Gallbladder stones: It’s Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Liver produces Bile. The bile is then stored in the Gallbladder. With time, when the bile hardens into stone-like material, it is called gallbladder stones. With time these stones can create blockages around the gallbladder and the bile ducts… Did you know, the presence of gallstones in gallbladder is called cholelithiasis, while when the stones are found in bile ducts, it is called choledocholithiasis.

Causes of Gallstones

Gallbladder stones are the outcome of too much cholesterol, bile salts or bile pigments. These stones can lead to life-threatening conditions of the bile ducts, pancreas and the liver.

1. Cholesterol in gallstones or cholesterol stones form when too much cholesterol deposits in the bile and also too much of bilirubin in the bile. Having less bile salts can also lead to gallstones.
2. Pigment stones tend to develop in people who have cirrhosis of the liver and biliary tract infections.

Symptoms of gallstones

In general or in the beginning, gallbladder stones do not show symptoms. However, with time when they develop and get bigger, attacks happen when they create blockages in bile ducts. People with gallbladder stones normally have issues after having fatty meals at night. However, symptoms depend from person to person. Some of the registered ones might include:

• Steady/severe pain in upper abdomen, lasting from 30 minutes to hours.
• Pain between shoulder blades
• Fever
• Chills
• Abdominal Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice
• Flatulence
• Indigestion
• Bloating etc

In some cases, gallstones do not show any symptoms and are thus called silent stones. These stones do not affect the functions of gallbladder, liver or pancreas and sometimes treatment is not necessary or required.

People with Obesity, Diabetes and over the age of 60 are more prone to gallbladder stones. Obese females in their fertile phase between the age group of forty to fifty years, having bloating & flatulence are most likely to have or suffer from gallstones.

Treatment
Specific treatment for gallstones can only be determined by a doctor. However

1. If you are getting pain frequently, your doctor may suggest removing the stone. Once the stones are removed, the bile from your liver flows directly into the small intestine. The procedure may conclude with certain side effects like diarrhoea, as the bile is no longer stored in the gallbladder.
2. Oral Dissolution therapy is when certain drugs made out of bile are used to dissolve the stones.
3. Methyl-tert-butyl is a solution, inserted/injected into the gallbladder to dissolve gallstones.
4. Extracorporeal Shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a procedure where stones are broken into smaller pieces with the use of shock waves, which can then pass through the bile ducts without creating blockages.

If you are suffering from symptoms like Sweating, chills, low fever, yellow skintone, clay-coloured stool, should connect with Dhanwantaree CLinic / Dr. Ashok Acharya, immediately… Gallstones untreated can create dangerous circumstances and can lead to organ blockages…