After my previously trouble-free gall bladder and stones were removed, I researched.
Anecdotal advice given to me said that those who lost weight seemed to have a gall bladder issue. My mother who has never been overweight or diabetic had hers' removed after several attacks, many, many decades ago.
The surgeon who took out my "spectacularly infected" gall bladder and stones (diagnosed by my incredible pain, a CT scan and an ultrasound) said that I had done nothing wrong as it was connected with three things- -- genetics, weight loss and to a very minor degree, diet.
The gall bladder is a storage organ for bile produced in the liver and it releases bile when food containing fat enters the digestive tract. Gall stones can form in just 4 weeks and have not a lot to do with dietary cholesterol. If the gall bladder is not stimulated enough by a diet low in fat it does not receive enough encouragement to empty it's contents so it just chunders away ineffectively and possibly forming small stones. It appears most of us do have stones of some sort but most cause no problems.
The most likely conditions that will bring about a gall bladder issue are obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, some medications and being female. Being female seems to bring on the estrogen connection. I also found a reference that indicated one should eat enough fat to encourage gall bladder emptying.
I was low fat for decades so probably started the whole process off by that. Weight loss seems to be the big connection though mine was not as rapid as 25% of original body weight in 16 weeks, which is not the recommended rate.. more like 12 months. My gallbladder was found to have dripped infection over other organs (due to the almost total obstruction) like my appendix and bladder and I was massively irrigated. I was extremely fortunate that keyhole surgery was all that was needed. I did gain 6 kgs after not eating food for 4 days, all due to the massive amount of irrigation to rid me of the infection! Took a week to loose it again (and more) as the drain became ineffective so my body tissues absorbed it and eliminated it.
My outcome was very successful. Would I have preferred to keep my GB? Yes, I would have as we obviously have one for a reason and I understand that is to process dietary fat. My system is coping extremely well presently without it but that might not always be the case. Would I rather have kept the weight on and the topsy turvy cholesterol figures? NO. So lucky to have no dietary issues as initially my Mum had problems with fats, though not these days at 82 years of age!
Hope this helps allay any fears Dragongirl and Cas.
Alison