Surviving John

A gallbladder polyp is a piece of tissue that grows on the inside wall of the gallbladder, usually protruding from the interior lining. They may be tiny, but they sometimes grow to one centimeter in diameter or larger. They are usually found in about four-to-five percent of individuals who report to their doctor that they’re experiencing gallbladder pain.

Medical researchers have not been able to discover the precise cause of gallbladder polyps. However, research has shown that someone who has gallstones, or is more than 50 years of age, is more likely to have gallbladder polyps than most others.

Gallbladder polyps fall into five different categories.

* Cholesterosis – This is the most common. This type is partially formed from cholesterol.

* Adenocarcinoma – This type is malignant. In other words, it is a form of gallbladder cancer.

Three other types appear infrequently: hyperplastic, adenomyomatosis, and cholecystosis.

Gallbladder polyp symptoms are practically non-existent. However, sometimes those with gallbladder polyps will feel discomfort or tenderness in the upper right abdomen. This pain may be intermittent, or may be steady. Gallbladder polyp pain is rarely severe and constant. Such pain is more often a symptom of gallstones.

Polyps can be detected using gallbladder polyp ultrasound tests, but these are typically only done when there are other symptoms of gallbladder trouble.

When the ultrasound test shows evidence of polyps, your doctor will schedule more tests to determine if they are cancerous.

In most cases, there’s no need for gallbladder polyp management or treatment. Gallbladder polyp surgery is recommended only in those unusual cases where pain or discomfort in the abdomen have become distressing. When surgery is the solution, the entire gallbladder is removed. Another name for gallbladder removal surgery is a cholecystectomy. A cholecystectomy is often the best way to prevent future gallbladder problems once they begin to appear. Your gallbladder is not a critical organ, so it can be removed without danger. The liver “takes over” many gallbladder functions once the gallbladder has been removed.

Once again, the cholesterosis type of gallbladder polyp – the most common type – is part cholesterol. To prevent gallbladder problems in general and gallbladder polyp problems in particular, it’s important to eat a diet that includes a lot of cholesterol free or low cholesterol foods.

In addition, follow these guidelines to avoid gallbladder polyps and all other forms of gallbladder trouble:

* eat red meat sparingly and avoid fried foods – especially deep fried foods
* use olive oil and vinegar on salads. Many commercial salad dressings contain unhealthy sugar and fats.
* avoid rich, fatty foods and big meals just before you go to bed
* if you wish to lose weight, do so at a moderate pace. Doing too much too fast can be harmful to your gallbladder and the rest of your digestive system.

To avoid more gallbladder health problems if you already have them

* avoid sodas and similar carbonated drinks
* limit your use of higher fat dairy products in meals and recipes
* when shopping for meat, choose lean cuts and remove visible fat before cooking..
* ask your doctor if you should be taking fish oil supplements. These contain a substance known as omega-3 fatty acid, which helps limit the formation of cholesterol in bile..
* look for opportunities to add tumeric and ginger to your meals. Both of these are beneficial for gallbladder health..

And naturally, a diet that’s good for your gallbladder will benefit your heart too, so make sure your meals include a lot of fruits, vegetables and grains.

To learn more about cancer and gallbladder polyps, click on cancer and gallbladder polyps. Also click on gallbladder removal for more information about gallbladder removal surgery. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host. You can read more of his articles by clicking on Keeping Your Gallbladder Healthy.

A gallbladder attack is characterized by pain that may last several minutes or several hours. The pain can range from mild to severe. It is typically a symptom of a gallbladder problem or some form of gallbladder disease. It occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed for irritated for reasons that will be described below.

Cholecystitis is the medical name for a gallbladder attack. The terms biliary disease or biliary colic may also be used.

To get an idea of why a gallbladder attack occurs, you need to understand how the gallbladder functions and the role it plays in digestion.

Your gallbladder resembles a human thumb. It is a hollow organ located next to your liver. It is basically a storage area for a substance called bile, which is produced by the liver. Bile plays an important role in breaking down the food you eat, making it easier for the intestines to digest. Bile is essential for metabolizing cholesterol and fats. A gallbladder attack occurs when too much fat and cholesterol build up and the gallbladder can’t properly process it all. This results in inflammation and irritation – and pain – which will continue until gallbladder function returns to normal. Eating a lot of fried foods can be tough on the gallbladder.

When a lot of cholesterol accumulates and remains in the gallbladder for a while, it can begin to harden and crystallize. Small formations may appear that look like tiny pebbles or stones. These, of course, are gallstones, which may also cause a great deal of pain. The size of these gallstones range from tiny – no bigger than a grain of sand – to as large as a golf ball.

As noted above, pain of a gallbladder attack may appear in several places. Besides occurring in the abdominal region just below the ribcage, pain is sometimes located in the area of the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades.

