Hi Gsa80,
Wow! You are certainly interested in gallbladder surgery! The
medical name for this surgery is ?cholecystectomy?, just so you know!
I have provided you with numerous links for further study. Under each
question, I have posted excerpts from various sites, as copyright laws
prevent me from posting more. Each site has further information, and
many of your questions and the answers overlap.
1)
I am looking for a listing of the best online resources for
researching gall bladder surgery and gallstones/gall bladder disease.
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These sites will give you information on gall bladder surgery and
disease, above and beyond what I have included in my answer.
This is a patient preparation article for patients at NYU Medical
Center. It will give you a good idea of what to expect from surgery.
http://pfrc.med.nyu.edu/handouts/pdf/proced/gallblad.pdf
Gallbladder Symptoms
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/gall_bladder_symptoms.htm#list
Alternative Medicine sites
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/digestiveproblems/
Explanations of surgeries and alternate therapies
http://adam.about.com/reports/000010_8.htm
Laparoscopic Surgery
http://www.lapsurgery.com/altermed.htm
General Information
http://www.cag-acg.org/patinfo/gall_bladder.htm
General Information
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001138.htm
Diet and Gallstones
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/gallbladder/a/dietinggallston_3.htm
Galstones and ERCP
http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=259
A news report on gallbladder disease
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/health/wabc_oncall_101204_gallbladder.html
Links to other medical sources:
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/where_else_can_help_gallstones_gallbladder_disease_be_obtained_000010_11.htm
Numerous patient comments about their experiences with gall bladder
surgery, from Berkeley University.
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/gallbladder.html
This page has some explanatory illustrations of the gall bladder in the abdomen.
http://mhh.medselfed.com/asp/prodDisplay.asp?prodId=343&partnerId=mhh&id=&cachedate=&emailId=&affId=&campId=&hideNav=
Laparoscopic Surgery
http://www.njsurgery.com/html/Procedures/laparoscopic_cholecystectomy.html
This site contains graphic pictures of the surgery. Figures D and E
shows gall stones in the bladder.
http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/Surgery/gensurg/centers/gallbladder.html
2)
I'm looking for information on what gallstones are and how/why they
form, signs and symptoms of gall bladder disease.
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?Women are much more likely than men to develop gallstones. They occur
in nearly 25% of women in the US by age 60 and up to 50% by age 75.
(Again, in most cases they are asymptomatic.) In general, women are
probably at increased risk because estrogen stimulates the liver to
remove more cholesterol from blood and divert it into the bile.
Pregnancy. Pregnancy increases the risk for gallstones, although they
may disappear after delivery. Pregnant women with stones are more
likely to have symptoms than nonpregnant women.
Hormone Replacement Therapy. Several large studies have shown that use
of hormone replacement therapy results in a twofold to threefold
increased risk for gallstones or gallbladder surgery. Estrogen has an
effect on the liver itself and raises triglycerides, a fatty acid that
increases the risk for cholesterol stones. Recent studies on HRT
reporting negative effects on the heart and increased risks for breast
cancer are also making this treatment a less attractive option for
most postmenopausal women.?
?Cholesterol and Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
Gallstone formation does not correlate with overall cholesterol
levels, but persons with low HDL cholesterol (the so-called good
cholesterol) levels or high triglyceride levels are at increased risk
for stones. In fact, the cholesterol-lowering drugs gemfibrozil
(Lopid) and clofibrate (Atromid-S) reduce cholesterol levels in the
blood by increasing the amount secreted into the bile, thus creating a
higher risk for gallstones.?
Risk Factors in Men
About 20% of men have gallstones by the time they reach 75 years of
age. Because most cases are asymptomatic, however, the rates may be
underestimated in older men. One study of nursing home residents
reported that 66% of the women and 51% of the men had gallstones. Men
who have their gallbladders removed, moreover, are more likely to have
severe disease and operative complications than women.
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_gets_gallstones_gallbladder_disease_000010_4.htm
Although the site below somewhat disputes this, I?m going to reveal
the gallbladder secret -- The Five ?F?s?!
