Question 1

My mom is 65 and has gallbladder stones but refuses surgery. We're really worried because she's had them for a while now. Are there any other treatment options besides surgery that could help her?

Accepted Answer

While gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is the most common and effective treatment for gallstones, there are alternative non-surgical options that may be considered, especially if surgery is not an option. These include oral dissolution therapy with medications like ursodiol or chenodiol, which can dissolve cholesterol gallstones, and endoscopic procedures like ERCP to remove stones stuck in the bile ducts

Question 2

I'm noticing that I've been producing a lot more saliva recently, and I'm not sure why this is happening. I also tend to drink a lot of water throughout the day. Could these be related, or should I be concerned about something else going on with my health?

Accepted Answer

Excessive saliva production, also known as hypersalivation or sialorrhea, can be caused by various factors, including drinking excessive water, which can stimulate saliva production; other possible reasons include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), oral infections, hormonal changes, anxiety, or certain medications; consider consulting a dentist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to rule out any underlying conditions and discuss ways to manage excessive saliva production.

Question 3

I'm really concerned because I've been craving slate pencils for about six months now and I've already eaten a few. I'm worried if this could be bad for my health. I keep wanting to eat more. Is there something missing in my diet that's making me want them? How can I stop these cravings?

Accepted Answer

It can be harmful to ingest slate pencils in large quantities. It can result in constipation, lung infections, vomitting and diarrhea. Your craving could be a sign of lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the body. It is advisable to start taking multivitamins and supplements such as Revital, or Zincovit tablets. You may wish to do a serum electrolyte blood test in order to determine which minerals your body is lacking.

I'm having this ongoing itching issue around my anus, and it's been quite a while now. I tried taking Bandy Plus, but it hasn't helped. The itching gets worse when I'm walking. Any idea what's going on or what I can do about it?

That could be fungal infcetion,visit dermatologist for appropriate treatmen,personal hygiene is more important for a better result.

More Gastroenterology/GI medicine Health Queries

My mom is 65 and has gallbladder stones but refuses surgery. We're really worried because she's had them for a while now. Are there any other treatment options besides surgery that could help her?

I'm noticing that I've been producing a lot more saliva recently, and I'm not sure why this is happening. I also tend to drink a lot of water throughout the day. Could these be related, or should I be concerned about something else going on with my health?

I'm really concerned because I've been craving slate pencils for about six months now and I've already eaten a few. I'm worried if this could be bad for my health. I keep wanting to eat more. Is there something missing in my diet that's making me want them? How can I stop these cravings?

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