Sudden pot belly could be serious

Dear Dr. Gott: I’m a 70-year-old grandmother who has gained 18 pounds in four months, most of it in my abdomen. Suddenly, I have developed a prominent “pot belly.” My doctor has little to say about it, but it bothers me. What can I do?

Dear Reader: A sudden increase in abdominal girth, in the absence of a change in diet, may indicate a problem with the abdominal organs. I don’t want to frighten you unnecessarily, but when I see a patient with a similar complaint, I investigate to make sure that she doesn’t have a malignancy — such as ovarian cancer — or liver disease with ascites (fluid in the belly).

In my opinion, you should have blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound examination to rule out a serious disorder.

Of course, a “pot belly” also commonly accompanies the aging process, as most of us “oldies” can attest, especially if we are somewhat stout. In such instances, prudent dieting may help reduce the roll of abdominal fat.

If that is unsuccessful, doctors can perform liposuction to remove the fat deposit.

Because the cause of your unexplained abdominal protuberance is unclear, I suggest that you seek advice from a gynecologist or a family physician who will be more sympathetic to your concern about body image. Once the possibility of a serious disorder has been eliminated, the physician can counsel you about diet or refer you to a plastic surgeon for liposuction if such an option is appropriate.

Dear Dr. Gott: I snore at night, and my doctor believes the problem is due to sagging tissue at the back of my throat. Would laser surgery correct this?

Dear Reader: As we age and our tissues become more flabby, the soft palate — the tissue at the back of the throat — can flop down during sleep and partially obstruct the airway, leading to snoring and a dangerous condition called sleep apnea (extended periods during sleep when a person cannot breathe).

Surgery can correct this. One technique involves cutting away the floppy tissue with a scalpel. Another procedure, although similar, uses a laser as the cutting instrument; the intense beam of light causes less tissue damage and bleeding than the standard surgical devices.

In both instances, the obstruction is removed and the person, at least in theory, becomes snore-free. Ask your doctor about this.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “An Informed Approach to Surgery.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped, envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.