The Five F?s are the criteria that describes someone who is most
likely to suffer from gallbladder disease: Female, Fat, Forty, Fair,
and Flatulent. (Please take no offence, as I have no idea if you fall
into any of these categories)
?The prevalence of gall stones in the population can be measured
conveniently by ultrasonography, and the prevalence of gallbladder
disease is taken as the sum of people with gall stones and those who
have had a cholecystectomy. An alternative technique is necropsy
survey, which gives the same figures, but with little information
about symptoms during life.
Gallstone disease has become more common in Britain in the second half
of the 20th century. This is partly because of the ageing population,
but probably for other reasons too, such as increasing obesity in the
population (figure). Doctors who believe that gall stones are a
disease of middle aged women are mistaken. Though women have more
stones at every age, and 11% of women in their 40s have stones, this
is a lower proportion than the 45% of men in their 90s who have gall
stones.?
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/318/7200/1745
Two gallstones (Bile stones)
http://www.laparoscopy.co.za/images/gall/stones.jpg
GallStones (Cholesterol stones)
http://www.gihealth.com/images/imgGallstones3.jpg
Various Gallstones
http://www.ghchealth.com/images/gallstonesupside.gif
Illustration of stones in place and passing
http://www.njsurgery.com/html/Anatomy%20Lessons/gallstones.JPG
?Gallstones are solid stones formed in the gall bladder from
cholesterol, bile salts and calcium. They can vary in size from a few
millimetres to a few centimetres.
What causes gallstones?
Gallstones are formed when bile contains too much cholesterol. The
excess cholesterol forms crystals from which gallstones are made.?
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/gallbladderdisease.htm
?The gallbladder serves as a reservoir for bile. When we eat a fatty
meal (in the US, this means every meal) a hormone called
cholecystokinin is secreted by the duodenal mucosa and causes the
gallbladder to contract, thus releasing the bile that then helps to
digest the fat.
Bile is made in the liver and serves to aid in the digestion of fat by
emulsifying fat globules such that they present a larger surface area
to digestive enzymes that break them down.
The bile is secreted into the bile ducts within the liver that
ultimately join to form the right and left hepatic ducts. These ducts
unite to form the common hepatic duct. The gallbladder is a pouch that
is attached to the under surface of the liver and is connected to the
common hepatic duct via the cystic duct. After its union with the
cystic duct, the common hepatic duct becomes the common bile duct that
then enters the duodenum after passing a short course through the head
of the pancreas.
The pancreatic duct usually enters the duodenum either through a
common channel with the common bile duct or through an immediately
adjacent point of entry. Thus, stones which form within the
gallbladder can cause symptoms by interfering with normal gallbladder
function, by obstruction of the cystic duct, or by their passage out
of the gallbladder and obstruction of the common bile duct or
pancreatic duct.
Bile consists of varying quantities of cholesterol, lecithin, bile
salts and bile pigments. Stones form when either cholesterol or bile
pigments precipitate out of bile because their solubility in the
remaining bile constituents is exceeded. Thus, gallstones consist of
cholesterol and bile pigments in different concentration depending on
the conditions under which they were formed.?
http://www.njsurgery.com/html/Diseases/gallstones.html
Symptoms:
?The classic symptoms of biliary colic are post-prandial pain in the
right upper quadrant (under the ribcage) of the abdomen. This pain may
radiate around to the back and there may be associated nausea and
vomiting. Patients with gallstones in the absence of acute
inflammation or colic may experience only fatty food intolerance with
mild pain, acid reflux symptoms or diarrhea after a fatty meal.
The above symptoms with the addition of fever and chills and severe
tenderness of the abdomen on physical exam implies the presence of
acute cholecystitis. Here there is acute inflammation and infection
present. There may be bacteria present in the bile causing the patient
to become very ill. As stated earlier, diabetic patients are
particularly prone to the more extreme forms of this disease and their
symptoms may not be as evident as in non-diabetic patients. Though any
patient who develops acute cholecystitis may go on to develop gangrene
of the gallbladder, diabetic patients are particularly prone to this.
