Gallbladder discomfort manageable

September 3, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: First, I want to thank you for educating readers about health issues. My mother always read your articles and passes on your advice. I, too, became an avid reader of your column. In fact, you saved the 26-year-old daughter of a friend of mine from having a colostomy bag which was the solution given by her doctor for constant diarrhea. I sent her the article where you suggested an antidepressant for resolving the issue. Why didn’t her doctor know about this? You educate both us laymen and doctors.

Second, I want to comment on an article about a 71-year-old female’s gallbladder problem. I, too, suffer from all the symptoms she listed and have for the past 10 months. My doctor sent me to a surgeon who told me I was asymptomatic (no pain, only the discomfort of digesting food) and therefore, had less than a 10% chance of feeling any better after the gallbladder was removed. [Read more...]

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Gallbladder may be source of abdominal pain

August 11, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Two months ago I started having stomach cramps. My general practitioner gave me some antibiotics which didn’t work so he suggested I see a gastroenterologist who did biopsies of my stomach, blood tests and a gallbladder ultrasound.

The biopsies of my stomach and upper small small bowel showed evidence of active inflammation called gastritis. There were no signs of H. pylori bacterial infection. The upper small bowel did not show evidence of celiac disease changes.

The blood test showed that my white blood cell count was slightly low at 3.22. My liver and pancreas enzymes were normal. The gallbladder ultrasound was also normal.
[Read more...]

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The sad consequences of surgery

February 24, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 78-year-old mother recently passed away owing to gallbladder surgery. The surgeon that took it out accidentally cut a duct of Luschka, and she had a bile leak into her body. She never recovered from the second surgery to repair the leak. Can you explain what the duct of Luschka is and does everybody have one?

DEAR READER: Yes, everyone does. The “duct of Luschka” was named after a German anatomist, referring to an accessory duct that transports bile from the working tissue of the liver (as opposed to supporting or connective tissue) into the gallbladder. Unfortunately, with injury to the duct, a devastating outcome can occur about a week after resection as bile drains into the abdominal cavity. My sympathies are with you.

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Gallstones may be cause of GERD

February 13, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: This is in response to the writer diagnosed with GERD and a hiatal hernia who questioned taking omeprazole. Several years ago, I suffered with the same symptoms and the same diagnosis. Medication did not help me, and finally, after a CT scan, gallstones were discovered. I had laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder and repair the hernia. I have not had any problems since.

DEAR READER: When gallstones form, they can cause a blockage that may cause bile to build up, leading to inflammation and/or pain. The pain can often be confused with that caused by stomach acid.
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Teen experiences persistent pain and vomiting

January 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been ill for quite some time, and no one seems able to help me. It’s frustrating that I go to all these specialists and they will give me answers like “I couldn’t find anything, therefore you’re fine and should go to school.” I am 18 now, but when I was 13, I had my gallbladder removed because it was functioning at 13 percent. I have been ill ever since. Also, when I was 5, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. I have a chromic problem of vomiting almost daily and, on bad days, several times a day. As of last spring, I have had a terrible pain that accompanies the illness and is enough to cripple me.

My doctors are at a loss and are now guessing at what it is. One doctor diagnosed me with GERD, another with IBS, and a third told me there was nothing wrong me with. I have been put on all sorts of medications, and nothing works or even helps with the symptoms.
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Chronic abdominal pain revisited

December 22, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: In your article about abdominal pain, I think you might have missed a likely possibility: gallbladder disease.

I suffered from this for years, and no doctor took me seriously because I didn’t have gallstones. When I finally had my gallbladder removed, I didn’t have any more pain. Estrogen is known to irritate the gallbladder, and a 15-year-old has considerable estrogen in her body.

DEAR READER: Gallbladder disease is another cause of abdominal pain. The pain is typically on the upper right side of the abdomen and may worsen after eating, especially fatty foods. Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite may also be present.
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Doctor unsympathetic to pain

November 20, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Five years ago, I complained to my doctor about serious pain in the area of my gallbladder. The pain also extended around to my back. A sonogram was taken and the report came back normal.
I went back to the same doctor two weeks ago to prepare for a colonoscopy. I complained about the same pain. He thrust his hand into that area; I screamed and my legs flew up. Another sonogram was taken and came back normal.

Well, there is nothing normal to me about having this endless pain and discomfort. Is there a more in-depth examination? Can a gallbladder really hurt this long and still be normal?
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Developer of ‘gallbladder cleanse’ lied

September 15, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have a family history of gallbladder trouble, and I react badly to fatty foods. Have you heard of Dr. Hulda Clark’s recipe for a gall bladder cleanse? It is very popular, but is it safe? Sign me cautious.

DEAR CAUTIOUS READER: During Dr. Hulda Clark’s lifetime, she claimed to cure cancer, AIDS and a number of other diseases. She claimed to have held a bachelor and master’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Minnesota. The Register of Ph.D. degrees from U of M, however, indicates that Dr. Clark actually held a doctorate in zoology and minored in botany. [Read more...]

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