Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver that stores bile. They are very common, and many people have them without ever knowing. The trouble starts when a stone blocks the flow of bile, which can cause sudden, intense pain and sometimes more serious problems. Here is why gallstones form, what they feel like, and the treatment options when they cause symptoms.
What Gallstones Are
The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid the liver makes to help digest fat. When the chemicals in bile fall out of balance, they can harden into stones. These range from tiny grains to stones the size of a golf ball. Most are made of cholesterol, which is why diet and weight play a role in forming them.
Symptoms
Many gallstones cause no symptoms and need no treatment. When a stone blocks a duct, it causes a pattern called biliary colic, which usually includes:
- Sudden, intense pain in the upper right or center of the belly
- Pain that spreads to the right shoulder or back
- Pain that often comes on after a fatty meal and lasts from minutes to a few hours
- Nausea and vomiting
Causes and Risk Factors
Gallstones are more likely if you are overweight, eat a diet high in fat and low in fiber, lose weight very quickly, or have a family history of them. They are more common in women, during pregnancy, and with age. Diabetes and certain blood conditions raise the risk as well.
Complications to Know About
- Cholecystitis: inflammation of the gallbladder when a stone stays stuck, causing steady pain and fever.
- Blocked bile duct: a stone in the main duct can cause jaundice, the yellowing of skin and eyes, and infection.
- Pancreatitis: a stone can block the pancreas duct and trigger inflammation of the pancreas, which is serious.
How Gallstones Are Diagnosed
An ultrasound is the main test and is very good at spotting stones. Blood tests check for infection and signs that a duct is blocked or the pancreas is involved. When a stone is stuck in the bile duct, a specialized endoscopic procedure can both find and remove it.
Treatment
If gallstones are not causing symptoms, the usual approach is watchful waiting, since treatment is not needed. When stones cause repeated pain or a complication, the standard treatment is surgery to remove the gallbladder. This is one of the most common operations performed, and you can live a normal life without a gallbladder, since bile simply flows straight from the liver to the intestine. Most people go home the same day or the next.
Diet and Prevention
You can lower your risk by keeping a healthy weight, eating more fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limiting fried and high-fat foods. If you need to lose weight, doing it gradually is safer for your gallbladder than crash dieting.
When to Seek Care
See a doctor if you have repeated belly pain after meals. Get care right away for intense pain that will not ease, pain with fever, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, since these can signal a complication that needs prompt treatment.
Talk to a Gastroenterologist in Mountainside, NJ
If your symptoms keep coming back or you are not sure what is causing them, Dr. Amber Khan can help. We see patients from across Union County and New Jersey.