THEO: IN THIS MORNING'S WOMAN'S DOCTOR, PAIN IN THE UPPER ABDOMINAL AREA COULD INDICATE A GALLBLADDER PROBLEM, ASSOCIATED WITH NAUSEA AND VOMITING.
IT COMES INTERMITTENTLY, LASTS A FEW HOURS, AND SUBSIDES.
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DOCTOR NORA MEENAGHAN SAYS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM IS GALLSTONES.
>> VISIT YOUR DOCTOR.
OTHER THINGS CAN MIMIC GALLSTONES, REFLUX AND OTHER GI PROBLEMS.
THEY WOULD TYPICALLY SEND YOU FOR A TEST IF THEY THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE.
THEO: JOINING US THIS MORNING WITH MORE INFORMATION IS DR.
LINDSAY HAS LER FROM MERCY MEDICAL CENTER.
GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
THEO: LET'S START WITH THE OBVIOUS.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE GALLSTONES?
>> SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE QUESTION.
BUT GALLSTONES ARE SMALL STONES THAT FORM WITHIN THE GALLBLADDER.
THE GALLBLADDER IS AN ORGAN THAT SITS IN YOUR RIGHT UPPER BELLY, UNDERNEATH THE LIVER, AND HELPS STORE BILE, WHICH HELPS US DIGEST FAT.
SOME UNLUCKY PEOPLE GET STONES THAT FORM THERE.
THEO: WHAT CAUSES THEM?
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT MAKE YOU MORE LIKELY.
PATIENTS WHO ARE FEMALE, USUALLY IN THE AGE GROUP OF YOUR 40S.
PEOPLE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY, AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS LIKE RAPID WEIGHT LOSS, OBESITY AND HORMONE EXPOSURE THAT CAN PRECIPITATE THE FORMATION OF THE GALLSTONES.
>> WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
HOW DUNE YOU HAVE A GALLSTONE?
I UNDERSTAND IT'S PAINFUL.
>> I HAVE GALLSTONES MYSELF.
I CAN VOUCH FOR THAT.
THEY'RE QUITE PAINFUL.
>> THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS, PAIN IN THE UPPER BELLY.
CAN LAST A COUPLE HOURS.
CAN HAPPEN AFTER A FATTY MEAL.
IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BELLY OR GO THROUGH TO YOUR BACK.
NOT EVERYBODY FOLLOWS THE TEXTBOOK.
THE PAIN WILL COME AND GO.
IF YOU HAVE A SERIOUS CORP CATION, THE PAIN WON'T GO AWAY AND IT'S TIME TO SEEK CARE.
THEO: WE MENTIONED A FATTY MEAL CAN CAUSE THIS.
HOW DOES DIET PLAY A ROLE IN THIS?
>> IN TERMS OF DIET, IF YOU HAVE GALL STONES, STICKING TO A LOW FAT DIET IS BEST SO YOU'RE NOT STIMULATING YOUR GALLBLADDER AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN PREVENT COMPLICATIONS AND PAIN FROM
HAPPENING.
THEO: IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING A GALLSTONE, WHAT KIND OF RELIEF CAN YOU SEEK?
I'VE HEARD THE TERM PASSING A GALLSTONE.
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
>> SURE.
SO IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW TO GET RELIEF EXACTLY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU IF YOU'RE HAVING PAIN THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY, AND IT'S A GOOD REASON TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AND JUST TAKING IT EASY AT HOME FOR A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THEN AND IF THINGS DON'T GET BETTER, IT'S TIME TO GET HELP FROM PROFESSIONALS.
THEO: OKAY.
OVERALL WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE THERE?
IS THIS A LIFE LONG CONDITION OR IS THERE A CURE?
>> CERTAINLY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.
THERE IS A CURE.
IT'S SURGERY.
MEANING THAT WE TAKE OUT YOUR GALLBLADDER.
MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUE, MEANING A COUPLE SMALL INCISIONS IN YOUR BELLY, AND YOU CAN GO HOME THE SAME DAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU HAVE EMERGENCY PROBLEMS, SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAVE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO HELP YOU GET BETTER.
THEO: LONG-TERM IF YOU DON'T SEEK HELP, CAN IT LEAD TO SOMETHING WORSE?
>> IT IS POSSIBLE.
NOT EVERYBODY WITH GALLSTONES HAS PROBLEMS.
ACTUALLY, ONLY ABOUT ONE TO FOUR PERCENT OF PEOPLE WITH GALLSTONES WILL HAVE SEVERE COMPLICATIONS EVERY YEAR.
IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE BUT WE HAVE NO WAY TO PREDICT WHO THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE.
THEO: DR. LINDSAY HESSLER, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
TA