Understanding your digestive health: Answers to your gallbladder and upper GI questions

For far too many of us, digestive health is the most important part of our health that we’re just not talking to anyone about. Digestive problems can feel too embarrassing to bring up, but the truth is that your digestive health affects your day-to-day life in ways that go far beyond a stomachache after dinner or discomfort before bed.

In this webinar, we brought questions on gallbladder, upper GI and digestive health to general surgeons Brian Hodgens, MD, and David Moffat, MD, both of whom specialize in treatment for conditions affecting digestive health, including GERD, gastroparesis and other common conditions.

Questions our doctors answered included:

• What is GERD?
• What are the symptoms of GERD?
• How is GERD diagnosed and treated?
• Does treatment for a hernia always require surgery?
• What exactly are gallstones? How do they form?
• How are gallstones treated?
• What is surgery for gallstones like? Are there potential risks you should know about?
• What causes a feeling after I eat of discomfort, gas and sometimes pain?
• Why do I feel so bloated all the time?
• What is the relationship between dairy products, intolerance to them and reflux?
• What kind of foods are best for gut health?
• Will hiatal hernia repair limit my ability to engage in weightlifting or other exercise?
• Do I need to take a calcium supplement when I’m taking an acid reducer?
• How long can you be on Pyloac over the counter?
• I’ve been on medication for 20 years for reflux. Is it recommended to see if surgery is a better option now?
• Is it normal to have digestive issues and pain after your gallbladder is removed?
• And more