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Gallstones Center - Spokane Valley, WA

Spokane Valley Gastroenterologist Doctors for Gallstones

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Spokane Valley *

Valley Gastroenterology
Paul M Craig
12401 E Sinto Ave
Spokane, WA 99216
(509) 922-2055

Valley Gastroenterology
Clinton S Poppel
12401 E Sinto Ave
Spokane, WA 99216
(509) 922-2055

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Zdenek Bocek
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Philip C Delich
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Andrew Feld
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Rockwood Clinic Gastroenterology
Harold Preiksaitis
400 E. 5th Ave
STE 2N
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 838-2531

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Arnold N Cohen
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Inland Empire Gastroenterology
James T Doyle
105 W 8th Ave
STE 6050
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 747-0143

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Robert Durnford
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Inland Empire Gastroenterology
Joseph D Fitterer
105 W 8th Ave
STE 6050
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 747-0143

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
James Goff
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Steven E Goodell
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Steven W Hong
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Karl Houglum
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
Michael F Kestell
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Spokane Digestive Disease Center
David M Maccini
105 W 8th Ave
STE STE 6010
Spokane, WA 99204
(509) 838-5950

Klaus Gottlieb MD PLLC
Klaus Gottlieb
12128 N Division St
STE PMB164
Spokane, WA 99218
(509) 455-3453

Palouse Medical Associates
Lloyd E Perino
825 SE Bishop Blvd
STE STE 200
Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 332-2517

Spokane Valley, Washington

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Throughout Spokane, Washington

Gallstones

What are gallstones?

Gallstones (often misspelled gall stones, or gall stone) are stones that form in the gall (bile). (The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ just below the liver and stores the bile secreted by the liver.)

  • Bile is a watery liquid made by the cells of the liver that is important for digesting food in the intestine, particularly fat.
  • Liver cells secrete the bile they make into small canals within the liver.
  • The bile flows through the canals and into larger collecting ducts within the liver (the intrahepatic bile ducts).
  • The bile then flows within the intrahepatic bile ducts out of the liver and into the extrahepatic bile ducts-first into the hepatic bile ducts, then into the common hepatic duct, and finally into the common bile duct.

From the common bile duct, there are two different directions that bile can flow.

  • The first direction is on down the common bile duct and into the intestine where the bile mixes with food and promotes digestion of food.
  • The second direction is into the cystic duct, and from there into the gallbladder (often misspelled as gall bladder).

Once in the gallbladder, bile is concentrated by the removal (absorption) of water. During a meal, the muscle that makes up the wall of the gallbladder contracts and squeezes the concentrated bile in the gallbladder back through the cystic duct into the common duct and then into the intestine. (Concentrated bile is much more effective for digestion than the un-concentrated bile that goes from the liver straight into the intestine.) The timing of gallbladder contraction-during a meal-allows the concentrated bile from the gallbladder to mix with food.

Gallstones usually form in the gallbladder; however, they also may form anywhere there is bile; in the intrahepatic, hepatic, common bile, and cystic ducts.

Gallst...

Recommended Reading Related to Gallstones

Obesity »

Obesity facts

  • Obesity means having excess body fat. For adults 35 and older, having a BMI greater than 30 is considered obese.
  • Obesity is not just a cosmetic consideration. It is a chronic medical disease that can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, gallstones, and other chronic illnesses.
  • Obesity is difficult to treat and has a high relapse rate. Greater than 95% of those who lose weight regain the weight within five years.
  • Even though medications and diets can help, the treatment of obesity cannot be a short-term "fix" but has to be a life-long commitment to proper diet habits, increased physical activity, and regular exercise.
  • The goal of treatment should be to achieve and maintain a "healthier weight," not necessarily an ideal weight.
  • Even a modest weight loss of 5%-10% of initial weight and the long-term maintenance of that weight loss can bring significant health benefits ...

Emergency Contact for Spokane Valley

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Spokane Valley Hospitals *

Valley Hospital & Medical Center
12606 E Mission Ave
Spokane Valley, WA 99216
(509)924-6650

St Lukes Rehabilitation Institute
711 S Cowley St
Spokane, WA 99202
(509)838-4771

Sacred Heart Medical Center
101 W 8th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)474-3131

Deaconess Medical Center
800 W Fifth Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)458-5800

Holy Family Hospital
5633 N Lidgerwood St
Spokane, WA 99208
(509)482-0111

Shriners Hospital Spokane
911 W 5th Ave
Spokane, WA 99204
(509)455-7844

Spokane VA Medical Center
4815 N Assembly St
Spokane, WA 99205
(509)434-7000

Kootenai Medical Center
2003 Lincoln Way
Coeur D Alene, ID 83814
(208)666-2000

Eastern State Hospital
850 Maple St
Medical Lake, WA 99022
(509)299-3121

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