After gallbladder removal, losing weight becomes difficult: what the doctor recommends.

According to The Sun: Spring is in full bloom, which is great for our mood and vitamin D levels, but it can turn into overdoing it if you’re not careful. Be mindful, especially during the big spring cleaning. Whether you’re clearing out closets, climbing stairs, pulling things from the attic, cleaning gutters, or doing a deep mold removal in the bathroom, pay close attention to every step. Remember to bend your knees when lifting and carrying heavy items, wear a mask and gloves when working with household cleaning chemicals, and always have someone to hold the ladder from below – you don’t want to spend the holidays in the hospital with fractures.

Q: I HAD MY gallbladder removed after it burst in November. Before that, I lost 2.5 pounds on the Slimming World program, but now I’m struggling to drop weight and have started gaining pounds each week. I’m still sticking to the plan, but for some reason, I can’t stop eating and am constantly hungry. Is the gallbladder the cause, and if so, what should I do?

Doctor Zoe Williams answers some common reader questions

A: The surgical procedure for gallbladder removal is called cholecystectomy, and metabolic changes may occur afterward. The gallbladder concentrates and stores bile (which is produced by the liver). After eating, it pushes bile into the intestine, where it helps digest fatty food. If you’ve had your gallbladder removed, there will be no organ to concentrate or regulate bile. Instead of going into the gallbladder, bile now moves directly into the intestine in an unregulated manner. Cholecystectomy is still the leading treatment for symptomatic gallstones and is one of the most common surgeries worldwide. Short-term and long-term outcomes are considered excellent. However, there is quite new evidence that cholecystectomy may lead to an increased risk of metabolic disorders, part of which may be heightened feelings of hunger and weight gain. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it happens to everyone or will last forever. In some people, metabolic changes seem to heal. In others, the body self-regulates, and over time changes are resolved peacefully. Some researchers have suggested that patients who undergo this surgery would benefit from diet education support, which is currently not occurring regularly in the NHS. If weight gain continues, my advice would be to consult your GP to find out what services are available to support you in your area. This could be a dietitian, or depending on your BMI, you may be referred to specialized weight management services. In the meantime, consuming plenty of colorful vegetables for nutrients and ensuring that you eat fiber and protein with every meal will help as it will allow you to feel fuller for longer. Also, give yourself some grace. You underwent surgery only six months ago, don’t expect everything to return to normal immediately.

Q: I AM SUFFERING from terrible burning when urinating. No infection or STDs – I’ve had numerous tests and nothing has been found.

A: There are many conditions that can mimic urinary tract infection symptoms. Your pain may be caused by things like kidney stones, prostatitis, appendicitis, or vaginitis. There is also a condition called bladder pain syndrome or interstitial cystitis. It is challenging to diagnose since there is no test for it. Symptoms include pelvic pain, frequent urges to urinate, abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, urgency incontinence, and blood in urine. These symptoms can also be signs of bladder cancer, and while it’s by no means the most likely diagnosis in your case, it’s important to return to your GP if symptoms persist. Bladder pain syndrome is more common among women, and symptoms can come and go, sometimes lasting for weeks or months. The cause is unknown, but possible are damage to the bladder lining and surrounding nerves, pelvic floor issues, or an immune system response. It can also be associated with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. Despite negative test results, you may still have a urinary tract infection. You’ve already seen your doctor, but if the condition doesn’t improve, you may need further testing. Your doctor may prescribe additional urine tests and an ultrasound of the urinary tract. Sometimes a referral to a urologist is needed for further tests, which may include cystoscopy, where a small camera looks inside your bladder, and a series of bladder function tests.

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WHAT advice do you have for those who are suffering from health anxiety? From Covid and the pandemic to shortages and strikes in the NHS, it has been a worrying time for many about their health and the health of their loved ones. Try to pinpoint when your health anxiety started. Were you diagnosed with something? Did someone close to you get sick or die? Often anxieties related to health...