Gallstones are the most common and costly digestive disease in the United States, causing more than 800,000 hospitalizations annually at estimated cost of over five billion dollars. More than 20 million Americans have gallstones and approximately one million new cases are diagnosed each year. Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallstones; the higher prevalence of gallstones in women is thought to be caused by multiple pregnancies, obesity, and rapid weight loss. Well over half a million people undergo cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) each year.
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A gallstone, (gôl"ston), is a lump of rock-like material that forms inside the gall bladder. Gallstones are formed as a result of precipitation of cholesterol and bile salts from the bile. Most bile is produced in the liver from cholesterol and concentrated in the gall blader.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A person may have many gallstones. They usually range in size from a grain of sand to 1 or 2 inches.
[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is estimated that about 20 million Americans have gallstones. The incidence of gallstone formation increases with age, especially among women.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]***Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They are formed in different areas of the body.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Symptoms of Gallstones?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Often, there are no symptoms of gallstones. The gallstones lie quietly within the gall bladder and are usually found by chance. If a gallstone is obstructing the gall bladder, there will be severe pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. The pain will come and go in waves as strong muscular contractions. Strong muscular contractions occur because the body is trying to get rid of the obstruction. Other symptoms are: mild pain under the right ribs. This pain ususally occurs after eating fatty foods. It occurs after eating fatty foods because fat in the diet provokes a reflex contraction of the gall bladder.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If there is complete obstruction of the gall bladder, infection of the gall bladder occurs. Symptoms of this are: fever and jaundice.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How are Gallstones diagnosed?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gallstones are usually diagnosed by an ultrasound. An ultrasound is a technique where a "picture" is taken by high frequency sound waves and gel. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Treatment?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most silent gallstones will not cause problems and go unnoticed. Sometimes gallstones may pass out of the body spontaneously. If the gallstones are causing pain, they can be removed by surgical procedures. If there is an infection, the infection can be treated by medication prescribed by your doctor.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you think you may have a gallstone, contact your doctor immediately.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A gallstone, (gôl"ston), is a lump of rock-like material that forms inside the gall bladder. Gallstones are formed as a result of precipitation of cholesterol and bile salts from the bile. Most bile is produced in the liver from cholesterol and concentrated in the gall blader.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A person may have many gallstones. They usually range in size from a grain of sand to 1 or 2 inches.
[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is estimated that about 20 million Americans have gallstones. The incidence of gallstone formation increases with age, especially among women.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]***Gallstones and kidney stones are not related. They are formed in different areas of the body.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Symptoms of Gallstones?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Often, there are no symptoms of gallstones. The gallstones lie quietly within the gall bladder and are usually found by chance. If a gallstone is obstructing the gall bladder, there will be severe pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. The pain will come and go in waves as strong muscular contractions. Strong muscular contractions occur because the body is trying to get rid of the obstruction. Other symptoms are: mild pain under the right ribs. This pain ususally occurs after eating fatty foods. It occurs after eating fatty foods because fat in the diet provokes a reflex contraction of the gall bladder.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If there is complete obstruction of the gall bladder, infection of the gall bladder occurs. Symptoms of this are: fever and jaundice.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How are Gallstones diagnosed?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gallstones are usually diagnosed by an ultrasound. An ultrasound is a technique where a "picture" is taken by high frequency sound waves and gel. [/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Treatment?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most silent gallstones will not cause problems and go unnoticed. Sometimes gallstones may pass out of the body spontaneously. If the gallstones are causing pain, they can be removed by surgical procedures. If there is an infection, the infection can be treated by medication prescribed by your doctor.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you think you may have a gallstone, contact your doctor immediately.[/font]
If a patient can't tolerate surgery, two drugs, Actigall (ursodiol) and Chenix (chenodiol), can help dissolve gallstones, but treatment can take months.
Another nonsurgical alternative, shock-wave lithotripsy, is experimental; it uses sound waves to break up the stones.
There is some evidence that a very low-fat diet may prevent stone formation and also prompt stones to dissolve.
If your not having painful attacks, you should improve your diet and reduce fat intake to keep the stones quiet. If you are experiencing pain, removal of the gallbladder is the best bet. <!-- End inset -->
Another nonsurgical alternative, shock-wave lithotripsy, is experimental; it uses sound waves to break up the stones.
There is some evidence that a very low-fat diet may prevent stone formation and also prompt stones to dissolve.
If your not having painful attacks, you should improve your diet and reduce fat intake to keep the stones quiet. If you are experiencing pain, removal of the gallbladder is the best bet. <!-- End inset -->
See, I have read it is heridity too. My diet has been pretty horrible as of late. I NEED to start taking better care of myself. I am not getting any younger. I still party like I'm 19, and I'm not. Maybe this is a wakeup call. Pretty miniscule to what it could be.
I have two, what I call attacks and they are horrible! I am in the middle of a move and a change in insurance coverage. So, I will trim the fat until next week, and then get to the doctor to make sure.
