Q. Three years ago, I had a bladder stone removed. The following year, I had two more stones removed. Now, I have another. I asked my doctor what causes the stones. He says he doesn’t know, and he has not submitted the stones for analysis. He also said they might be caused by my enlarged prostate. I have taken Flomax for four years. Can diet prevent bladder stones?
A. Bladder stones are much rarer than kidney stones, and they are not related to kidney stones in any way. Most often, they arise because urine can’t get out of the bladder easily. It stagnates there. That creates a situation that permits mineral crystals, dissolved in the urine, to settle out of the urine and aggregate into a stone or stones.
Your doctor has suggested your enlarged prostate gland is the reason you form stones. The gland blocks the free flow of urine out of the bladder. Enlarged prostate glands are one reason men so outnumber women as bladder stone formers.
Urinary bladder infections are another cause of such stones.
You do face a dilemma. The best way to prevent bladder stones is not so much dietary as it is staying hydrated and keeping your urine diluted. You have to increase your intake of liquids. That will, however, because of your large prostate gland, keep you running to the bathroom frequently.
Many procedures can reduce the size of the prostate gland, and some of them can be done in the doctor’s office. Talk to your urologist about these less-invasive ways of downsizing the prostate.
Q. I was just diagnosed with polycythemia and was told there is no cure for it. I’ve read online articles that say Chinese herbal medicines can cure it. Is there harm in trying these herbs?
A. You have to give me the name of the herb. Not all herbs are without side effects, and some interfere with other medications. I can tell you no herb has been approved by medical scientists for the treatment of polycythemia, an illness in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Without treatment, survival in polycythemia is measured in months. With treatment, survival extends to 10 and more years.
Treatment for polycythemia is periodic removal of blood. If blood removal doesn’t control the illness, the medicine hydroxyurea can.
Stop surfing the Internet and take the more standard, proven ways to contain polycythemia.
Q. I am a 57-year-old woman with diabetes and gout. My doctor advises his patients to take fish oil capsules. When I asked about them having high purine content, he didn’t have an answer for me. High-purine foods are off a gout person’s diet. What can I take?
A. Purines are the precursors of uric acid, the material responsible for gout. Formerly, the only gout treatment was a diet that excluded purine foods: organ meats (liver, brain, kidney, sweetbreads) sardines, anchovies, mackerel, veal, turkey, gravies and bouillon. Now, with effective medicines, super-strict diets are not imposed.
I don’t see purines listed on the content label of fish oils — at least the ones I read. I do see anchovies and sardines mentioned. That might be the purine source. I can’t believe a capsule contains much purine. If you want to experiment, take the pills for two weeks and then have your uric acid checked.
