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Surgery Group LA
5 Early Warning Signs of Liver Cancer

It is important to know that liver cancer can express itself in a way that does not cause symptoms, especially during its early stages. The American Cancer Society does not recommend any wide screening test for patients who are average risk, such as those who do not show symptoms and do not have a family history of liver cancer. This is due to the liver being blocked off by most screening tests due to the ribcage interfering.

Patients who suffer from any cirrhosis of the liver, chronic Hepatitis B infection, or certain genetic diseases may need to be screened more often than average-risk patients.

However, it is important for any person who shows any of these early warning signs to speak with a medical professional as soon as they can:

  • A pain near the right shoulder pain, in the back, or on the top of the abdominal area that does not go away.
  • A hard lump under the ribs on the right side of the body, a common sign that the liver has gotten bigger
  • Prolonged weakness and fatigue
  • Unaccounted for weight loss
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, which is called jaundice

While these symptoms might be alarming they are not immediately a sign of liver cancer. If your doctor believes that you are suffering from liver cancer they will often perform an ultrasound, which uses sonic images that will give a better picture of your soft tissue than an X-Ray can provide. If they require further testing, they may use ultrasound technology in order to help guide a biopsy of any growth inside of your body, in order to test if the growth is cancerous.

The good news is that treatments for liver cancer grow better every day and with early detection, treatment is possible. If you or a loved one has any questions regarding liver cancer or liver cancer screenings, please speak to a medical professional today.

February 7, 2022

Surgery Group LA
Thyroid Nodules: Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid Nodules

A Thyroid Nodule is a solid or fluid-filled lump that forms within the thyroid gland, a hormone gland that is wrapped around your neck under the Adam’s apple.

Symptoms

While most thyroid nodules are small and go away with time if you have any of these symptoms it may be time to speak with a doctor for testing.

For cases of an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism  you may suffer from: 

  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Memory problems or trouble concentrating
  • Depression and fatigue

For cases of an overactive thyroid  or hyperthyroidism you may suffer from: 

  • Sudden weight loss, even if your appetite has increased or is normal
  • Pounding heartbeat, tremors
  • Muscle weakness

Diagnosis and Treatment

Thyroid nodules are often discovered during a routine physical exam. Your doctor might discover a growth or swelling around your neck and perform further imaging tests. These are performed in order to get a better idea of the size of nodules, assess whether you are suffering from hypo or hyperthyroidism, as well as determine if the growth may be cancerous.

These tests include:

  • Hormone Test – Your doctor will perform a blood test in order to test your thyroid hormone levels and see if your thyroid is performing properly
  • Antibody Test – Depending on your blood work,  your doctor may perform an antibody test in order to rule out Hashimoto’s or Graves disease, a thyroid condition linked to an autoimmune disorder
  • Ultrasound of the thyroid – A ultrasound uses sound waves in order to create an image of your thyroid, which helps your doctor reveal the size of the thyroid and nodules affecting the thyroid
  • Radioactive iodine uptake test – Your doctor may prescribe this test in order to understand your thyroid function. They will inject you with a small amount of radioactive iodine and scan your thyroid gland in order to see how your thyroid absorbs it 
  • Biopsy – Your doctor may perform a microscopic biopsy of your neck tissue cells in order to rule out the possibility of a cancerous growth causing your condition

Treatment

Depending on the size of the nodules, severity of symptoms, and causes of the thyroid nodules, your doctor may perform any of these treatment options. 

  • Watchful waiting – In most cases, thyroid nodules are small, noncancerous, and have little chance of growing. In these cases, your doctor may advise no treatment but will prescribe a careful observation schedule with regularly timed testing intervals. If the thyroid has caused new growth or causing new symptoms report it to your doctor immediately
  • Medications – Underactive thyroids (Hypothyroidism) will often be treated with hormone supplements like levothyroxine (Levoxyl), while overactive thyroids (Hyperthyroidism) will be treated with drugs like methimazole (Tapazole) which may reduce the size of the goiter.
  • Surgery – If your thyroid is affecting your ability to breath or swallow, or is connected with thyroid cancer, you may need surgery in the form of a total or partial thyroidectomy. If surgery is performed, you will often need to take regular hormone supplements in order to replace the hormones your thyroid would usually produce

However, in most cases, thyroid nodules do not need treatments and can be managed with aspirin, and a diet that focuses on increasing supplies of iodine in the form of:

  • Seaweed
  • Saltwater fish such as salmon and tuna
  • Soy and dairy products

If you have any concerns regarding your thyroid, speak to a medical professional today.

