[MERGED] Cholelithiasis ( Gallbladder Stones )

[Ira]

You can develop common bile duct stones even after cholecystectomy, but it's not a common occurence at all. You should be more worried about the cholesterol being deposited in your arteries, which may lead to strokes and heart attacks in the future.

[Abominable]

Does it mean having no gall bladder increases the chance of experiencing heart attacks or stroke given the preceding thought?

[Ira]

Nope, not at all. Just that if you keep on eating cholesterol-laden food, stones should be the least of your worries.

[Abominable]

What's the main difference between a fat and a cholesterol?
Can a fat or sugar turn into a cholesterol?

[Ira]

Cholesterol is a type of fat or lipid. Sugar cannot be converted to cholesterol.

[Abominable]

What's the cholesterol percentage of eating a fried chicken without the skin?

[Ira]

Sorry, I'm a physician, not a nutritionist nor a food technologist. It obviously also depends on how you cook it.

[duh!78]

what are the bawal food and the recommended food for someone with gall stones? thanks!

[duh!78]

what are the bawal food and the recommended food for someone with gall stones? thanks!

[the-man]

hi doc. matanong ko lang... kapag ang isang pasyente ba ay na-diagnose na may dalawang bato sa apdo, na kasinlaki ng buto ng papaya, KAILANGAN ba siyang operahan? or meron pang paraan na matanggal ang nasabing bato thru medication. FATAL ba 'yun?

and when the person undergoes an operation to remove the two stones, does it follow that the APDO should be permanently removed from the body?

what will happen to the patient when his APDO is removed? manghihina ba siya? meron na ba siyang SPECIAL diet na dapat sundin?

salamat po.

p.s. ano ba sa inggles ng APDO?

[Ira]

Apdo is gallbladder in English.

You don't automatically undergo cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) just because you have a gallstone (or even 2 gallstones). There are millions of people diagnosed with this every year who will never need to undergo any procedure because it's mostly asymptomatic. The only times surgery is indicated are when you have bouts of right upper abdominal pain after eating, which may be accompanied by nausea and belching; when you are scheduled to undergo organ transplantation; when you have a calcified gallbladder by x-ray, and when the gallstone moves and blocks the common bile duct. Otherwise, there is no need for any treatment. There are a couple of medications available that may help melt away the stone, but you would have to ask your physician if it is indicated in your case.

If there is a need to undergo surgery, the gallbladder is permanently removed in toto. That is the only way to remove the gallstone. While it is considered major surgery (because you undergo general anesthesia), it is a relatively simple procedure, and it is definitely not fatal. Any surgeon worth his salt can do this procedure easily. After the gallbladder is removed, the patient doesn't need to do anything or eat any special diet--the gallbladder only serves to store bile manufactured by the liver, and even if it is removed, the liver will still continue making bile, so the patient will resume normal lifestyle.

[the-man]

doc I, tnx for the info.

is it true that a person who had his gallbladder removed should avoid eating foods high in cholesterol because one of the gallbladder's function is to digest 'cholesterol' or 'fats' (?)?

also doc, if one of the purposes of the gallbladder is to store the bile which the liver produces, after it's gone, the gallbladder that is, where would the bile be stored?

again, tnx.

[Ira]

With or without a gallbladder, you shouldn't eat food high in cholesterol. A lot of gallstones are composed of cholesterol, so the fact that you developed it means that you have too much cholesterol in your diet. Like I've said, the gallbladder serves to store bile, but in itself, it doesn't digest fat. Even if you remove it, the liver still constantly produces bile, so you still have a constant supply of bile. The excess bile enters the intestine, where it is reabsorbed down the tract for recycling.

[the-man]

hi uli Doc I. i would have PMd you regarding my questions below, but i cannot. my 35 yr old distant relative just underwent a gallbladder operation, his gallbladder removed by using the laparoscopic cholecystectomy method, which i'm not familiar with. hehehe. we're wondering how can the gallblader pass through a small cut on the stomach area. out of curiosity, can you answer the questions below:

1. how big is the gallbladder?
2. how is laparoscopic cholecystectomy being done?
3. can the gallbladder be removed with that procedure? how?
4. what is the difference between lap chole and open cholecystectomy?

thanks in advance.

[Ira]

Originally posted by the-man
hi uli Doc I. i would have PMd you regarding my questions below, but i cannot. my 35 yr old distant relative just underwent a gallbladder operation, his gallbladder removed by using the laparoscopic cholecystectomy method, which i'm not familiar with. hehehe. we're wondering how can the gallblader pass through a small cut on the stomach area. out of curiosity, can you answer the questions below:

1. how big is the gallbladder?
2. how is laparoscopic cholecystectomy being done?
3. can the gallbladder be removed with that procedure? how?
4. what is the difference between lap chole and open cholecystectomy?

thanks in advance.

You cannot PM me, I do not accept PMs nor emails. If you have any medical questions, just post it in this forum.

1. The gallbladder is about the size of a small egg when it is full of bile.

2. Lap chole is a surgical technique which makes four 0.5-1 cm incisions on the right upper abdomen, mid-upper abdomen, and umbilical area. Using these holes, you slip in the scope (attached to a video monitor) to view the gallbladder; retractors, scissors, long forceps, and other instruments to grasp and dissect the gallbladder from its attachment to the liver; and a CO2 port where air can be inserted into the abdomen to give better visual advantage. Once you have grasped and dissected the gallbladder and clipped the bleeding blood vessels, you can remove the gallbladder from inside the abdominal cavity.

3. The gallbladder can be removed through the 1 cm hole at the umbilicus. There are special instruments which are passed through the scope that will allow the surgeon to grasp and pull the gallbladder out safely without spillage into the abdominal cavity. The gallbladder is drained via suction and consequently deflated prior to extraction. Since both the gallbladder and the skin are not rigid, they can be manipulated so the gallbladder can pass through the 1 cm hole easily.

4. Lap chole has several very small incisions which allows you to go home after just 2-3 days, while open chole requires what we call a Kocher's incision, a big (around 6-9 inches) incision on the right upper abdomen. Disadvantages of open chole are longer hospitalization and recovery period, more postoperative pain, and a large scar. However, it's an easier procedure to do and carries less risks than lap chole.

[R0G3R]

from our resident doctors request for information on what to do if diagnosed with this condition.

thank you.

[pinay24]

The presence of gall stones may indicate a poor diet, poor digestion, a toxic congested liver, and a need for DETOXIFICATION of the entire body.

Try liver flush & gall bladder flush or the combination LIVER-GALL BLADDER FLUSH but in case if the person have kidney stone problem then he/she need to finish the Kidney flush first.

Drink a lot of water & apples juice would really helps a lot.

Did you know that eating a lot of fruits & vegetable followed by lemon and oil to expell gall stones.

You may begin drinking a shot glass of fresh Lime juice with a spoonful of Olive oil upon awakening and before meals. Make sure it is pure virgen Olive oil. You may also use 2 tbsp. of Olive oil, followed with the juice of one Grapefruit. Drink before breakfast daily.Do this for 1-2 weeks.

Eliminate all red meats, pork, salt, all dairy products, pasta, fried and greasy foods, white sugar, excess coffee and alcohol/

Drink tea such as fresh ginger root tea(luya)

[R0G3R]

thanks pinay. but ive also read that the gall bladder flush is not recommended. is this a personal experience or a medical recommendation?

[pinay24]

It was on a medical recommendation base on oriental medicine practice.

Or the best thing is the gallbladder removal.

[R0G3R]

thanks for the quick reply. have read about the surgery was hoping there were other options.