𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲
Gallstones are hard deposits of digestive fluids that can form in your gallbladder. Gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ on the right side of your stomach, below your liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called bile that is released into your small intestine.
𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀
- Sudden and rapidly worsening pain in the upper right part of your abdomen.
- Back pain between your shoulder blades.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Fever.
- Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes.
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀
- Cholesterol gallstones:- The most common type of gallstones, called cholesterol gallstones, often appear yellow. These gallstones are mainly composed of insoluble cholesterol, but may also contain other components.
- Pigment gallstones:- These dark brown or black stones form when there is too much bilirubin in your bile.
𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀
- Eating a low-fiber diet.
- Having diabetes.
- Losing weight very quickly.
- Having a family history of gallstones.
- Being pregnant.
- Being overweight.
- Having liver disease.
- Extended fasting.
- Obesity.
𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
- Inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Blockage of the common bile duct.
- Blockage of the pancreatic duct.
- Gallbladder cancer.
𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
- Don't skip meals.
- Eat more high-fibre foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid cholesterol- lowering drugs & hormone therapy.
𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀
- Abdominal ultrasound.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
- Other imaging tests. (CT Scan)
- Blood tests.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿
- If you have pain in your abdomen.
- Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy:- During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, special surgical instruments and a small video camera are inserted through incisions in your abdomen.
- Medications to dissolve gallstones:- Medicines you take by mouth can help dissolve gallstones. But it can take months or years of treatment to dissolve your gallstones this way, and stopping treatment can cause gallstones to reoccur.