If a small stone passes out of the gallbladder it may lodge in the
common bile duct causing partial or complete obstruction of that
structure. Clinically, this presents as jaundice with yellow
discoloration of the skin and eyes to a varying degree. There may be
pain as well which is indistinguishable from that of biliary colic.
The presence of fever in this clinical setting implies cholangitis
which can be extremely serious. If emergency treatment is not
undertaken death can result within hours.
In some cases, a stone may pass through the common duct and obstruct
the outlet of the pancreatic duct which enters the duodenum nearby or
with the common duct. This may result in pancreatitis. The pain is
typically located in the upper mid-abdomen and radiates straight
through to the back. It is usually constant rather than colicky. There
may be associated nausea, vomiting and fever as well. Fortunately,
pancreatitis caused by gallstones is not usually very severe and is
usually self limited, but occasionally a full blown course of
necrotizing pancreatitis may be encountered.
Any of the above clinical pictures may be seen alone or in combination
thus sometimes making diagnosis more difficult. Nevertheless, correct
and complete diagnosis is essential in all patients.?
http://www.njsurgery.com/html/Diseases/gallstones.html
?Typical Pain
Epigastric, radiating to right, flank, shoulder blade
Severe, sudden onset, often short duration
Precipitated by fatty food (only 40%)
No relieving factors
Nausea,vomiting
No periodicity
No family history
May be entirely midline
May mimic angina or myocardial infarction
May occasionally be RIF and mimic appendicitis?
http://www.edu.rcsed.ac.uk/lectures/lt3.htm
Gallbladder
http://www.njsurgery.com/html/Anatomy%20Lessons/biliary.JPG
From the University of Pennsylvania
?Why and how gallstones form is not fully understood, but it is
thought that in some cases an abnormality in function causes the
gallbladder to remove an excessive amount of water from the bile so
that some of its constituents can no longer remain in solution.
Gallstones occur very frequently in developed countries and may be
associated with eating a diet that is high in fat and refined
carbohydrates and low in fiber. As many as 10-20 percent of the U.S.
population over the age of forty have gallstones, but only in a
minority do symptoms occur. If gallstones are found by chance on an
X-ray taken for some other reason it is standard practice to leave
them alone if they are causing no symptoms, since the risk of
developing problems is slightly less than the risk from a major
operation. However, if a patient with asymptomatic gallstones is
having an abdominal operation for another reason, the gallbladder may
be removed at the same time. The problems that gallstones can give
rise to are various and include cholecystitis (inflammation of the
gallbladder), choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the common bile
duct), and cholangitis (infection of the bile ducts), pancreatitis,
and gallstone ileus (obstruction of the intestines by a gallstone).?
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gallblad.html
3)
I'd like to research the various medical treatments available as
alternatives to gall bladder removal.
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Stone Dissoval:
?In some patients who are not fit for surgery, it may be possible to
dissolve the stones by giving them chenodeoxycholic acid or
ursodeoxycholic acid. These preparations are taken by mouth and are
excreted in the bile. However, they will only work if the gallbladder
works and if the gallstones are very small and contain very little
calcium (making them invisible on a plain X-ray of the abdomen). This
treatment is not suitable for women of childbearing age or for those
with any form of liver disease. It has the disadvantage that, although
80 percent of stones may be dissolved after six month?s or a year's
treatment, they frequently re-form after the medication has stopped.?
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gallblad.html
?Gall stones are very common and their prevalence increases
appreciably with age; it is also determined by sex, body weight, and
race. Fortunately, most gall stones do not cause severe symptoms such
as colic and jaundice. They are best detected by ultrasonography,
although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic
resonance scanning may be required for duct stones.
Troublesome gall stones are generally treated by cholecystectomy, and
two thirds of these procedures are carried out by laparoscopy. Duct
stones may be treated with endoscopic retrograde pancreatography,
sphincterotomy, and extraction, or by open choledochotomy. Dissolution
with ursodeoxycholic acid may be a useful reserve treatment for some
patients. Persistent symptoms after surgery are common and are
sometimes difficult to treat. ?
