Higher risk of gallbladder removal complications for j-pouchers?

Poucho, 

One of the biggest complications that we all seem to deal with to a greater or lesser degree is adhesions...any surgery inside of the abdomen can stimulate growth...the more we have the more problems we have...which also means that your gallbladder may be either free-floating of surrounded by adhesions and difficult to get to.

I had mine out using laparoscopy but my surgeon had a bit of difficulty with the surgery and some of the post op complications due to the size of the gallbladder, he kept me in for 3 nights where he usually only keeps patients for 1 night...Still I am very happy to not have had open surgery and yet another scar...also, the recovery time was much quicker.

Sharon

Well the general surgeon stated he could go higher up and more to the side laproscopically to avoid the previous surgery incisions and the mesh hernia repair at the old ileostomy site that was fixed just over a year ago. He said he could get creative. Since I already have a small bit of leakage every now and then I worry this surgery will cause that to happen more frequently since it states it can cause more diarrhea issues? my surgeon said he does not feel that side effect will be the case with me due to that is usually caused in the large intestine and I don't have one but if it does there is a med I can take ?  Its like Shen is saying do not have it out regardless, but if it starts causing me issues I don't really have a choice here.

Like I said, no one wanted to take mine out until they had to...then they had no choice. 

Sharon

I didn't hear back from Shen on what he meant but I did hear back from Vicki who is Dr Dietz's nurse who used to be Dr Remzi's nurse and she stated that only thing she can say is the ultrasound report just stated there were stones but no inflammation. Stated as far as complications all she could say was maybe more diarreah. Which concerns me cuz already have that 80% of the time with some leakage occasionally that it very minimal and don't want that to get worse obviously.. I am still waiting to talk to the general surgeon who ordered the ultrasound who works hand in hand with Dr Dietz to see what he says.

It has something to do with changes in how the bile salts are absorbed. Following an attack that sent us to the ER 3 years post-surgery, my son had his GB out at age 12. As his GI pointed out, of course it is related, b/c most 12-yr-olds don’t need cholecystectomy. The surgeon started at 8 a.m., tried and couldn’t  get in with the laparoscope. She came out at noon and told me “everything was stuck to everything” (due to scarring and adhesions from his massive leak and prior surgeries). Laparotomy and removal of a large GB took the rest of the day. 8” scar. That was 15 years ago. Good times.

I agree. Your bigger issues are adhesions from prior surgeries. Those with IBD are at higher risk for liver and gallbladder disease, not surgical complications from gallbladder removal. 

Bottom line, try not to obsess about this. You could live the rest of your life with your gallbladder and that’s a long time to spend worrying about “what ifs.” Read up on symptoms of biliary colic and acute cholecystitis. If and when it hits, you can be prepared to tell your providers that you know you have gallstones and suspect gallbladder inflammation. 

Jan