Gallstones Center - Thornton, CO
Thornton Gastroenterologist Doctors for GallstonesType 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 Thornton * Bruce J Weber DO  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Salomon G Garcia MD  Kaiser Permanente  Mile High Gastroenterology PC  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  National Jewish Health  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Summit Gastroenterology  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  David Rothman DO  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University of Colorado Health Science Center Gastroenterology  Jesse O Sutherland Jr. MD  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  George S L Chin MD  James Riopelle DO  The Schreiber Clinic PC  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  Boulder Medical Center  Boulder Medical Center  Longmont Clinic & Carbon Valley Medical Center  SurgOne PC National Bariatric Center  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Steven O Kading MD  Greeley Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  North Colorado Gastroenterology  North Colorado Gastroenterology  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC Thornton, ColoradoUpcoming Local Events2012-06-01
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GallstonesWhat 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.)
From the common bile duct, there are two different directions that bile can flow.
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 GallstonesObesity facts
Other Related Gallstones ArticlesEmergency Contact for Thornton
Nearby Thornton Hospitals *North Suburban Medical Center North Valley Hospital St Anthony North Hospital Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital Kindred Hospital Denver Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Denver Exempla Lutheran Medical Center Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center Exempla West Pines Hospital Colorado Acute Hospital St Anthony Central Hospital National Jewish Medical and Research Center Denver Health Medical Center Denver VA Medical Center Rose Medical Center University of Colorado Hospital Denver Centennial Peaks Hospital Avista Adventist Hospital University of Colorado Hospital Aurora Anschutz Medical Campus Platte Valley Medical Center The Children's Hospital Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital The Medical Center of Aurora North Campus Triumph Hospital Aurora Porter Adventist Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Denver South Craig Hospital The Medical Center of Aurora South Campus Swedish Medical Center Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan Boulder Community Foothills Hospital Boulder Community Hospital Littleton Adventist Hospital Centennial Medical Plaza Highlands Behavioral Health System Longmont United Hospital Parker Adventist Hospital Sky Ridge Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Gallstones by Our Doctors
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Liver Disease
- Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
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Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms.
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Cirrhosis (Liver)
- Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
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Alcoholism
- Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
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Pancreatitis
- Pancreatitis is a rare disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, occurring when digestive enzymes are activated and begin attacking the pancreas causing damage to the gland. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Most commonly caused by alcohol or gallstones, it can lead to bleeding in the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cysts. Enzymes and toxins may then enter the bloodstream and seriously injure organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidney.
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Stool Color & Texture Changes (Black, Red, Maroon, Green, Yellow, Gray, Tarry, Sticky)
- Stool color is generally brown. When stool color changes, often, an individual becomes concerned. The presence of the bilirubin in bile is generally responsible for stool color. Bilirubin concentration can vary bile color from light yellow to almost black in color. Changes in bilirubin can cause stool to turn green, gray, or clay-like in color. Intestinal bleeding may turn stool black, tarry, red, maroon, or smelly stool. Medication and food may also affect stool color.
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Nausea and Vomiting
- Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
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Jaundice
- Jaundice is a yellowish staining of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclerae) with bilirubin, the pigment found in bile. Jaundice can be an indicator of liver or gallbladder disease, or it may result from the rupture of red blood cells (hemolysis).
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Indigestion (Dyspepsia, Upset Stomach)
- Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
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Cystic Fibrosis
- Cystic fibrosis is a disease of the mucus and sweat glands. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease. The outcome of the disease leaves the body malnourished, bulky and fouls smelling stools, vitamin insufficiency, gas, painful or swollen abdomen, infertility, susceptible to heat emergencies, and respiratory failure. There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, treatment of symptoms is used to manage the disease.
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Obesity
- Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and build.
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Liver
- The liver is the largest solid organ in the body, and is actually an gland. The liver has a wide variety of critical functions such as manufacturing proteins and metabolizing fats and carbohydrates. The liver also eliminates harmful biochemical waste products from the body (alcohol, drugs, toxins). The liver secretes bile that aids in digestion. Examples of diseases of the liver include cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and fatty liver. Symptoms of liver disease include bleeding, easy bruising, edema, fatigue, and jaundice.
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Pleurisy (Pleuritis)
- Pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining around the lungs, is associated with sharp chest pain upon breathing in. Cough, chest tenderness, and shortness of breath are other symptoms associated with pleurisy. Pleurisy pain can be managed with pain medication and by external splinting of the chest wall.
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Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle Cell Anemia)
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Pancreatic Cysts
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Beta Thalassemia
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Gallbladder Cancer
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Antiemetics
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Alpha Thalassemia
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Asbestos
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The Digestive System
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Duodenal Diverticulum
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Pregnancy Planning
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Childhood Obesity
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Choledochal Cysts
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