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/318/7200/1745
Lithotripsy:
?Lithotripsy, in which external shock waves are used to bombard and
shatter the stones, is sometimes used but is less successful with
gallstones than it is with kidney and ureter stones. Another approach
involves injecting into the gallbladder a strong solution that
dissolves the cholesterol from which the stones are made. Gallstone
disease requires sound judgment and extensive experience to manage
properly ? experience possessed by the Gastrointestinal Surgeons of
the University of Pennsylvania.?
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/clin/gi/gallblad.html
?Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
Gallstone fragmentation by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
(ESWL) may be an appropriate therapy for some patients who cannot
undergo surgery but it is not commonly used anymore. The treatment
works best on solitary stones that are less than two centimeters in
diameter. Less than 15% of patients are good candidates for
lithotripsy. The typical procedure is as follows:
· The patient sits in a tub of water.
· High-energy, ultrasound shock waves are directed through the
abdominal wall toward the stones.
· The shock waves travel through the soft tissues of the body and
break up the stones.
· The stone fragments are then usually small enough to be passed
through the bile duct and into the intestines.
· Lithotripsy is generally combined with oral dissolution (bile acid)
treatment to help dissolve the fragmented pieces of the original
gallstone.
A 2000 study compared the ability of different shock wave lithotripsy
machines to fragment gallstones. The HM3, Modulith SLX, and Lithostar
C machines had the best record for breaking stones into the smallest
fragments. The use of lasers for lithotripsy is under investigation.
Complications. Although the mortality rate for lithotripsy is
essentially zero, complications include pain in the gallbladder area
and pancreatitis, usually occurring within a month of treatment. In
addition, not all of the fragments may clear the bile duct. Adding
erythromycin to the treatment regimen may help remove these fragments.
About 35% of patients who are left with fragments are at risk for
further problems, some severe. The chance of recurrence is high with
this procedure, and in one study, 45% of patients eventually required
surgery.?
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_lithotripsy_dissolution_therapies_used_gallstones_000010_9.htm
?Options for treatment of gall stones
No treatment if asymptomatic or very frail
Dissolution therapy with ursi-deoxycholic acid but may take 18 months
and stones may reform
Lithotripsy - for CBD stones
Percutaneous surgery
Open surgery
Laparoscopic surgery
ERCP for CBD stones?
CBD means common bile duct
ERCP means Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
http://www.edu.rcsed.ac.uk/lectures/lt3.htm
About ERCP
?ERCP enables the physician to diagnose problems in the liver,
gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. The liver is a large organ
that, among other things, makes a liquid called bile that helps with
digestion. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores
bile until it is needed for digestion. The bile ducts are tubes that
carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.
These ducts are sometimes called the biliary tree. The pancreas is a
large gland that produces chemicals that help with digestion and
hormones such as insulin.
ERCP is used primarily to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile
ducts, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks
(from trauma and surgery), and cancer. ERCP combines the use of x rays
and an endoscope, which is a long, flexible, lighted tube. Through the
endoscope, the physician can see the inside of the stomach and
duodenum, and inject dyes into the ducts in the biliary tree and
pancreas so they can be seen on x rays.?
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ercp/
4)
I'd like information on gall bladder removal surgery including the
risks during surgery. I'd also like information on the side effects
post op. of having no gallbladder.
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?The gallbladder is not an essential organ, and even today, only
surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) guarantees that
the patient will not suffer a recurrence of gallstones. This is one of
the most common surgical procedures performed on women and can even be
performed during pregnancy, with low risk to the baby and mother. The
primary advantages of surgical removal of the gallbladder over
non-surgical treatment are both the elimination of gallstones and also
the prevention of gallbladder cancer.?
?Timing of Surgery. Cholecystectomy may be performed within several
days of hospitalization for an acute attack. Some patients can be
safely discharged after treatment of an attack of acute cholecystitis
and undergo elective surgery as late as several months later.
