Stones in Your Gallbladder Can Be Devastating

Suffering from gallstones is a common disorder than occurs more frequently in women than in men. A gall bladder attack can come at any time, but most frequently happens during the night after eating a heavy, high fat meal.

The gallbladder stores the precious digestive juice called bile. Bile is produced in the liver where it then travels to the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores the bile until it is needed to digest food. The bile is then released into the small intestine where it enters the digestive tract.

Bile is a highly acidic green fluid. It is present in almost all organs of the digestive tract including the stomach. Bile is a sensitive fluid that contains water, fats, salts, proteins, cholesterol and bilirubin. The bile works to break up fat that you consume through your diet. This fat is then used for energy by your body.

If the contents of bile become out of balance and one component is too strong, gall stones can form. If the cholesterol becomes too concentrated, bile salts will harden as well as the bilirubin. Bilirubin is the chemical that turns the stool into a brownish-yellow color.

There are two main types of gall stones: cholesterol and pigment. 80% of gall stones are cholesterol stones and they are characterized by a yellowish-green color and when analyzed are composed of cholesterol. Pigment stones are darker in color and composed of hardened bilirubin. The size and number of gallstones that can affect a person range from one to many and can be found as small as a grain of sand, all the way up to a golf ball size stone.

The warning signs of a gall stone attack are very similar to those of a heart attack. Pains in the upper abdomen, between the shoulder blades and under the right shoulder are common complaints when suffering from gallstones. The symptoms usually come on very quickly and seem sudden. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms when suffering from gallstones as well.

If you suffer from fever, yellowing of eyes, gray stools and chills along with the common signs of gallstones, you need to seek medical advice right away. They may signal a more severe reaction in your body that needs to be treated immediately.

Your doctor will most likely diagnose gallstones by ordering a CAT scan or abdominal ultrasound. These tests allow the gall bladder to be seen accurately and view any stones that may be present.

After the diagnosis, treatment will be discussed. The most common cure to gallstones is removing the gallbladder. A surgeon will perform laparoscopic surgery to remove the gallbladder. This surgery is minimally invasive and recovery is very well tolerated.

Laparoscopic surgery is done by making several small cuts in the lower abdomen and inserting a camera and surgical instruments through them. This surgery is well tolerated because the muscles of the abdomen are not cut. If more damage is seen upon viewing the gall bladder, the doctor may have to resort to open surgery. Open surgery requires that a 6 inch incision be made and results in a longer hospital stay and longer recovery.

If the stones seem minimal, the doctor may suggest a dissolution therapy regime. These include the use of drugs that may be able to dissolve the stones. There are two methods, oral dissolution and contact dissolution. Oral dissolution involves taking the medicine by mouth and waiting for months for the complete removal of the stones. Contact dissolution works by injecting the drug directly into the gallbladder. This can dissolve the stones in as little as 1 day but can be very dangerous if the drugs are not placed in the perfect spot.

You may worry about not having a gall bladder after the surgery, but never fear. A gallbladder is one organ that we can live without. The bile will just be directly placed from the liver into the digestive tract. Your body usually can regulate the bile need very well. Occasionally, a gall bladder removal can lead to lifelong suffering of diarrhea, but this occurs in only 1% of patients. Changing your diet can often lead to relieving this symptom.