My Experience on How to Prevent and Treat Gallstone Attacks

[Guest guest]

I just recovered from a gallstone attack. I'd like feedback on what I

think caused it and how I treated it.

I am a 45 year old man who exercises regularly. However, I work at

home and spend practically all my time sitting. When I sit, what I

didn't realize until now, is that my stomach muscles are overly tense

because I am trying to maintain good posture. Now I'm trying to sit up

straight while keeping my stomach muscles relaxed in addition to

getting up at least once an hour to stretch.

Last Friday, October 21, I did not exercise because I was tired and

sore from a prior workout. On those days that I don't exercise, I

usually drink three cups of coffee instead of one to perk myself up.

In addition, I don't drink as much water. As it turned out, I didn't

exercise on Saturday or Sunday.

On Monday, I felt an attacking coming on because of pressure in my

gallbladder area and diminished bowel movement. To treat the

obstruction, I resumed exercising, cut back my coffee drinking to one

cup, and drank lots of extra water. In fact, the more water I drank,

the less pressure I felt in my gallbladder. When I went to bed on

Monday night, I felt pressure in my gallbladder when I laid on my left

side, so I tried to relax that area to pass the obstruction. From

Tuesday through Thursday, I continued exercising and drinking lots of

water. By Thursday, I felt the obstruction had passed. And today,

Friday, I finally had a normal bowel movement.

The lessons I have learned from this experience are to exercise

regularly (at least 20 minutes every other day of walking, jumping or

lifting), relax my stomach and stretch when sitting for long periods,

drink plenty of water and watch my coffee intake. Does this make sense

given what others know about attacks in general and their own attacks

in particular?

Thanks. Dave