General Outlook. Although cholecystectomy is very safe, as with any
operation there are risks of complications depending on whether the
procedure is done on an elective or emergency basis.
· When cholecystectomy is performed as elective surgery, the mortality
rates are very low. (Even in the elderly, mortality rates are only
between 0.7% to 2%.)
· Emergency cholecystectomy carries a much higher mortality rate (as
high 19% in ill, elderly patients).
Long-Term Effects of Gallbladder Removal. Although removal of the
gallbladder has not been known to cause any long-term adverse effects
aside from occasional diarrhea, some researchers have been concerned
about its long-term impact on the body?s cholesterol levels. One study
found that within three days of the operation, levels of total
cholesterol and LDL returned to their preoperative levels. After three
years, however, some types of cholesterol not ordinarily associated
with coronary artery disease had risen significantly. These results
did not necessarily indicate any increased risk for coronary artery
disease, but they did show that the metabolism of cholesterol by the
liver had been altered. People who have had their gallbladders removed
should have their cholesterol levels checked periodically, as should
every adult. Short-term treatment with the cholesterol-lowering known
as statins, such as pravastatin (Pravachol), appears to lower
cholesterol levels in surgical patients.?
http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_surgical_procedures_gallstones_gallbladder_disease__000010_8.htm
Don't people need their gallbladder?
?Fortunately, the gallbladder is an organ that people can live
without. Losing it won't even require a change in diet. Once the
gallbladder is removed, bile flows out of the liver through the
hepatic ducts into the common bile duct and goes directly into the
small intestine, instead of being stored in the gallbladder. However,
because the bile isn't stored in the gallbladder, it flows into the
small intestine more frequently, causing diarrhea in about 1 percent
of people.?
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/
?In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method cannot be
performed. Factors that may increase the possibility of choosing or
converting to the "open" procedure may include obesity, a history of
prior abdominal surgery causing dense scar tissue, inability to
visualize organs or bleeding problems during the operation.
The decision to perform the open procedure is a judgment decision made
by your surgeon either before or during the actual operation. When the
surgeon feels that it is safest to convert the laparoscopic procedure
to an open one, this is not a complication, but rather sound surgical
judgment. The decision to convert to an open procedure is strictly
based on patient safety.?
?WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN OCCUR?
While there are risks associated with any kind of operation, the vast
majority of laparoscopic gallbladder patients experiences few or no
complications and quickly return to normal activities. It is important
to remember that before undergoing any type of surgery--whether
laparoscopic or open you should ask your surgeon about his/her
training and experience.
Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are infrequent, but
include bleeding, infection, pneumonia, blood clots, or heart
problems. Unintended injury to adjacent structures such as the common
bile duct or small bowel may occur and may require another surgical
procedure to repair it. Bile leakage into the abdomen from the tubular
channels leading from the liver to the intestine may rarely occur.
Numerous medical studies show that the complication rate for
laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is comparable to the complication
rate for open gallbladder surgery when performed by a properly trained
surgeon.?
http://www.sages.org/pi_cholecystectomy.html
Laparoscopic Surgery:
Not an alternative to gall bladder surgery, but it is an alternative
type of surgery, that uses 4 small incisions, versus one longer scar.:
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
?Because the abdominal muscles are not cut during laparoscopic
surgery, patients have less pain and fewer complications than they
would have had after surgery using a large incision across the
abdomen. Recovery usually involves only one night in the hospital,
followed by several days of restricted activity at home.
If the surgeon discovers any obstacles to the laparoscopic procedure,
such as infection or scarring from other operations, the operating
team may have to switch to open surgery. In some cases the obstacles
are known before surgery, and an open surgery is planned. It is called
"open" surgery because the surgeon has to make a 5- to 8-inch incision
in the abdomen to remove the gallbladder. This is a major surgery and
may require about a 2- to 7-day stay in the hospital and several more
weeks at home to recover. Open surgery is required in about 5 percent
of gallbladder operations.
