After undergoing gallbladder surgery, you may find you experience a few digestive issues. While the body doesn’t need the gallbladder to survive, it can take a while for it to adjust to no longer having one. In some cases, digestive changes will be permanent, while in others they may only last for a few weeks.

It is also worth noting that most patients don’t experience any digestive issues after gallbladder removal. However, if you do, it’s worth chatting with your surgeon to see what dietary changes you should make.

Here, you’ll discover a brief guide on how to manage your diet after gallbladder surgery.

What food should you avoid after gallbladder surgery?

After undergoing gallbladder surgery, there are some foods you might want to avoid in order to reduce the risk of digestive issues. These include high-fat foods such as:

• Ground beef and other fatty meats
• Fried foods
• Full-fat dairy products
• Chocolate
• Pizza
• Chicken or turkey skin

You should ideally avoid high fatty foods for a few weeks after the surgery. You will also want to limit your consumption of gas-inducing foods and high-fibre foods such as:

• Nuts and seeds
• Whole Grain bread, pasta, and rice
• Broccoli and cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Legumes

Not all fibre-based foods are bad. If you consume soluble fibre, it can actually help to regulate bowel movements. This is great for avoiding digestive issues after gallbladder surgery. Your healthcare provider will be able to provide a more accurate list of foods you should avoid based upon your specific dietary requirements.

Making the right dietary changes

Now that you don’t have a gallbladder, your body won’t be able to store as much bile as it did before. This means you will need to make some dietary changes to accommodate it.

Ideally, you should switch to having smaller, more frequent meals. These will be much easier for your body to digest. You may also need to avoid spicy foods as these can trigger digestive upset.

Often, it is a process of trial and error to determine which foods cause you the most issues after gallbladder surgery. For this reason, you may find it useful to start keeping a food diary. This will alert you to any patterns linking digestive issues to specific foods you are eating.

Knowing when to seek help

While some digestive issues are to be expected after gallbladder removal, there are some symptoms when you would be advised to seek help. If you experience consistent abdominal pain, severe nausea, or an inability to pass gas for more than three days, it may be time to call the doctor.

These, alongside jaundice and an inability to pass stools for more than three days, could indicate a more serious underlying issue.

For more information on having your gallbladder removed, book a consultation with Mr Woodward today.

Worried about your anal health? It’s common to be embarrassed about issues with your posterior. However, did you know some anal health concerns can turn out to be serious?

Seeking help for anal health-related issues is important. So, this Valentine’s Day why not commit to loving your bum and seeking help for any lingering issues you are experiencing? Here, we will look at some of the most common anal health problems you may be experiencing.

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids (Piles) are the most common anal issue most people experience at some point in their life.
Common symptoms of Haemorrhoids include itching, bleeding after relieving the bowels, discomfort, and feeling like you haven’t fully emptied the bowels after going to the toilet. While they can be worrying, Haemorrhoids are usually easy to treat with lifestyle changes, and surgery is rarely required. However, there are different surgery options, including Rafaello technique, which Mr Woodward specialises in. To find out more about Rafaello treatment, get in touch to book a consultation.
If you are not sure, it is always worth getting any lumps around the anus or rectal bleeding checked out properly by your doctor first.

Anal Health – Skin troubles

While skin conditions mostly occur on the face, arms, or legs, they can affect your bum too. One condition in particular that could be the culprit for an itchy bum is known as lichen sclerosus. It presents as white patches of skin and is uncomfortable as well as itchy. While the condition can’t be cured, it can be successfully managed with steroid cream.

If you are found to have lichen sclerosis, it will need to be monitored on an annual basis. This is because it increases the risk of developing cancer of the penis or vulva.

Alternatively, you may be suffering from a less harmful skin condition such as thrush. This causes redness and soreness as well as itching around the anus. It can be treated with a specialist cream, though it will typically go away by itself.

