# Gallbladderless people of the Dope! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850 "2010-10-30T03:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/1 "2010-10-30T03:27:52Z")
Please welcome your newest member. After five (asymptomatic) years of procrastinating I finally did it. I gave my gallbladder a Viking funeral. OK, I asked the doctor, but he thought it was the anesthesia talking. Tell me about your life sans gallbladder. Anything I should keep in mind? ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/2 "2010-10-30T04:01:21Z")
What a coincidence, I just went to the doctor yesterday complaining of abdominal pain. He told me it was probably my gallbladder. I have to go back in next week for an ultrasound. In the mean time I’m avoiding fatty foods. The thought that I might lose an organ kind of freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/3 "2010-10-30T09:01:32Z")
Had mine removed about a year ago. My life and lifestyle is back to 100% normal. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/4 "2010-10-30T11:05:17Z")
Mines gone. I had it removed back in the 80s. I didn’t know I had a problem then one day I had an attack of the absolute worst pain I have ever experienced. I thought I was going to die. I almost hoped that I would die. It was removed a day or two later. This was before laparoscopic surgery. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/5 "2010-10-30T13:33:58Z")
I got rid of mine a little over a year ago. It was about a month before I felt like myself, but I think that was because it took so damn long for the medical people to figure out what was wrong. By the time they did, I had lost about 15 pounds and was really run down. No ill effects. I eat just like I did before and haven’t had to avoid any kind of food. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/6 "2010-10-30T14:56:25Z")
Welcome! And don’t eat the alfredo sauce. That’s the only thing that bothers me now. ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/7 "2010-10-30T16:05:45Z")
When dining out, be aware of the location of the restrooms and don’t be too far away from them. After my surgery, I couldn’t even finish a meal without having to make a very URGENT (as in, there’d better not be a line or we’re all in trouble) trip to the ladies’ room. If you’re the least bit shy about pooping in public restrooms, then you might want to avoid restaurants for a while until this side effect subsides (it will)! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/8 "2010-10-30T20:55:14Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > When dining out, be aware of the location of the restrooms and don’t be too far away from them. After my surgery, I couldn’t even finish a meal without having to make a very URGENT (as in, there’d better not be a line or we’re all in trouble) trip to the ladies’ room. If you’re the least bit shy about pooping in public restrooms, then you might want to avoid restaurants for a while until this side effect subsides (it will)! I had mine out about two years ago, and it hasn’t subsided yet. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/9 "2010-10-30T21:07:14Z")
I had mine out two years ago. As for the removal, suffice it to say that it did not go well. (Several weeks of hospitalization were the result.) But ever since it was finally removed, I’ve been fine. I know some people have had problems with what they eat afterwards but that’s never been an issue with me - I still eat all the greasy garbage I was eating before with no problems. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/10 "2010-10-30T21:33:07Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Anything I should keep in mind? Not everyone has the same aftereffects. What the effects are (if any) and how long they last vary from person to person. So, welcome to the club, and whatever you experience I’m sure someone else has gone through the same thing, but not all of us have gone through the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/11 "2010-10-30T22:09:43Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > Had mine removed about a year ago. My life and lifestyle is back to 100% normal. Ditto, except it was about 5 years ago for me. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/12 "2010-10-30T22:36:27Z")
Remember without a gallbladder you cannot attend the Gallbladder Ball. That is usually the social event of the season in most communities. Oh sure a couple of non-galls (as people without Gallbladders are called) have set up alternate social engagements but they pale in comparison 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/13 "2010-10-30T23:40:10Z")
A few years back, while getting a sonogram in the area for some unrelated problem it was discovered my gallbladder was full of very small stones. I was immediately referred for surgery, even if I had no symptoms (the gastroenterologist said that small stones are more dangerous than large ones). I kept postponing the surgery until 10 days ago. I decided to get done with it, it was like having a ticking bomb inside. The oddest thing, and what made me think the hardest, was that I would lack an organ, not a vital one, mind you, but I am very attached to my innards. So no stories of horrific pain, just a preventative surgery actually. I’ve had digestive troubles, but they could not be traced back to gallbladder problems for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/14 "2010-10-31T00:24:42Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > I am very attached to my innards. I’m sure they reciprocate. I parted ways with my gallbladder about 7 years ago. I’ve never been big on fatty foods, and had to be unusually careful of them for about 6 months. Since then, no important effects. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/15 "2010-10-31T00:46:52Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Remember without a gallbladder you cannot attend the Gallbladder Ball. The Ballgladder Gall, on the other hand, remains open to all. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/16 "2010-10-31T02:56:09Z")
Had mine out several years ago. Overall, no noticeable changes, except that my tolerance for very fat laden foods has decreased. I feel lousy the next day if I’ve eaten too much in the way of fatty foods. So goodby alfredo and carbonera pastas. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/17 "2010-10-31T15:38:57Z")
Had mine out in the late 70’s (huge scar) Was told by my surgeon to take it easy on the fat for a bit. Eat what I want and not a bit of problem ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/18 "2010-10-31T21:56:15Z")
Had mine out a few years ago, didn’t know I had a problem until a rock the size of my distal pinkie got stuck. I had a lot of post op inflamation, fevers, night sweats, for a couple three weeks. After that it’s been golden, although I sometimes wish I _did_ have more trouble if I eat fatty junk. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/19 "2010-11-01T00:03:47Z")
I’ve been gallbladder free since 1983. It took a couple of years before I didn’t have to sprint to the bathroom after (or during) every meal. It took a decade or two before I could eat a whole avocado with no effect at all. But it eventually happened. As you’ve already read, other people made the shift much faster. Here’s hoping you’re one of them. Welcome to the ranks of the gallbladder free, Mighty\_Girl. Oh, did you get your doctor to save you some stones? Mine were brown and shaped like a bunch of D&D dice. Actual corners. I could see why they’d cause trouble. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850/20 "2010-11-01T15:00:47Z")
1999 was the Year of the Gallbladder - my husband, my sister, and I all lost ours. My husband’s recovery was longer than mine because he had an infection and someone dropped the ball on getting the lab results to his doctor. But he’s fine now. I never heard any horror stories from my sister, so I guess she’s fine too. And my recovery was pretty much a piece of cake. It took a few months for my gut to figure out how to operate, but mostly, it was minor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gallbladderless-people-of-the-dope/558850.md?page=2)