December 15, 2021

Surgery Group LA
3 Natural Ways to Improve Your Thyroid Health

While there are many reasons for poor thyroid health, most thyroid problems begin with: 

  • Poor diet
  • Lack of sleep/Stress
  • Missing Nutrients 

To help protect your thyroid before it gets to the point where you might need medication, here are 3 natural ways to improve your thyroid health.

Vitamin B

People with poor thyroid health, often suffer from low Vitamin B 1 and Vitamin B 12 levels, you can improve your Vitman B levels naturally by eating foods like:

  • Peas, beans, and asparagus
  • Sesame seeds, 
  • Milk and cheese
  • Eggs
  • Tuna

Tuna filet on a bed of asparagus, and toasted sesame seeds anyone? Not only a great meal but a great meal for your thyroid health!

Low Sugar or Sugar-Free Diet

The dangers of high sugar and processed food diets have been documented in numerous studies. Food high in added sugar can cause inflammation, which can slow down the conversion of T3 or T4 thyroid hormones, causing your thyroid-related symptoms to worsen.

Consider cutting out sugar from your diet, especially added sugar, and replacing what you can’t live without with a natural sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit sweetener.

Selenium

In a study performed by the National Institute of Health (NIH), selenium plays a huge part in thyroid hormone metabolism. 

Thankfully, foods high in Selenium are numerous and delicious and include:

  • Tuna
  • Grass-fed beef
  • Turkey
  • Brazil Nuts

Probiotics and Gluten-Free Diet

While there has been some evidence that probiotics and gluten-free diets manage symptoms of patients who suffer from hypothyroidism, and Hashimoto’s Disease, there has been no FDA-recognized study that has concluded that introducing probiotics or gluten-free foods into your diet will promote thyroid health. 

Conclusion

Lean meats high in Selenium and Vitamin B like Tuna, Turkey, and Grass-fed beef, nuts like sesame seeds and brazil nuts, and greens like asparagus and peas are already delicious and nutritious additions to any diet. They just happen to also be great ways to boost your thyroid health without medication.

So give them a try, your thyroid will thank you!

October 7, 2021

Surgery Group LA
What is Hypothyroidism? Diagnosis and Treatment

Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when your thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, causing your metabolism to slow down.

In extreme cases known as Mxeydema, patients could suffer from: 

  • Heart Failure
  • Anemia
  • Low Core Body Temperature
  • Coma

Thankfully, Hypothyroidism is a very treatable condition and can be controlled with medication and regular visits with your doctor,

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can often take years to develop noticeable symptoms. They can include: 

  • Fatigue, brain fog, 
  • Numbness and tingling in the hands
  • Constipation
  • Weight gain
  • Prolonged muscle weakness and soreness
  • Low tolerance of cold temperatures
  • Dry coarse skin and hair
  • Frequent and heavy menstrual periods

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism

After speaking with your medical care provider about your symptoms, your doctor will commonly perform a thyroid-stimulating hormone test (TSH), as well as blood tests for Hashimoto’s disease. If the thyroid is enlarged, your doctor can often check for that during your physical examination.

Treating Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is often treated through medication. Medication like levothyroxine improves the amount of thyroid hormone your body produces, realigning them back to normal levels. 

While Hypothyroidism is a very manageable condition, patients will need to take medication for the rest of their lives. However, with regular visits to your doctor to adjust and manage your medication, most patients can live a normal and healthy life.

If you or a loved one believes that they are suffering from Hypothyroidism, speak to your medical provider right away.

October 7, 2021

Surgery Group LA
Do I Have Fecal Incontinence? How to Know and What to Do About it

We get it. Any trouble with our bowel movements can cause distress. Whether your bowel movements are painful, irregular, or perhaps most distressingly not in your control, it can really affect the quality of your life. This is made harder by the fact that speaking to other people about these issues can cause embarrassment, confusion, or cause one to panic about the source of these bowel movement troubles. To help, we’ve created this article to establish how to know if you have fecal incontinence, how to treat it, and how to make sure that this won’t happen again.

