Anything in the stomach causes the gallbladder to squeeze, even a glass of water, but it squeezes harder when there is fat in the stomach. So anything greasy, fried foods, pizza, will stimulate the gallbladder even harder and make it squeeze harder. Again if there is a gallstone in there, it will make the gallbladder attack much, much worse.

We can take steps to help get you better prepared for a major operation.

Some steps that can be taken include:

• Pre-operative physical therapy to improve strength and increase muscle mass
• Improved nutrition to provide the body the energy it needs
• Smoking patients need to quit at least six to eight weeks before surgery
• Patients with diabetes need to get their condition stable

A person should take gallbladder removal into consideration if it is causing problems such as pain after eating. The pain from ongoing gallbladder disease usually is felt in the mid portion of the abdomen and can also move around to the back and also experience bloating, heartburn, and nausea.

• Avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time
• Eat foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Drink plenty of water
• Do not postpone using the restroom
• If constipation is an ongoing problem, see our doctor.

Because hernias are more common in men than in women, they can sometimes be an overlooked source of pain for women. Hernias can go misdiagnosed in women, and can instead be thought to be ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, or other abdominal issues.