Facebook Pixel
EmpowHER Guest
Q: 

What is the latest and greatest treatments on Gallbladder and Ulcer conditions. Diet, prevention, level of activity during attaches

By Anonymous April 14, 2009 - 12:24pm
 
Rate This

Add a Comment2 Comments

Dear Anon, in addition to the great suggestions from AisonB, I just wanted to add that as a prior sufferer of gallstones and a later removal of the gallbladder, I had to learn to eat healthier afterwards.

Medical literature finds women at a higher risk to gallstones. First of all, there is a higher genetic predisposition to gallstones among women of North American and Hispanic heritage. Obesity is also a risk factor along with western diet which is higher in omega 6. Therefore a person who is obese should consider losing weight right away to reduce the risk of developing gallbladder problems. A diet high in saturated fats will not make a gallbladder happy, but a vegetarian or mediterranean diet will minimize the risk of stone formation or gallbladder attacks as less bile will be produced to help with the digestion process. These two types of diet also will help with weight loss.

I know of a couple of natural things besides proper nutrition and exercise that may help protect the gallbladder. Wild Yam root when stones are present, this supplement can help ease the spasms caused in the bile duct. The other one is Milk Thistle extract which helps increase bile flow and decrease bile cholesterol saturation. A great anti-inflammatory with significant medical data to back its effectiveness is Turmeric. You may want to consider taking Turmeric supplements daily.

In regards to Ulcers, most medical literature indicates that ulcers are caused by a bacteria call Helicobacter pylori (H-Pylori for short) but people who use aspirin or NSAIDS drugs like ibuprofen on a regular basis are at a higher risk for getting stomach ulcers. Smokers develop ulcers more often than non-smokers as well. Poor nutrition is at the center of many diseases, so ulcers are not different. A diet high on sugars, caffeine, citrus fruits, spicy foods, alcohol and soda pop is frequently at the root of ulcer formation.

How to prevent or help the body heal from ulcerr? Your doctor may give you a course of 2 or 3 antibiotics if H-Pylori is present. But making changes to the diet will be the most important part of the healing process. Plenty of fiber, cabbage juice daily, cultured yogurt and zinc supplements can also support the healing process.

Hope this information helps.

April 15, 2009 - 11:29pm

Hi,
Well, the answer depends on what type of gallbladder and ulcer conditions you are inquiring about...can you provide more information? There are many clinical trials currently underway, as well as different treatment and prevention tools, depending on if you have Cholecystitis, Gallstones, polyps, Gallbladder Cancer...or other condition(s). (And, same for your ulcer condition...it depends what type of ulcer, and its location, that you have).

As far as gallbladder cancer, the American Cancer Society states, "Research into the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of gallbladder cancer is currently under way in many medical centers throughout the world." For instance, researchers are looking at ways to increase effectiveness of treatment, including radiation therapy and other "targeted" therapies.

I would love to provide some more information on the most current prevention and treatment options, but just need more information from you to narrow it down!

April 14, 2009 - 2:38pm
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Tags:

Gallstones

Get Email Updates

Related Topics

Gallstones Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!