It’s been close to a year since the surgery, and I don’t see a gallbladder “ask the” thread, so what the hell?
Ask away!
(P.S. I know there are quite a few Dopers that have had a Cholecystectomy and mine was a little unusual so feel free to chime in)
How visible are the little puncture holes a year later?
I had mine in the early 90’s and I have a hard time finding the little scars now.
Very. I had to have mine out the old fashioned way. You can see a long thin line that gets wider toward the belly fold, and little dots above & below it where the staples went in. I also had a couple other scars where they tried to do the Laparoscopic procedure. They are less visible, especially the one in my belly button.
How long did it take for your appetite to return?
I had mine out back in October the new-fangled way. I can no longer tolerate much fried or fatty food. My appetite, overall, has taken a nosedive and shows no signs of returning yet. It’s a bit disconcerting.
I ate yogurt, broth & jell-o in the hospital. The thing I liked the best were these. Pretty much everything else was just kind of…okay. Pretty much as soon as I was out of the hospital, I got hungry, and I’ve had no lack of appetite since (more’s the pity.)
What was the final trigger for having it removed?
I had been experiencing attacks similar to severe indigestion for some time, but never went to the doctor because they were so infrequent. Eventually, I had one quite severe attack and went to the emergency room. A day later and my gall bladder was gone.
Did you perhaps know earlier that your gall bladder had problems?
It’s been a while but I have zero problems now. I recently ate a 4-piece KFC extra crispy meal and had completely normal digestion. I don’t miss that stupid organ at all!
Did you keep it?
Welcome to the [Gallbladderless](Gallbladderless people of the Dope!) People of the Dope!
Dr Strangelove, I had 3 acute attacks, the last one a month or so before I had it out. The first one was about a year or so befoer the surgery. Once they’d ruled out cardiac issues, my doc suspected gallbladder issues, and she was right! I pretty much eat whatever I want now with no issues, and that includes KFC for me too LOL We don’t need no stinkin’ Gallbladders!
**
Ike** Nope, and I asked too, but they don’t let people do that anymore!
Mighty Girl Thank you! But the link doesn’t work 
Mighty Girl, Woot! I forgot all about that thread! Not sure I should unzombiefy it, though. Here’s the one about my surgery. Thanks for posting that!