What is Fecal Incontinence?

Fecal Incontinence is a condition that makes one unable to control their bowel movements, causing stools to leak from the rectum without warning. Other symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Bloating and Gas

Fecal Incontinence is often caused by diarrhea or constipation but can be caused by nerve damage. The muscle or nerve damage can be also caused by aging or with giving birth. This can present itself as the occasional leaking prior to a bowel movement, to complete loss of bowel control.

How to Diagnose and Treat Fecal Incontinence?

Diagnosis

If your Fecal Incontinence is chronic and severe, please consult a doctor as soon as you can. Your doctor will begin with a physical examination and then proceed with any of a number of tests that will help your doctor specifically ascertain the direct cause of your fecal incontinence.

These tests include:

  • Digital Rectal Exam – Performed by having a doctor insert a lubricated gloved finger into the rectum in order to test the strength of your sphincter muscles, and any abnormalities
  • Balloon Expulsion Test – A small balloon is placed into the rectum and filled with water. Once inserted you will be asked to expel the balloon in the bathroom. If this takes longer than 2-3 minutes you likely have a bowel movement disorder.
  • Anal Manometry – A thin tube is inserted into the anus and the rectum with a small balloon at the tip which is expanded to test the strength of your sphincter
  • Anorectal Ultrasonography – A thin tube is inserted into the anus, where an attached camera produces video images that allow your doctor to test the strength of the sphincter muscles
  • Proctography – While performing a bowel movement on a specially designed toilet, a specialist generates x-ray images for your doctor to evaluate
  • Colonoscopy –  A narrow tube is inserted through the rectum to inspect the entire rectum
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) –  An MRI is performed in order to create a detailed image of the muscles of the sphincter, judging the muscles for signs of damage

Treatments

Medical Treatments

Once your doctor evaluates the cause of your fecal incontinence, they may decide to prescribe medication including:

  • Bulk Laxatives such as MethylCellulose (Citrucel) or Psyllium (Metamucil) in cases of chronic constipation 
  • Anti Diarrheal Drug such as Diphenoxylate and atropine sulfate (Lomotil) or loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium A-D) in cases of chronic diarrhea
  • Bulking Agents can be injected into the walls of your anus, thickening them and making them more stable


Surgical Treatments

Some cases of fecal incontinence require surgical treatment, such as in cases of rectal prolapse, or sphincter damage caused by an accident or childbirth. Your surgeon may recommend:

  • Sphincteroplasty – Doctors identify the injured muscle in question and surgical reattach the muscle in an overlapping fashion, creating a stronger tighter sphincter. 
  • Treating rectal prolapse, or rectocele – While diagnosing your fecal incontinence your doctor might diagnose you with any of these conditions. Repairing and treating these conditions surgically might relieve your fecal incontinence however the longer a prolapse goes untreated, the lower the chances of it solving your fecal incontinence after surgery are.
  • Colostomy (bowel diversion) – Your surgeon creates a diversion from your bowels through the abdomen into a special bag that collects your stool. A colostomy is generally considered only after other treatments haven’t been successful.

At-Home Treatments

In the case of muscle damage, your doctor may recommend you begining a program of diet and exercise. Programs like kegel exercises, biofeedback-based physical therapy, and pelvic floor routines can all help by strengthening your sphincter naturally.

Your doctor will often recommend higher forms of dietary fiber and more fruits and vegetables in your diet, in general, to help treat your constipation or diarrhea. Avoiding greasy and fatty foods as well as dairy and caffeine, are also strongly encouraged.

If you or a loved one suffers from fecal incontinence, there is no need to suffer any longer. See a doctor and find out how you receive relief from this condition.

September 22, 2021



About Surgery Group LA

Surgery Group LA is a team of professional and board-licensed surgeons, who specialize of their respective fields. The institution’s project to offer sufferers with advanced and complete surgical care.

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Los Angeles, CA 90048
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