Search Results for: gallstones in pregnancy

Gallbladder problems in pregnancy

Gallbladder pain is common in pregnancy. Since women are more prone to gallbladder problems than men, it stands to reason the condition may occur during pregnancy. In addition, the increased hormone levels of pregnancy put women at greater risk of developing gallstones. In fact, problems with the gallbladder are second only to appendicitis for surgery during pregnancy. Surgery is generally only done if the pain is so severe the woman can’t cope in her daily life. In other cases, the surgery is scheduled for after the baby has been born. Gallbladder attacks are painful. The pain is generally located in … Continue reading →

Other Treatment Options For Gallstones

There are other treatments for gallstones and gallbladder disease, but they are not widely available. Experts don’t know as much about the effectiveness of other treatments as compared to laparoscopic and open surgery. If gallstones are found in the common bile duct during surgery, they are usually removed while the gallbladder is being removed. Occasionally, a gastroenterologist may choose to use a special viewing technique to see the gallstones — an endoscopic retrograde chonalgiopancreatogram. The ERCP allows the doctor to perform a non-surgical procedure to encourage stones to pass more easily out of the common bile duct. A flexible, lighted … Continue reading →

What Is an Ultrasound?

I’ve got ultrasounds on the brain at the moment, since I’m having one on Monday afternoon to confirm my doctor’s diagnosis of fibroids. Also known as sonography, ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. One big advantage of an ultrasound over other kinds of imaging is that an ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation (like an x-ray does) and is generally non-invasive. Ultrasound images are captured in real time, so they can even show the movement of blood through vessels! Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections. There are also 3D … Continue reading →

What is Estrogen Replacement Therapy?

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Since I’ve been on a roll with hormone replacement therapy information lately, I thought I’d add one more. Hormone replacement therapy often means a combination of estrogen and progestin — estrogen replacement therapy only means one kind of hormone. Estrogen replacement therapy is used to increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women who have no uterus. Women who do have a uterus usually need a combination therapy to prevent the estrogen hormone from causing the uterine lining to over-grow (which can lead to uterine cancer). Candidates for estrogen replacement therapy include: Women who experience early menopause after having their ovaries removed … Continue reading →

Gallbladder Surgery

Gallbladder removal is the most popular treatment for gallstones that cause moderate to severe pain and/or other symptoms. Very occasionally, surgery may be done to prevent complications from gallstones, like duct blockage. Surgery is generally required if: Your gallbladder becomes inflamed or infected. Gallstones cause repeated episodes of pain. There are polyps (growths) in the gallbladder that are larger than 0.4 inch. Gallstones cause an inflammation in the pancreas. The gallbladder wall has calcified, also known as porcelain gallbladder. You have gallbladders and an impaired immune system. You may also need your gallbladder removed if you have sickle cell disease … Continue reading →

Gallbladder Disease Overview

My brother and I were still in grammar school when my mom was diagnosed with gallbladder disease. Suddenly, the family diet involved a lot of baked chicken and a lot less salt. Diet and medication kept her gallbladder in check for a number of years; eventually she had to have it removed. The gallbladder is a little sac that hangs just underneath the liver. It stores bile made by the liver — the bile is used to help digest fats. There are two ducts that carry bile from the gallbladder to the small intestines: the cystic duct and the common … Continue reading →