Worms

If you have noticed small pieces of what looks like white thread in your stools, you could be suffering from worms. If this is the cause, you will notice the itching becomes worse at night. While they are easy to treat, worms can spread through the household, infecting everyone in the family. Therefore, you may need to treat everyone in the home with medication.

Anal fissure

Sometimes, the skin of the anus can split, leading to what is known as an anal fissure. This can cause bleeding and pain, especially when you attempt to go to the toilet.

Initially, the pain may be intense before it gradually turns into a deep burning kind of pain. This can last for a few hours after you have been to the toilet. Creams can be used to heal the anal fissure, and laxatives can help soften the stools to make them less painful to pass.

Anal cancer

One of the more serious problems your bum may be trying to alert you to is anal cancer. Bleeding from the anus and small hard lumps can be a sign of cancer. While it is much more likely to be a less serious issue, any problems with your anal health should be checked out as quickly as possible with a medical professional. Book a consultation with Mr Woodward so that you can discuss the different treatment options that are right for you.

Have you noticed you tend to experience heartburn more frequently in the winter months? Heartburn, or acid reflux, is a very common issue that all of us experience at some point in our lives. However, for some people, it can be more of a serious, long-term issue.

Those who experience heartburn frequently often find it worsens during winter. So, what causes the symptoms to worsen in the colder months, and what can you do about it? Here, we will look at some of the most common causes and the ways to avoid them.

Avoid lying down for long periods of time

In winter, you may spend a lot more time lazing around and lying down. Whether it is sleeping in to avoid the cold mornings or laying on the sofa in front of the TV; lying down for long periods of time is known to link to heartburn. This is because when you are lying down, it’s easier for your stomach acid to leak through to the oesophagus.

If you do want to enjoy a day on the sofa, make sure you keep your upper body propped up. If you find your heartburn develops at night time, you can also elevate the head of the bed by around 15cms. Lying on your left side will also ease and eliminate heartburn at night – due to gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the oesophagus.

Keep comfort food to a minimum

Indulging in comfort food is often a highlight of the winter months for many people. However, consuming a fattier and creamier diet can cause havoc on your digestive system. When you eat these types of foods, they also stay in your digestive system for longer. This can increase gastric pressure on the muscle, leading to stomach acid leaking out into the oesophagus.

As tempting as it may be, try to limit the amount of comfort food you consume this winter. Sticking to a healthy diet will greatly reduce heartburn. Similarly, you should avoid drinking excess levels of alcohol.

Remember to keep moving

While it might be tempting to hibernate this winter, it’s important to keep moving. When you don’t stay active, it slows down your digestion and your metabolism. This causes more frequent bouts of heartburn.

Try and maintain a regular exercise routine throughout the winter months. If you can’t force yourself outdoors, try out indoor exercises instead.

Seek help if you experience persistent, severe heartburn

Sometimes, heartburn can develop into a chronic condition. If you experience persistent severe heartburn, then seeking treatment is important. There are a lot of treatment options you can try depending upon the cause and severity of the condition.

If you are concerned about regular heartburn that lasts past the winter months, book a consultation with Mr Woodward today. There are treatments available to help eliminate the symptoms and help you get back to enjoying a pain-free life.

When you are suffering from a digestive issue, your faeces is often one of the main things your doctor will be concerned with. As it can be difficult to describe how it looks, your doctor will typically work from the Bristol stool chart.

According to the stool chart, there are seven types of poop ranging from healthy to watery. So, what is normal and when, if ever, should you worry?

The different types of stools

The seven different types of stools according to the Bristol chart include:

Type 1: Hard, separate lumps – This type of faeces tends to develop when you are constipated. It can be difficult to pass and has spent a long time in the bowel.

Type 2: Lumpy and sausage-shaped – If your faeces present as this type, it is another sign you may be constipated. Increasing your fibre intake can help to get it back to normal.

Type 3: Sausage shaped with surface cracks – When your stools are sausage-shaped with surface cracks, they are classed as normal. You’ll find them easy to pass and the poop will be soft.

