Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Spring 2020

They can sit there quietly, never giving you trouble. Or they can be a major pain—literally. We’re talking about gallstones—hard particles that form in the gallbladder. THETROUBLEWITH STONES Many people who have gallstones never know it because the stones don’t cause symptoms. But sometimes stones will leave the gallbladder and block the ducts (tubes) that connect the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine, triggering what’s known as a gallbladder attack. An attack often happens after eating. Its hallmark symptom is sudden pain in the upper right part of the belly and sometimes the upper back. An attack can last for as little as 15 minutes or as long as several hours. Most gallbladder attacks stop when the stones move out of the ducts. But serious complications can develop if the stones remain stuck, which can irritate and inflame the gallbladder. You need immediate medical help if that happens. Symptoms include pain that lasts for several hours, whites of the eyes or skin that looks yellow, fever, or nausea and vomiting. SAY SO LONGTO STONES Talk to your doctor if you suspect you’ve had a gallbladder attack. If you’ve had one attack, you’ll likely have another. So doctors often suggest a surgery, called a cholecystectomy, to remove the gallbladder. It’s usually done through tiny incisions. This allows many people to recover quickly and sometimes even avoid a hospital stay. “Patients with gallbladder disease can have complete resolution of their symptoms with a simple laparoscopic surgery that has a very quick recovery,” says W. Wayne Wolf III, D.O., board certified general surgeon with CMH Surgical Services, Bolivar. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Gastroenterological Association; National Institutes of Health Experiencing gallbladder pain?Talk to the surgeons at CMH Surgical Services by calling 417-326-8700 . GALLSTONES A sometimes painful problem Gluten-free diets are popular. All you have to do is check out the headlines in grocery store magazines to know that. For some people, gluten-free may be a diet trend. But for those with celiac disease, it’s a must. That’s because eating gluten—a protein found in breads, pastas, baked goods and other products that contain wheat, barley or rye— causes their body’s immune system to attack the small intestine. Unlike gluten sensitivity, celiac disease can damage the intestine. Celiac disease also may cause a wide range of digestive and other problems, from stomach pain to fatigue, joint pain to mood changes, weight loss and slowed growth (in children) to an itchy, blistery rash. No more gluten If you think you have celiac disease, tell your doctor. If testing shows that you have the condition, treating it means avoiding gluten. This can involve: » » Working with a dietitian to learn how to read food labels and plan healthy meals without gluten. » » Reading menus and asking questions at restaurants to avoid dishes with gluten when eating out. » » Avoiding nonfood products that contain gluten. These can include certain medicines, beauty products like lipsticks and lip balms, skin and hair products, and some toothpastes. Sources: Celiac Disease Foundation; National Institutes of Health CELIACDISEASE: HOWTO GO GLUTEN-FREE citizensmemorial.com 13 COMMUNITY TAGLINE HERE WELLNESS