Thanks,
BB
I have two, what I call attacks and they are horrible! I am in the middle of a move and a change in insurance coverage. So, I will trim the fat until next week, and then get to the doctor to make sure.
Thanks,
BB
Fishhead said:
I sure had them back in March...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Terrible pain in my upper stomach area, right below the diaphragm, Threw up once and just felt miserable in general. Two or three days later after going to the emergency room and consulting the surgeon, i had my gall bladder out and I felt fine a few days later after the wounds healed, very small cuts from the laparoscopic surgery. Probably the most painful thing was the bloating feeling after the surgery, they have to fill your up with co2 gas and that takes a day or two to wear off, it leaves you feeling bloated.<o></o>
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Go for the surgery though, its a piece of cake and the stones can never come back again!<o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>Terrible pain in my upper stomach area, right below the diaphragm, Threw up once and just felt miserable in general. Two or three days later after going to the emergency room and consulting the surgeon, i had my gall bladder out and I felt fine a few days later after the wounds healed, very small cuts from the laparoscopic surgery. Probably the most painful thing was the bloating feeling after the surgery, they have to fill your up with co2 gas and that takes a day or two to wear off, it leaves you feeling bloated.<o
></o><o
></o>Go for the surgery though, its a piece of cake and the stones can never come back again!<o
></o>My Dad, oldest Sister and Mom had them. They are all what you call obese. I am not obese, just what you call a bigger guy.:toothless
I have shed a few pounds and I am 6' at 228. Anyways, yeah, last night, I thought I was having a heart attack. Then I spoke with my Dad, and did some reading. And I am about 95% sure this is what it is.
The only problem, I just cancelled my insurance, and new coverage begins on November 15th. I hope they dont look at this as preexisting.
I just wont say a word, and appear clueless
BB
I have shed a few pounds and I am 6' at 228. Anyways, yeah, last night, I thought I was having a heart attack. Then I spoke with my Dad, and did some reading. And I am about 95% sure this is what it is.
The only problem, I just cancelled my insurance, and new coverage begins on November 15th. I hope they dont look at this as preexisting.
I just wont say a word, and appear clueless
BB
Journeyman said:
I am going to change my diet. I have read you can control them with diet. I am going to read more on them, then consult my Doctor and see what he says next week.
Cutting down on the fat and increasing fiber in my diet can do nothing but help.
BB
Cutting down on the fat and increasing fiber in my diet can do nothing but help.
BB
Brock Landers said:I sure had them back in March...<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Terrible pain in my upper stomach area, right below the diaphragm, Threw up once and just felt miserable in general. Two or three days later after going to the emergency room and consulting the surgeon, i had my gall bladder out and I felt fine a few days later after the wounds healed, very small cuts from the laparoscopic surgery. Probably the most painful thing was the bloating feeling after the surgery, they have to fill your up with co2 gas and that takes a day or two to wear off, it leaves you feeling bloated.<o
<o
Go for the surgery though, its a piece of cake and the stones can never come back again!<o
I have read that the pain has been compared to giving birth.Journeyman said:
I had this one time and it passed on its own after a few hours
while i was in the hospital.
The intensity of pain, however, is far less than having a needle
stuck in my penis w/o anesthetic. Although that lasted for only
a few seconds.
I have been having this problem back when I was in football. But it comes and goes. It has been worse recently, because of the shitty way I choose to take care of my body. And I finally put 2 & 2 together
I think I can hold out a few more days. Just hope it doesn't hit while in the middle of a drive across country!
I think I can hold out a few more days. Just hope it doesn't hit while in the middle of a drive across country!
Journeyman said:
When I was 14 I had a piece of torn tissue rotting in me. Now, you want to talk about pain. Finally I went to the doctor and he went balistic trying to get me to the hospital ASAP! When I went back for a check up I was about 4 hours from death he said.
The rotten tissue was poisoning my body.
It hurt like hell, and the torn tissue pains don't hold 2 sh*ts to the pain I had last night.
BB
The rotten tissue was poisoning my body.
It hurt like hell, and the torn tissue pains don't hold 2 sh*ts to the pain I had last night.
BB
I had Kidney Stones when I was 21 and the pain was almost unbearable. I had to have 2 morphine drips to knock me silly. I changed my diet and hadn't had any signs of pain since (even though the doc says I have a 5-10 percent chance of recurring stones every year). The main thing I was told was more water to keep my body from building up deposits. I still have a couple of stones in the feelers of my kidneys but they're supposedly not going anywhere.
If you have stones you will be in unbearable pain. I had to just keep rocking back and forth constantly just to keep myself from passing out from the pain. It was really the worst I had ever felt. Good luck to you.
sb
If you have stones you will be in unbearable pain. I had to just keep rocking back and forth constantly just to keep myself from passing out from the pain. It was really the worst I had ever felt. Good luck to you.
sb
