DEAR DR. GOTT: After having my left kidney removed, I have been prone to severe leg cramps. They are especially troublesome after sitting for hours at our euchre club. One night, they were particularly severe, and several of my friends told me to drink dill pickle juice. I love dill pickle juice, and, since we were having the club at my house, it was easy for me to grab some juice. Instantly, the pain stopped, and I was able to go back to playing. It was unbelievable and you can add my vote to the "dill pickle juice for cramps" remedy.
    DEAR READER: I have received several letters from people who drink dill pickle juice (the liquid left in the jar after the pickles are gone). Many claim it is effective instantly. Others have had success with sports drinks that contain electrolytes, and still others apply liquid soap directly to the sore muscle.
    Recently, I was sent a sample of a product called Pickle Juice Sport, which claims to prevent muscle cramps if consumed prior to or during rigorous exercise and activity. Based on the ingredients, it appears to be a hybrid of sorts between sports drinks with electrolytes and dill pickle juice.
    Since I have no experience with this product, I am curious to know what my readers think. If you have tried this product or plan to try it, please let me know your results. Anyone interested in more information about it can visit the Web site at www.picklepower.com.
    Before I am slammed for promoting a product for financial reasons, I will say that I have no affiliation with this product in any way. I simply want to find out whether this novel product is beneficial to my readers.
    DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 84. When I was having an MRA, the nurse asked when I had my gallbladder taken out. I never did.
    Apparently, it had shrunk, since they couldn't find it. What caused this? Is it bad? Is it necessary to have a gallbladder? Did mine disappear because it was no longer needed? Should I be taking some kind of treatment to replace the function of the organ?
    DEAR READER: I cannot tell you why your gallbladder has shrunk or disappeared. Perhaps it was never there, or you had it removed during another surgery. The cause is unknown, but chances are it has been that way for a while.
    The gallbladder is an organ that holds bile before it is moved into the small intestine. Bile is a greenish brown substance that aids absorption of nutrients. Removal of the gallbladder does not usually lead to adverse effects but is done only on people who experience gallstones or sludge that cause pain and symptoms.
    If you are concerned about your missing gallbladder, I recommend you talk to your primary-care physician. He or she can review your medical records and find out whether you had gallbladder-removal surgery or refer to you to a specialist for further testing.
    To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Gallbladder Disease." Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.