Gallbladder surgery may cause other problems

Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 38-year-old female. I had laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in September 2004. The gallbladder was gray and diseased. There were signs of infection.

A week after surgery, I began having intermittent episodes, the cause of which no one has been able to figure out. At the onset of an attack, I begin to feel very hot. There is severe pain in the center of my chest, in the breast-bone area. The pain radiates to my right arm and neck. During this time, the pain is very severe. I am clammy to the touch but feel very hot and extremely sweaty. While this is going on, it feels as though I am going to pass out. My ears ring, my vision is gray and blurry, and I have a severe headache. This lasts anywhere from two to 15 minutes. It is not brought on by stress or any particular activity that I have found. After the episode has subsided, I am fine, with the exception of extreme fatigue.

Dear Reader: Following gallbladder surgery, patients may experience troublesome symptoms because of persisting irritation at the site of infection, a stone that was missed at the time of surgery or the consequences of complicated surgery.

I urge you to address your concerns with your surgeon. As your post-op symptoms are peculiar and somewhat bizarre, they need to be investigated. I believe you will need further testing under the guidance of your surgeon. Also, you should have your heart tested, because your symptoms could reflect a cardiac disorder.

Dear Dr. Gott: I have a long history of cardiac problems, finally treated with coronary-artery bypass grafting and chelation. Following surgery, I had an uncomplicated recovery, but I insisted on chelation, which worked wonders. Before you judge the effectiveness of a treatment you should consider the whole picture.

Dear Reader: I have edited your letter extensively because of space limitations; however, my conclusion is unchanged: You had coronary artery blockages that were bypassed surgically. This enabled your coronary arteries to deliver adequate blood supply to your heart muscle, thereby reducing your risk of heart attack.

In my opinion, your chelation was not a factor. This is similar to rebuilding the engine on an antique car. To say that the change in the engine is really the result of changing the water coolant is ridiculous. Your surgery was necessary, irrespective of your chelation.

While chelation is a technique that is valuable in treating heavy-metal poisoning, it has not been shown to be effective in increasing coronary circulation. I conclude that your coronary chelation was of no value whatsoever.

To give your related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Coronary Artery Disease.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.