Gallstones affect more than 25 million Americans and the first gallbladder attack can be frightening with severe pain that strikes right below the rib cage and so painful that breathing becomes difficult. You may not be able to walk without bending over and the pain can radiate through to the shoulder blades. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, gas, and belching.
The most typical treatment is surgery. If a person cannot undergo surgery, nonsurgical treatments may be used to dissolve cholesterol gallstones. A health care provider may use endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to remove stones in people who cannot undergo surgery or to remove stones from the common bile duct in people who are about to have gallbladder removal surgery.
If gallstones block the bile ducts, pressure increases in the gallbladder, causing a gallbladder attack. Gallbladder attacks will resolve themselves if the stones move but the problem is that stones can block the bile ducts creating a serious infection of the gallbladder, liver or pancreas.
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, people with any of the following symptoms during or after a gallbladder attack should see a health care provider immediately:
· abdominal pain lasting more than 5 hours
· nausea and vomiting
· fever—even a low-grade fever—or chills
· yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice
· tea-colored urine
New research suggests that thyroid inadequacies can create gallstones. Other research suggest that gluten can cause destruction of the thyroid gland and gluten can also contribute to gallbladder disease.
Besides a gluten-free diet helpful foods for the gall bladder are as follows according to Gallbladder Attack.com. However, everyone reacts differently.
Foods Helpful for Gallstones:
- USE ORGANIC FOODS: Fresh vegetable juices as mentioned above (beet and cucumber especially)
- Drink lots of water – very important
- Garlic and garlic oil
- Avocados, artichokes, ginger root, coconuts, rapes and freshly pressed grape juice (organic grapes only) are especially helpful
- Apples particularly including apple juice apricots, berries, casaba melons, currants, figs, guavas, lemons, pears, prunes Tumeric (organic) Flax oil
- Radishes help to dissolve gallstones but may cause some discomfort. Do not use them until your symptoms are gone and then only if they do not disagree with you.
Foods to Avoid for Gallstones:
- Eggs, pork, gluten, onion, fowl, milk, cheese, butter and other dairy, coffee, grapefruit, oranges, corn, beans and nuts, alcohol, saturated fats, hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oil.
You may have to seek a second opinion to determine the condition of the gall bladder. Stones alone may not be a risk for surgery but can damage other organs. So it is important to talk to your doctor or make an appointment with a gastroenterologist to determine if the gallbladder is infected and steps that you can take to either improve your diet or surgery. There are options just like when applying for health or life insurance. Make sure you talk to a professional to find out the best fit for you, your family, etc.
Giving the gift of health and wellness for Valentines Day is a gift that will keep on giving; a long, deserved one for those who suffer and their loved ones. Historically speaking, Valentines Day represents, flowers, candy hearts, red lingerie and fancy dinners. And ironically on the flip side, it represents a massacre in Chicago many years ago. Unfortunately, without taking care of your health, safety and welfare, you could end up like the mob associates in 1929, a grizzly Valentines Day memory.
Taking care of health issues as they occur, financially protecting yourself from the unexpected and trying to improve your lifestyle is the most romantic and passionate gift you can give to yourself. And you have no idea what it can do for others!