The most common complication in gallbladder surgery is injury to the
bile ducts. An injured common bile duct can leak bile and cause a
painful and potentially dangerous infection. Mild injuries can
sometimes be treated nonsurgically. Major injury, however, is more
serious and requires additional surgery.
If gallstones are in the bile ducts, the physician (usually a
gastroenterologist) may use endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to locate and remove them before or
during the gallbladder surgery. In ERCP, the patient swallows an
endoscope?a long, flexible, lighted tube connected to a computer and
TV monitor. The doctor guides the endoscope through the stomach and
into the small intestine. The doctor then injects a special dye that
temporarily stains the ducts in the biliary system. Then the affected
bile duct is located and an instrument on the endoscope is used to cut
the duct. The stone is captured in a tiny basket and removed with the
endoscope.
Occasionally, a person who has had a cholecystectomy is diagnosed with
a gallstone in the bile ducts weeks, months, or even years after the
surgery. The two-step ERCP procedure is usually successful in removing
the stone.?
?The surgeon makes four small incisions in the abdomen and uses
special instruments that allow him to ?see? and remove the gall
bladder.
After the surgery most patients are able to go home the same day. Many
return to work within 2-4 weeks as long as there is no heavy lifting
or other demanding activity involved. You will have small bandages
over the incisions. The stitches may be self-dissolving or they may
need to be removed. You will be instructed on which you have and how
to manage them.?
http://www.headwatershealth.ca/gallbladdersurgery.htm
See diagrams and explanations of laparoscopic gall bladder surgery
http://mhh.medselfed.com/asp/prodDisplay.asp?prodId=343&partnerId=mhh&id=&cachedate=&emailId=&affId=&campId=&hideNav=
Explanations and graphic illustrations of the surgery.
http://www.arachnis.com/drsastry/pictour.htm
5)
I'd particularly like information on alternative or natural treatments
for gallstones, both to prevent them or to get rid of them (flush or
dissolve) - preferably with some scientific studies to back them up.
======================================================================
I can?t really recommend any alternative therapies. Most do not have
scientific studies, but anecdotal information only. I am not totally
opposed to trying alternative remedies, but I am fearful that people
will avoid medical care when indicated. For that reason, I?ll provide
you some information, but please seek medical care if symptoms worsen,
or of you have pain and/or infection (characterized by fever, swollen
abdomen, vomiting).
?Nonsurgical Treatment
Nonsurgical approaches are used only in special situations?such as
when a patient has a serious medical condition preventing surgery?and
only for cholesterol stones. Stones usually recur after nonsurgical
treatment.
· Oral dissolution therapy. Drugs made from bile acid are used to
dissolve the stones. The drugs, ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol
(Chenix), work best for small cholesterol stones. Months or years of
treatment may be necessary before all the stones dissolve. Both drugs
cause mild diarrhea, and chenodiol may temporarily raise levels of
blood cholesterol and the liver enzyme transaminase.
· Contact dissolution therapy. This experimental procedure involves
injecting a drug directly into the gallbladder to dissolve stones. The
drug?methyl tertbutyl ether?can dissolve some stones in 1 to 3 days,
but it must be used very carefully because it is a flammable
anesthetic that can be toxic. The procedure is being tested in
patients with symptomatic, noncalcified cholesterol stones.?
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/
6)
I want clear information that will assist me in understanding this
condition and help me to decide for or against gall bladder surgery.
Ideally you can find some information on alternative treatments that
aren't just quackery.
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?Reducing intake of fatty foods and weight reduction may reduce
symptoms in people with gallbladder disease.?
http://health.allrefer.com/health/gallbladder-disease-prevention.html
?Gall Bladder Removal Alternatives
There are exceptions to the surgery requirement. In China, patients
are first tested by western medical physicians using state of the art
laboratory tests and imaging. If the gall stone is less than 1cm, than
it is safe to consider treatments rather than surgery removal. In this
case, generally herbs are administered to soften and reduce any
gallstones if that is a factor. The physicians will both give
acupuncture and herbal medicine to stimulate the Gall Bladder to
release bile. If the white blood cell count is high, indicating
infection, they will give acupuncture over a four-hour period, and
then re-test the white blood cell count. If it drops, then they will
continue the treatment. China has the lowest number of appendix
removals and gall bladder removals in the world.
