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Free Medical Advice sponsored by
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Got an ache or pain? Have a question about a prescription or over-the-counter drug? Looking for some FREE medical advice?
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Question:
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| I was diagnosed with gallstones about a week ago. What are the options, where are the best medical centers in St. Petersburg where I can get the consultation? Am I supposed to be on a special diet not to trig on the pain?
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Answer:
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| Thank you for your inquiries. Gallstones are essentially concentrated bile, a liquid produced by the liver. The gallbladder is a little "bag" on the lower surface of the liver that acts as serves as a holding point for bile until it is released (after meals) to help with fat digestion. Gallstones can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters or more in diameter; there may be only one big one, lots of smaller ones, or "gravel". The reasons to worry about stones are that they may 1) cause pain, and 2) obstruct the tubes further downstream leading from the gallbladder and cause one or more of pain, infection, inflammation, jaundice etc. About 75% of people with gallstones never experience any symptoms. Most others remain without symptoms for at least 2 years after stones start forming. The mildest and most common symptom of gallbladder disease is intermittent pain in the upper right region of the abdomen. Large and / or fatty meals can bring the pain on, and it can be quite severe. We would recommend the Euromed Clinic in St Petersburg to consult at. It is a good idea to modify your diet. Research shows that "gallstones are more likely to develop in men and women who are overweight or obese and who consume a diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars. Weight cycling (dieting and then putting back weight) also increases the risk for gallstones. One 16-year study found that the risk for gallstone surgery was 68% higher for women who lost and then regained more than 20 lb at least once than in women whose weight remained stable." Defintiive treatment for gallstones involves surgery (removal of the gall bladder complete with stones). There is a drug treatment for gallstones available but this is not widely available, does not work in all or even most cases, and is very expensive. Many surgeons believe that if a patient is completely asymptomatic, the risks of both surgical and nonsurgical treatment for gallstones usually outweigh the benefits - discuss this with your physician as circumstances alter cases.
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