I don't want surgery.

  I just had an ultrasound, yesterday, and it revealed numerous small gallstones.  The doctor recommended surgery, but I am a chicken.  Not only that, I really don't have time for the surgery because I'm a university student.  Aside from that, I have a son to worry about.
  Yesterday, when I had such severe pain, the doctor said I was probably passing one of the stones.  Where do they pass to?  What are they going through that causes so much pain?  How long does it take for one to pass?  What are they made of?  Is there a way to decrease their production?
  Whenever I have pain in my chest, whether it's from gall bladder or reflux, I get scared to eat for a few days.  I know this isn't any healthier than eating a poor diet, but I just can't help it.  I am losing wieght, but I am always tired.  Is there a preffered diet to prevent gallstones?  I would live on salads, but since I have been having this reflux I can't eat much lettuce. Besides, now that summer is over I've been craving beef(steak, specifically).
  The doctor said that surgery isn't an immediate need, but it's the only way to cure the problem.  He is sure the stones will continue to be a problem.  I sure would like to prove him wrong.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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Dear Susan.
Gall stones ( found in people living in North America and Wetern Europe) are usually composed of calcium and cholesterol.  They result from cholesterol that is in the bile precipitating from solution (think of sugar dissolved in water; if the water starts to evaporate or if there is too much sugar, then the sugar starts to precipitate; the same is true for cholesterol in bile).  Gall stones may be asymptomatic but they can cause a variety of pains.  Gallstones blocking the duct from the gall bladder cause sharp pains in the right upper abdomen under the ribs.  These pains can radiate to the tip of the shoulder blade.  Stones that pass down the common bile duct can block this strucutre leading to cholangitis (infected bile) or pancreatitis( inflamerd pancreas).  In addition to severe pain, there may be fever and jaundice.
Stomes passing down the common bile duct enter the smallintestine and ultimately are excreteed in the stool.  The rate at which stmnes pass down the bile duct is not known.
Unfortunately, ther eis no good medical way to treat gall stones.  Changing your diet will not alter stone prevention.  If you took Actigall, a bile acid compound, you have about a 15% chance of disssolving stomes located in the gall bladder during 2 years of treament.  Unfortunately, when you stop the Actigall the stones tart to reform.  The only definitive way to prevent gall stones is to remove the gall bladder.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Always ask specific questions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: gall stones. cholecystitis
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