Like having a cavity taken care of before it turns into the need for a root canal, sometimes an elective surgery can prevent a condition from getting more troublesome, or, worse yet, turning into an emergency.
Did you know your local general surgeons can help you decide whether to take a wait-and-see approach or try other options before considering surgery?
“Surgery isn’t always the answer,” said Matthew Broghammer, DO, a general surgeon at Winona Health. “Whether a hernia repair, gallbladder removal or a procedure to alleviate reflux, we look at each person’s situation, listen to what may have already tried and discuss possible solutions to help them decide what is best for them.” Dr. Broghammer added that noninvasive treatment is always the first choice, but when those options haven’t provided the best results for a patient, surgery may be the next step to improving their quality of life.
These are just some of the issues you should consult one of our General Surgeons about:
Hernia How do you know if you have a hernia? You might not know. Depending on where the hernia is located, you may or may not be able to see or feel a bulge. Symptoms may include pain or a dull ache. The discomfort may develop or get worse with any activity that puts a strain on the abdomen/stomach area.
Not all hernias need to be repaired, but all hernias should be evaluated to determine whether it’s better to repair it before it is enlarged or if it’s okay to monitor it. If you notice a bulge but no pain, you should still have it checked as it could worsen at any time. Like most preventive maintenance, hernias detected early are usually easier to repair than those that become enlarged. Recovery after surgery may also be easier, too.
GERD (Reflux) GERD is caused when the valve between your esophagus and stomach isn’t working properly. It can result in acid flowback into the esophagus. A symptom of this is commonly called heartburn.
GERD is common. About 10% of Americans deal with daily symptoms or take medications to manage the symptoms. But sometimes medications no longer work or GERD leads to a more serious condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus can progress to esophageal cancer. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to consult your doctor or a surgeon for an assessment.
Matthew Broghammer, DO
Colin Kennedy, MD
Kynan Trail, MD
Gallstones or pancreatitis Your gallbladder is a small organ under your liver. Its purpose is to store the bile produced by your liver. That bile, used to digest fats, travels through your bile ducts into your gallbladder. It’s possible for mall stones can form in the gallbladder.
Sometimes there are no symptoms of having gallstones. But sometimes a stone can move somewhere and cause intense pain (IYKYK), and sometimes gallstones can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder.
Gallstones are common, and treatment is typically only necessary if gallstones are causing pain or discomfort dues to inflammation or pancreatitis. If you have painful gallstones or other gallbladder-related problems, gallbladder removal is a common procedure. After gallbladder removal, your liver still produces bile to digest food, but rather than be stored in the gallbladder, it will be distributed continuously onto your small intestine.
Learning about solutions to any of these, or other health issues, will either keep you on the right track so things don’t get worse — or improve your quality of life by fixing the problem.
Learn more about General Surgery and meet your local General Surgeons. Seeking solutions? Schedule an appointment — no referral needed.
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