Page 7 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2019 - 26-07

Bronson
Senior Times - July 2019
Page 7
LEARN
CLASSES AND EVENTS
American Cancer Society Freshstart
Smoking & Tobacco Cessation Program
Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 9 to 18, 2 to 3 p.m.
Bronson Battle Creek Cancer Care Center
300 North Ave., Battle Creek
Free. Let our experts help you kick the habit for good! Program consists of four sessions and you must attend all four. Learn more and register at bronsonhealth.com/classes or call (269) 341-7723.
American Lung Association Better Breathers Club
Thursday, July 11, 2 to 3 p.m.
Bronson Battle Creek Outpatient Center
300 North Ave., Battle Creek
Free. Diagnosed with COPD or another chronic lung disease? Join us to learn ways to better manage your illness while receiving support from others who share in your experiences.
Free Vein Screening
Friday, July 12, 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Bronson Vein Clinic
363 Fremont St., Suite 101, Battle Creek
Free. Appointments are required. If you have medical or cosmetic vein problems, get a free screening today! Visit bronsonhealth.com/veins or call (269) 341-7333.
Listen to Your Legs
Friday, July 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kool Family Community Center
200 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek
Free. Do your legs ache? This could be a warning sign of peripheral artery disease. Join us to learn about your options to relieve leg pain. Register at bronsonhealth.com/classes or call (269) 441-0948.
SUPPORT GROUPS
One Day at a Time: Breast Cancer Support Group
Thursday, July 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Bronson Battle Creek Cancer Care Center
300 North Ave., Battle Creek
Share in the cancer journey by supporting and learning from one another. Those battling breast cancer and their loved ones are invited to attend. Free. No registration required. With questions, call the cancer care center at (269) 245-8038.
General Cancer Support Group
Tuesday, July 16, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Bronson Battle Creek Cancer Care Center
300 North Ave., Battle Creek
Share in the cancer journey by supporting and learning from one another. Those battling any type of cancer and their loved ones are invited to attend. Free. No registration required. With questions, call the cancer care center at (269) 245-8038.
bronsonhealth.com
BATTLE CREEK
By Dr. Nidhi Mirsha, Cancer Care Center
A VERY SMALL ORGAN THAT CAN BECOME ONE BIG PAIN
The gallbladder is a small organ located under the liver and next to the pancreas. The gallbladder’s job is to store bile produced by the liver. When we eat fatty food, the gallbladder con- tracts, releasing this bile into the small intestine. This aids in the processing
of the fat that we have just eaten. The more fat that is eaten, the more bile the gallbladder releases.
robotic-assisted surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that involves a surgeon making four small incisions through which surgical tools and a camera are inserted into the abdomen in order to remove the gall- bladder.
If all is working as it should, your gallbladder quietly goes about its mission with little fanfare. However, the chemical balance of the bile can change, causing gallstones to form. These stones, which vary in size,
can cause a blockage in the duct con- necting the gallbladder and the small intestine.
Patients undergoing laparoscopic
or robotic assisted surgery can often go home the same day. They are gen- erally able to eat and drink normally and move about without assistance. Under normal circumstances, work can be resumed after just a few days and patients fully recover in about a week.
This block-
age can create
a sense of pres-
sure, pain in the
upper-right abdo-
men, and nausea.
Indigestion can
result after eat-
ing foods high
in fat or protein.
Vomiting, fever
and chills are
other symptoms
that may be
associated with
a gallbladder attack. Episodes can reoccur and last from 30 minutes to several hours.
experience any ongoing issues after undergo- ing the surgery. Best of all, the reoccurring
pain associated with gallbladder attacks is a thing of the past.
Similarly, robotic-assisted surgery involves a small incision. The differ- ence is that, with robotic-assisted sur- gery, it involves just one or two small incisions.
No matter which type of cholecys- tectomy is chosen, most patients do not
Unfortunately, these symptoms can easily be mistaken for other digestive issues. Some people with gallstones
do not realize they have them. Most cases of gallstones are uncovered when patients undergo certain diagnostic tests, like an ultrasound or CT scan.
agement for a wide array of surgical conditions, including those associated with your gallbladder. When choosing Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the highest quality care. In fact, Bronson Battle Creek was named one of the safest area hospitals by The Leapfrog Group, a national organization committed to improving healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.
Once diagnosed with gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder
is the most advantageous solution. Because the liver produces bile on
its own, individuals are able to live without their gallbladder. Surgically removing the gallbladder puts an end to gallstone attacks and eliminates the risk of future complications that might reoccur if the gallbladder remains
in place. The surgical removal of
your gallbladder is called a cholecys- tectomy.
Performing surgery in state-of- the-art operating rooms, the expert surgeons at Bronson are trained in minimally invasive surgery procedures, allowing them the ability to perform complex procedures using small inci- sions. This means less scarring and quicker recovery time. And, patients at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital enjoy fully private rooms where they can
rest and recuperate without undue distractions.
At Bronson General Surgery, we have three different surgical options
to remove the gallbladder. The open cholecystectomy involves an approx- imately six-inch abdominal incision. Because this is the most invasive type of cholecystectomy, and involves a longer hospital stay and recovery peri- od, it is only performed when circum- stances dictate. Full recovery from an open cholecystectomy can take up to six weeks.
If you have any questions about the gallstones or gallbladder surgery, talk with your primary care provider or call Bronson General Surgery at (269) 245-8310.
Instead, the go-to options for gall- bladder removal are laparoscopic or
Abhishek Gupta, DO, is a board certified general surgeon at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. He enjoys shar- ing information with both his patients and the public. He always focuses on helping his patients to understand their diagnosis and the treatment options available to them.
Legal Advice &
Bronson’s team of general surgeons pro- vide diagnosis and compre- hensive man-
Services for Seniors
By: Alisa Parker, Managing Attorney
The Legal Services of South Central Michigan, will conduct interviews for legal advice and possible representation, without charge, to interested seniors.
• Wednesday, July 10 10:30am-12pm, Barry County Commission on Aging, 320 West Woodlawn, Hastings, MI, 49058.
• Wednesday, July 31, 10-11am, Forks Senior Center, 101 N. Albion Street, Albion, MI, 49224.
Legal Services of South Central Michigan serves Calhoun, Branch, and Barry Counties. They are located at 123 West Territorial Road, Battle Creek, MI, 49015. For more details call Karen Braasch, Local Grants Manager, at (269) 965-3951.