#18
My Dad just recently had his gallbladder removed because he had gallstones. Gallstones are small, pebble-like substances that form in the gallbladder. They are created when bile, stored in the gallbladder, harden into stones. In my Dad’s case, his gallstones formed because his gallbladder did not empty completely or often enough. A major factor that caused his gallbladder to not function normally is because he is overweight. People who are overweight have a higher cholesterol level which reduces gallbladder emptying.My Dad would experience what is called a gallbladder “attack” usually following meals that are high in fat. He would undergo steady pain in his upper abdomen and back between his shoulder blades lasting from 30 minutes to an hour. To treat my Dad’s gallstones he had to have his gallbladder removed, an operation called a cholecystectomy. The surgery was quick and simple. Small incisions were made in his abdomen and a laparoscope was inserted to remove his gallbladder once it was disconnected from the liver, bile ducts, and other surrounding structures. Once my Dad’s surgery was over and he recovered from his anesthetic, he was up and walking around like normal. I was shocked to see how quickly he recovered. I was also surprised to learn that you can live without your gallbladder. This is possible because the bile produced form your liver will pass directly into your small intestine instead of passing through your gallbladder first. It is like skipping a step. Since his surgery, my Dad has never experienced another gallbladder attack.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/