Pain from a gallbladder attack can occur due to several other reasons too, These include a gallbladder infection or an obstruction of some kind in the biliary tract (the path by which bile is secreted by the liver then transported to the small intestine).

Pain is the most recognizable symptom of a gallbladder attack. But there are other gallbladder attack symptoms, including:

* chills are probable, as is a fever
* constipation or diarrhea
* dizziness
* there may be a headache centered above the right eye
* stools will look lighter or slate-colored
* vomiting and nausea are likely
* stomach bloating and stomach gas

When treating a gallbladder attack, your doctor will consider your level of discomfort and the cause of the attack. A person who has a sudden, intensely painful gallbladder attack may need to be hospitalized. Those who have chronic, recurring attacks may require hospitalization also.

Intravenous fluids and electrolytes may help, and the patient will probably not be allowed to have anything to eat or drink.

In some cases, antibiotics are appropriate. Your doctor may also recommend inserting a tube through the nose and into the stomach to reduce fluid build up in the intestines.

Sometimes, gallbladder removal surgery will be the best option for treatment. The gallbladder can be removed because the gallbladder is a non-essential organ – the liver normally produces enough bile for the body to function.

Sadly, some people will have gallbladder attacks no matter how careful they are about what – and how much – they eat. Some people have a family history of gallbladder attacks and these individuals will not be able to avoid problems. Nonetheless, everyone can reduce their risk by eating a healthy diet that includes more low cholesterol foods. Regular, vigorous exercise also seems to help by by clearing harmful fats and excess cholesterol from your system.

(Editor’s note; The words “gallbladder attack” are also spelled spelled gall bladder attack by many individuals. There are also a number of mispellings, including galblader attack, gallblader attack, and even gullblader attack.)

Click on Gallbladder Attack Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention and the gallbladder removal operation to learn more about maintaining a healthy gallbladder.

Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host with a special interest in health and fitness.

Each patient experiences a different type of recovery after having a gallbladder removal operation.

In fact, many people find themselves dealing with the same symptoms they experienced before their gallbladder was removed.

Medical professionals have a name for this phenomenon. They call it “postcholecystectomy syndrome.” Cholecystectomy is medical terminology for gallbladder removal surgery.

Based on recent research done on this subject, it appears that approximately 40 percent of those who have a gallbladder removal operation experience postcholecystectomy syndrome. This is due to the fact that the bile duct is not normally removed in a gallbladder removal operation. The bile duct, which carries bile back and forth from the liver to the gallbladder, continues to accumulate bile.

There are certain things almost everyone experiences after their gallbladder is taken out, regardless of whether they have postcholecystectomy syndrome or not. These include the following.

The area around the location of the surgery will become somewhat swollen, and bruising will appear. There’s really nothing surprising about this, even if you’ve had laparoscopic surgery (which is much less invasive than a large open incision).

You’re also likely to feel some minor pain from the air that was pumped into your abdomen during the procedure. This is done to give the surgeon more room to work under your skin. If this causes distress after your surgery, you doctor will probably be happy to recommend some pain-killing medications.

Moving around may become somewhat uncomfortable – especially sitting down or getting up. Using the bathroom isn’t likely to be easy for a few days. Muscles in the abdominal area will be pretty sore.

On the subject of bathrooms: be prepared to deal with some bloating, gas and diarrhea temporarily. Some people get constipation. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it happens to enough people after gallbladder removal surgery that you should be aware of it. If bowel movements become somewhat distressing, check with your doctor to see what he or she can recommend to help.

Your digestive system may be unpredictable for a while. This is normal. You’ll probably do well eating low fat or fat-free, light foods only. Low cholesterol foods and cholesterol-free foods are usually recommended.

Most people who have had their gallbladder removed do better if they eat smaller meals for a while. Big meals, especially cholesterol-rich, fatty ones, may be difficult for your digestive system to handle at first. But definitely make sure you eat, because again, your body is recovering from a trauma. It needs fuel to regain its strength.

You can start testing your digestive system with heavier foods. It’s probably best to use a trial-and-error approach.

Exercise may be helpful, but be careful. If you were an enthusiastic exerciser before your operation, you’ll probably want to get going again. Be careful. Keep in mind that you have stitches, and exercising too much and soon would not be good for them. Follow your doctor’s recommendations closely on this.

Talk to your doctor about bathing because stitches need time to heal. It’s not good to wash them too soon.

Most of the time, your doctor will want to do a follow up appointment in about one week. He or she will probably want to see you again 4-5 weeks later.

Would you like additional information on having a gallbladder removal operation and related topics? Click on After You’ve Had Your Gallbladder Removed. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV and radio reporter with a special interest in topics related to kidney health. You can read more of his articles at http://www.gallbladderhealth.info.