Gallstones???? Help!!!!!!!!

[UrSexyLatinDr21]

OK Guys, so I went to my family dr. and told her what the other dr. had said about the elevated sgtp. I also told her I had some moderate/low pain in the righ upper quadrant that seemed to get worse after I ate. Its not that bad of a pain, from 1-10 is a 2, sometimes a 3. So she said it lookes like gallstones, but she sent me to have done an ultrasound. I am getting one done next week. So after I went to radiology to make the appointment, the lady that does the ultrasounds said she doesnt think the problem can be gallstones because of my age (21), but we shall find out tuesday. I am scared because I dont want to go into the o.r. I know the procedure is pretty common and fast, but still. Lets say I do have the gallstones, what alternatives are there for these as treatment is concern??

Eduardo

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[droliver]

Your ultrasonographer is an idiot. Cholecystectomy is routinely done on women in their 20's for symptomatic gallstones & acalculous disease. It's also an increasing procedure in the pediatric population with the epidemic of obesity (and subsequent gallstone result) and some of the medical conditions that lead to pigment stones in the USA. Surgery is by far & away your most effective treatment & has a very good track record for safety.

 

[blackcat]

not being teh 5 F's decreases your chances but does not eliminate symptomatic cholelithiasis as a diagnosis.
although surgery is the most definitive treatment for stone disease, you can ride it out and try for medical management. that is avoid fatty foods that aggravate your symptoms, dicyclomine (Bentyl) may help with some symptoms, and extrememe vigilance. that is, if the pain returns, does not go away, associated with fevers, you must present to the nearest emergency department for eval for cholecystitiis which would require cholecystectomy.
advantage of having your GB out now is that it is not infected/inflammed and you are young. waiting until it is obstructed will increase the chance of complications. however, all surgical procedures however routine or elective they are, have their complications - some of which can be very serious.
my 2 cents!

 

[droliver]

I agree completely. You will never be a better candidate for a non-complicated surgery then you are right now (assuming you have gallstones) due to your age & relative short duration of symptoms. Watch & wait strategies were used in the past, but on a statistical basis your economic risk-reward ratio & the potential of developing complications from untreated symptomatic stones (including life-threatening pancreatitis or cholangitis) is higher then the risk of complications from the surgery these days, assuming you have no signifigant comorbidities. If you in fact do not have gall stones or signs of cholecystitis on your ultrasound, you should probably have a HIDA scan with CCK to screen for biliary dyskinesia which would also be an indication for surgery for symptomatic relief

 

[DR]

Have to agree with above responses. History tells us that holding off on surgery just means you're date for the OR is put off 'til later. If positive, get it out. More personal questions would be required to see why you might be at risk, which are probably not something you want to discuss here, but for example if you are taking oral contraceptive pills, you are at higher risk (as you would be if you were pregnant). Additionally, those with hemoglobinopathies and anemias are at higher risk (pigment stones). I agree with the above...gallbladders don't read the textbooks, nor do any other organs...they don't always follow the rules! Get the ultrasound and have that thing out, would be my advice. If it is cholecystitis, then there is probably MORE of an indication to get it out, because you are so young, and this would mean you are for some reason (see above) at increased risk. Of course if it is due to something like pregnancy or contraceptives, then different story...but I'd get it taken out.

 

[UrSexyLatinDr21]

OK Guys, thanks a lot for your response. So yesterday I was talking to a Naturopathic Doctor about the gallstones problem. She told me of a natural way to get rid of them, supposuvely many of her patients have used it. around 6pm drink 1/2 quart of water with a tbsoon of epsom salt then 10 minutes before going to bed You mix 1/4 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup of lemon juice drink it, go to sleep and lay on your right side in a fetal position. Next morning, drink 1/2 quart of water with a tbsoon of epsom salt and go straight to the bathroom. She said the gallstones should come out. What do you guys think?????

Eduardo

 

[Goofy]

I think if your seeking advice from a 'naturapathic doctor' you may indeed require more help than what a surgeon might provide. Sheesh!

 

[UrSexyLatinDr21]

Can you be more specific Klebsiella??
🙂

Eduardo

 

[14931]

eduardo, go see a surgeon

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by UrSexyLatinDr21
OK Guys, thanks a lot for your response. So yesterday I was talking to a Naturopathic Doctor about the gallstones problem. She told me of a natural way to get rid of them, supposuvely many of her patients have used it. around 6pm drink 1/2 quart of water with a tbsoon of epsom salt then 10 minutes before going to bed You mix 1/4 cup of olive oil with 1/4 cup of lemon juice drink it, go to sleep and lay on your right side in a fetal position. Next morning, drink 1/2 quart of water with a tbsoon of epsom salt and go straight to the bathroom. She said the gallstones should come out. What do you guys think?????

These regimens often don't work because if you miss your 6 pm drink and get it around 7 pm, then you've blown your chance of dissolving the gallstone. You have to start the whole cycle over again. Also, if you roll over onto your left side while you're asleep, the gallstone can actually come out of the gallbladder, lodge into the portal vein, skip the liver, go through the IVC, and into your heart. That would be bad. Bad I tell ya!

Seriously? What do I think? I think this ND is a crock of ****. If you have gallstones, there isn't any magical diet that's going to get rid of them. Sorry to inform you of the bad news dude. Get a professional opinion from a real medical professional.

 

[womansurg]

Originally posted by Geek Medic
Also, if you roll over onto your left side while you're asleep, the gallstone can actually come out of the gallbladder, lodge into the portal vein, skip the liver, go through the IVC, and into your heart. That would be bad. Bad I tell ya!

You had me worried there for a sec, Geek 😉 .

Eduardo, two pieces of advice:
1. See a surgeon.
2. Stop using so much redundant punctuation!!!! Okay????

-ws

 

[southerndoc]

Originally posted by womansurg
You had me worried there for a sec, Geek 😉 .

Sorry, the geek humour can be kind of dry at times. 😎

 

[GreatPumpkin]

On a different note I got the biggest gallstone I have ever seen in Surg Path the other day. It was oval and the size of a twinkee, filled the whole gall sac. Impressive.

🙂

 

[patrickhenson]

W-O-W

My Gross specimen had a GB filled with 152 stones; I thought that was impressive. But a twinkie-sized stone...good thing they got it taken care of early 😉

Patrick
OSU-COM

 

[blackcat]

UrSexyLatinDr21...so what happened during the ultrasound?
stones or no stones??
please tell