This information is provided so that interested patients can recognize
that Chinese Medicine has ways of treating many disorders that
normally require surgery in the eyes of Allopathic Medicine. Likewise,
a competent Oriental Medical Physician (LAc) will usually find signs
and symptoms of Liver and Gallbladder disharmony long before severe
symptoms present themselves and will work on the energetic imbalances
so that illness of the physical organ can be avoided or moderated.?
http://www.skyeherbals.com/pages/gall.html
The above site does offer factual symptoms and other information on
gall bladder disease.
http://www.skyeherbals.com/pages/gall2.html
Liver Flush:
?The procedure was quite simple: I drink two glasses of organic apple
juice every two hours for two days, eating only fruits and vegetables.
At the end of the two days, I have one to two tablespoons of Epsom
salts dissolved in water, followed by half a cup of olive oil with
lemon juice at bedtime. There is science behind the liver flush. Apple
juice is high in malic acid, which acts as a solvent to weaken
adhesions between solid globules. Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate)
relax smooth muscle and will relax and dilate the bile duct to enable
larger solid particles to pass through. Unrefined olive oil stimulates
the gallbladder and bile duct to contract and expel its contents.
I drank the apple juice for two days, diligently maintaining the two
hour schedule. The olive oil was much more difficult. I hesitated for
about fifteen minutes before pinching my nose and gulping it down, the
way I used to when my mother made me drink tomato juice. The sensation
of such a large amount of pure oil in my mouth was so unpleasant, I
nearly vomited. I thought that turning off the lights and lying down
would make me feel better, but it only took away all distraction and
forced me to focus on my nausea. Somehow, though, I managed to fall
asleep.
When I woke up the next morning, I had cramps in my abdomen, but I
didn't have the urge to go to the bathroom. So I waited. And waited.
Then suddenly I felt pressure building quickly in my intestines. The
event was nothing short of explosive and peering into the toilet,
satisfying. About 70 dark green balls, ranging in size from 1 mm to 1
cm were floating on the water. I picked one up and rinsed it off. It
was gelatinous and felt soft and squishy.?
This procedure is not really recommended except under the supervision of a doctor.
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/dietarytherapy/a/LiverFlush.htm
?Procedure Cuts Gall Bladder Surgery Complication
TUESDAY, April 1 (HealthScoutNews) -- It may seem an esoteric
discussion about an obscure subject, but a paper about a procedure
called cholangiography should be of interest to hundreds of thousands
of Americans.
The question is whether people who have cholecystecomy, surgery to
remove the gall bladder, should first have cholangiography, which is
the injection of radiographic contrast material into the cystic duct
to reduce the chance of injury to the bile duct.
Why should you care? Because more than 750,000 Americans have surgery
to remove a gall bladder every year, and an injury to the bile duct
during that operation is "the most dreaded complication," says study
author Dr. David R. Flum. His report appears in the April 2 issue of
the Journal of the American Medical Association, and it says routine
cholangiography can cut the risk of that complication by about half.?
http://www.reflector.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/gsto/512511.html
If you are so inclined to take supplements, take a look at Olive leaf
extract. I?ve never tried it, but I know people who say it has helped
them overcome several problems.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/herbal-remedies-usa/6400.html
7) Forums:
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Find thousands of Google groups here:
http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?hl=en&q=gallstones&qt_s=Search
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/gastro/wwwboard.html
http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic9758.html
http://www.curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=95&t=77569.67
Whew? there you go! I believe after you read all of this information,
you?ll be a gallbladder specialist! I hope I covered all your
questions adequately!
If not, or if any part of my answer is unclear, contains broken links,
or contains information you already had, please request an Answer
Clarification, before rating. By not rating until I have responded to
your clarification request, I may continue assisting you on this
question. This answer if for informational purposes only.
Sincerely, Crabcakes
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