This woman has had more than 7,000 life-threatening stones removed from her gallbladder after she did not drink enough water.
Ms He, aged 54, from Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province in Central China, revealed she does not have breakfast and often has days where she does not drink any water at all.
Doctor Shen Zhangyi, with Wuhan Jingdu Hospital, said this was directly responsible for the formation of 7,750 gallstones found in her painfully swollen gallbladder.
According to reports, Ms He had previously been diagnosed with gallstones, but she opted against surgery.
However, when the pain grew in intensity, doctors said her life could be in danger if she chose not to let them operate.
Doctor Shen said: “She began experiencing pain in her upper-right abdomen. We discovered that her gallbladder was full of stones.
“We spent about three hours removing the 7,000-odd big and small stones – some as large as an egg yolk, and others as small as sesame seeds.
“Even I was shocked when we removed it all. It’s the most I’ve ever come across in my years in the field.”
Ms He, who is recovering well after the operation, revealed: “I don’t like having breakfast or drinking water.
“In winter I have days where I don’t drink any water for the entire day. I drink a bit on summer days.
“[My gallbladder] is so small. How did it manage to fill with so many stones?”
Doctor Shen explained: “If you don’t eat breakfast, the gall doesn’t contract and no bile is produced to help with the digestion of foods.
“The longer the bile stays in the gallbladder, the more likely it is for cholesterol to crystallise.
“People should have regular meals. Also, most don’t drink enough water. We need to drink at least 1 to 3 litres a day.
“Some people love meat, while others only eat vegetables, but it’s best to have a balanced diet.’
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Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
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