but let me tell you they caused enormous pain.
Remember the shoulder tip pain after VSG surgery? Well I had that really bad this time but my boyfriend spent a lot of time massaging it and I really beleive this helped move it through my body as the next couple of days I had incredible wind pains which I could feel moving all through my abdomen and the noise when it was released....... well let me say no more

Have been pretty tired since (much like the sleeve surgery) and not doing much and still sleeping half the day. Don't feel up to driving the car yet although surgeon said I could soon as I got home if ready.
Just want to warn everyone to not be in too much of a hurry to lose your weight as this is what caused the gallstones with me............the rapid weight loss!

and:

Well it's 2 weeks today since the surgery and I'm doing pretty good. I think recovery time is fairly similar to sleeve really. Still have the tapes on my stitches and I go back to see him on Tuesday. I do feel like I have a stitch in my side fairly often and have been getting a back ache if I spend too much time on my feet but otherwise all good. Am able to sleep on my side with a pillow for support under my leg.

Good luck for tomorrow.

steph

CarrieK wrote:

Oh Anita,

My hair is standing on end reading about your blood clots. Thank goodness they found them.
My husband has had DVT (preceded by Bakers cysts) twice, and I have lost my Mother and a brother in law to blood clots. I am paranoid about them too, I loved the leg compressor and didn't begrudge those uncomfortable elastic stockings at all.

Good luck with the gallbladder and let us know how you go.

Hugs - Carrie

I felt the same. I lost my twin four years ago when she suddenly developed a clot in her lung. She was 36. Make sure that you do everything you've been instructed and don't take any of it lightly.
When I have my sleeve I'm asking to take home injections that I can do myself to ensure I don't develop a DVT.
Look after yourself.

Oh God now I'm really s**ting myself

Oh Anita,

My hair is standing on end reading about your blood clots. Thank goodness they found them.
My husband has had DVT (preceded by Bakers cysts) twice, and I have lost my Mother and a brother in law to blood clots. I am paranoid about them too, I loved the leg compressor and didn't begrudge those uncomfortable elastic stockings at all.

Good luck with the gallbladder and let us know how you go.

Hugs - Carrie

I've been paranoid about the blood clots. I even bought an air leg compressor on ebay before I went into surgery so that I could use it when I got home. They kept leg compressors on me during surgery and the entire time I was in the hospital. I hope you get the blood clots and gallbladder resolved. Keep us updated
Lori

Hi Lori,the scary thing about my clots is they think I had them before the sleeve which I had done on the 17th March (st patricks day). The surgeon said I was very very lucky to have survived them. I had pain in my right leg weeks before the surgery but thought i would deal with that after.the dr thought I had a bakers cyst behind my knee and they found the DVT then in hospital they found 2 in my lungs so I spent easter in hospital.. grrr..I had no idea about the gallbladder until reading this forum, so at least you know its helpful.
Anita

Anita,
When did you have your sleeve surgery? I thought we were safe from blood clot issues after the first week of surgery....I've heard that 15% of sleeve patients must have their gallbladder removed...That's what my doctor told me...I'm 1 week and 1 day out of surgery
Lori