DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Not so long ago, you wrote about silent gallstones. How about writing something about gallstones that aren’t silent? I have had three gallbladder attacks in the past year. I take pain medicine to get through them. Do attacks ever stop on their own? I’m tired of living in fear of another attack. — G.P.

ANSWER: The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ nestling on the bottom of the liver in the upper right side of the abdomen. It’s the place where bile, made in the liver, is stored. A meal, especially a fatty meal, sends a message to the gallbladder to shoot a jet of bile into the small intestine to digest food. This is the reason why most gallbladder attacks occur shortly after eating.

Most gallstones are composed of cholesterol. People who form stones secrete too much cholesterol into the bile, and eventually a stone forms. In part, that’s due to a person’s genetic makeup. Age greater than 40 years favors stone formation, as do obesity and rapid weight loss.

Surprisingly, two to three cups of coffee a day affords protection against gallstone formation.

A gallstone attack consists of pain in the upper right corner of the abdomen, and the pain often radiates to the right shoulder blade. During the attack, people might sweat profusely, feel nauseous and throw up.

An attack of gallbladder pain pretty well guarantees another attack. Three attacks all but promise you more. It’s time you considered the cure for these attacks — removal of the gallbladder.

A large percentage of today’s gallbladder surgery is done with a scope through small incisions. It’s not as formidable as it once was. I can pretty well assure you that you will enjoy life much more without your gallbladder and without fearing that another attack will strike at the most inopportune time.

TO READERS: Asthma is an illness that appears to be increasing. The booklet on asthma describes what happens and how the illness is treated. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 602, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Since my gallbladder was removed, I have been bothered by diarrhea. Is the missing gallbladder the cause? If it is, what can be done? — R.O.

ANSWER: Around 10 percent of those who don’t have a gallbladder develop diarrhea. Without the storage receptacle that the gallbladder is, bile drips constantly into the digestive tract. For some, that constant load of bile isn’t reabsorbed like it should be. It makes its way to the colon and irritates it. The result is diarrhea.

Questran (cholestyramine) usually can control the diarrhea. The standby for diarrhea, Imodium, also works.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My friend’s 2-year-old daughter is in the hospital with something called Kawasaki’s disease. She’s very sick. What is it? How is it treated? Will she pull through? — G.K.

ANSWER: The name might be unfamiliar to you, but Kawasaki’s disease is fairly common. It’s mostly an illness of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. The cause isn’t known, but it acts like an infectious germ could be responsible. The child has a high fever, red eyes and very red lips, mouth and tongue, along with swollen lymph nodes in the neck. A variety of rashes appear on the body. The hands and feet swell, and the palms and soles turn red.

Most children get through this without much trouble. However, if children are not treated with immune globulin (gamma globulin) and aspirin, they can develop weakness and bulges (aneurysms) on their heart arteries. Early treatment prevents this complication. The little girl should pull through without serious damage.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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