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Celiac Disease and Biliary & Pancreatic Disorders
Positioned behind the stomach, the pancreatic organ plays a vital role in carbohydrate, fat, and protein digestion. The biliary tract, comprising the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder, works together to produce, secrete, and store bile, crucial for digestion. Complications in these areas can result in significant digestive issues and, in certain cases, more serious health conditions.
BILIARY & PANCREATIC DISORDERS
Understanding Celiac Disease and Biliary & Pancreatic Disorders
Pancreatic conditions involve the pancreas and encompass acute and chronic pancreatitis. Biliary disorders pertain to the gallbladder and bile ducts, and examples include gallstones, biliary colic, biliary tract cysts, and jaundice. These disorders can trigger not only digestive problems but also significant pain and discomfort. Patients with biliary or pancreatic disorders might struggle to absorb nutrients from their food.
Common Symptoms to Watch For
If you have a biliary or pancreatic disorder, you may experience pain in the upper abdomen that radiates around your body and reaches your middle back. Other symptoms include:
- Diarrhea, potentially with fatty deposits.
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes’ whites and skin.
- Pale or bloody stools.
- Abdominal swelling.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Excessive gas.
- Belching.
- Frequent or recurring hiccups.
Treatment Options
Doctors will first conduct a series of tests to pinpoint the precise issue and assess organ damage. Tests may range from simple blood work to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In many cases, minimally invasive procedures such as Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can remove or alleviate obstructions in the gallbladder or bile ducts. For more severe cases, invasive procedures might be necessary to remove the gallbladder, eliminate cancerous tumors, or drain the pancreatic ducts.