Type 4: Smooth, soft, and snake or sausage-shaped – This type of faeces is considered the healthiest type. It is easy to pass, coming out in long soft pieces.

Type 5: Easy to pass soft blobs – If your faeces appears like small soft blobs, it could be an indication you have mild diarrhoea. You should notice they clear up over a period of a few days.

Type 6: Mushy, fluffy pieces – If you are going to the toilet several times a day with this type of faeces, you most certainly have diarrhoea. Drink fruit juices and soup to help replace any lost electrolytes.

Type 7: Watery with no solid pieces – If your stools are watery and there are no solid pieces, it typically means they passed through your bowel too quickly. If you experience this type of stool for more than 2 days, it is worth seeking advice from your doctor.

These are the main types of stools you will experience and what they mean for your digestive health. Any changes in your stools should be looked into if they last for more than a week.

What impacts the colour of your faeces?

We covered the different shapes and consistency of your faeces, but what about its colour? Brown is the natural colour to watch out for. However, you may experience red, green, and even black coloured stools.

As shocking as it might be, green poop can be completely normal depending upon your diet. It is often the foods we eat that cause our poop to change colour. If your stools are red and they don’t change colour, it could be a sign of bleeding. This can be a symptom of haemorrhoids, but it can also be a sign of something more serious so it is important to get this checked out.

Haemorrhoids are the most common cause of rectal bleeding, and they may clear up by themselves, but sometimes it is best to have them removed. The Rafaelo procedure is considered one of the best treatments to remove piles, and Mr Woodward offers this procedure.

Black stools can also be a concern, but typically they appear that way after eating certain foods. If foods can’t explain the change in colour, it too could be a sign there is bleeding in the digestive tract. If bleeding is suspected, it is important to get it checked out by a doctor to rule out anything serious. Book an appointment with Mr Woodward to find out more.

Winter sports are a great way to make the most of the colder weather. Whether you love to ski, snowboard, or head out on the ice rink, there are lots of fun activities you can do this festive season. However, before you hit the slopes, did you know that some winter sports can cause a hernia?

Here, we will look at the winter sports that can cause a hernia and how you can prevent them. You will also learn more about how they can be diagnosed and treated.

Which types of winter sports can cause a hernia?

Pretty much all sports in winter can be potentially hazardous. However, some are known to have an increased hernia risk than others. The main activities and sports to be wary of this winter include:

• Skiing or snowboarding
• Snow shovelling
• Ice skating
• Walking

Whether you are jetting off on the slopes or you are heading to an indoor skiing centre, you’re going to need to be careful if you want to avoid a hernia. Falling while skiing or snowboarding can sometimes cause a hernia. This is because the legs are strapped into the skis or board, which causes extra pressure to be placed on the abdominals and groin when a fall occurs.

You don’t even need to be doing anything extreme to get a hernia this winter. Some patients develop a hernia after shovelling snow from their driveway. The strain placed onto the core while shovelling can cause a hernia.

It is always a good idea to stretch and warm-up before attempting any strenuous exercise. Also, avoid trying to shovel up too much snow at one time. Keep the shovel as light as possible to avoid placing too much pressure on the groin and abdomen.

Ice skating is one of the best winter activities for families. However, it is a strenuous activity for the body. If you pivot or turn wrong, it could cause a hernia to develop. If you fall, that can also trigger a hernia. Similarly, walking on ice poses a risk of falls, making it important to wear the right footwear and be extra vigilant while out.

Treating a sports hernia

Treatment for a sports hernia will depend upon its location and severity. If you have a mild hernia, you may just need to rest for a short period. However, most hernias do need to be treated as they don’t tend to go away by themselves.

In severe cases, the best form of treatment for a sports hernia is surgery. There are a couple of ways to carry out the procedure including endoscopic and open techniques. Mr Woodward can run through your options to determine which is right for you.

If you develop a hernia this winter, book a consultation with Mr Woodward. The sooner you seek treatment, the less likely you will be to suffer any serious complications.