How do I know if I have gallstones?

The gallbladder is a small organ below the liver that is located in the upper right part of the abdomen. It is a bag that stores bile, a greenish-yellow liquid that helps with digestion. Most gallstones form when there is too much cholesterol in the bile, although it can have other origins as well. Bile also carries wastes like cholesterol and bilirubin, which the body makes when it breaks down red blood cells. These things can form gallstones.

Gallstones can range from the size of a grain of sand to that of a golf ball. You may not know you have them until they block a bile duct and cause pain that requires immediate treatment.

What are the causes of its appearance?

According to science, 80 percent of gallstones are made of cholesterol. The other 20 percent of gallstones are made from calcium salts and bilirubin. It is not known exactly what the cause of gallstone formation is, although there are some theories that we discuss below:

• Too much cholesterol in the bile . Having too much cholesterol in your bile can lead to yellow cholesterol stones. These hard stones can develop if the liver produces more cholesterol than the bile can dissolve.
• Too much bilirubin in the bile . Bilirubin is a chemical made when the liver destroys old red blood cells. Some conditions, such as liver damage and certain blood disorders, cause your liver to produce more bilirubin than it should. Pigmented gallstones form when the gallbladder cannot break down excess bilirubin. These hard stones are usually dark brown or black in color.
• Bile concentrated by a full gallbladder . The gallbladder needs to empty bile to be healthy and function properly. If you cannot empty the bile content, the bile becomes too concentrated, causing stones to form.

Symptoms of having gallstones

These objects can cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. You may also get gallbladder pain from time to time if you eat foods that are high in fat, such as fried foods. Although the pain does not usually last more than a few hours. Other symptoms known as biliary colic may also be experienced:

• Nausea
• Throwing up
• Dark urine
• Clay-colored stools
• Stomach ache
• Burp
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion

However, gallstones themselves do not cause pain. Rather, pain occurs when gallstones block the movement of bile from the gallbladder. So it could be said that they are asymptomatic. Experts say that 80 percent of people have “silent gallstones.” This means that they do not experience pain or have symptoms.

How are they diagnosed?

To know if this condition is the one you are suffering from, it is necessary to go to a specialist to perform a physical examination that includes checking your eyes and skin to detect visible changes in color. A yellowish color can be a sign of jaundice, the result of too much bilirubin in the body. The exam may involve the use of diagnostic tests that help the doctor see inside the body. These tests include:

• Ultrasound: An ultrasound produces pictures of the abdomen. It is the most common imaging method to confirm that you have gallstone disease. It can also show abnormalities associated with acute cholecystitis.
• Abdominal CT scan : This imaging test makes pictures of the liver and abdominal region.
• Gallbladder radionuclide scan : This scan takes about an hour to complete. A specialist injects a radioactive substance into the veins. The substance travels through the blood to the liver and gallbladder. On examination, it may reveal evidence suggesting infection or blockage of the bile ducts from stones.
• Blood test : A doctor may order a blood test that measures the amount of bilirubin in the blood. The tests also help determine how well the liver is working.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: This is a procedure that uses a camera and x-rays to look at problems in the bile and pancreatic ducts. The doctor will be able to look for gallstones stuck in the bile duct.

How are gallstones treated?

Most of the time, no treatment will be needed unless they cause pain. Sometimes we can get gallstones without realizing it. If you have pain, a doctor will likely recommend surgery, as medications can rarely be used. If you are at high risk for surgical complications, a drainage tube can be placed into the gallbladder through the skin. Later, when the situation is under control, the operation could be performed.

Natural treatment and home remedies

If you have gallstones and don’t have symptoms, you can make certain lifestyle changes. Some nutritional supplements that you can take are vitamin C, iron, and lecithin . Science claims that vitamin C and lecithin can lower the risk of gallstones. However, it is necessary to speak with a doctor about the proper dosage of these supplements.

Some people recommend a gallbladder wash, which involves fasting and then taking olive oil and lemon juice to help eliminate gallstones. There is no evidence that this works, and it can even cause the stones to get trapped in the bile duct.

Surgery

A doctor may need to perform a laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. This is a common surgery that requires general anesthesia. The surgeon will make 3 or 4 incisions in your abdomen and then insert a small, lighted device into one of the incisions to carefully remove the gallbladder. You can usually go home the day of the procedure or the next day if you don’t have complications.

Days later, you may experience loose or watery stools when your gallbladder is removed. Removing a gallbladder involves diverting bile from the liver to the small intestine. The bile no longer passes through the gallbladder and becomes less concentrated. The result is a laxative effect that causes diarrhea.

Non-surgical treatments

Medication is not used as much as it used to be because laparoscopic and robotic techniques make surgery much less risky than it used to be. However, if you cannot have an operation, you can take drugs to dissolve gallstones caused by cholesterol. Medicines can take several years to clear gallstones, and the stones can re-form if you stop treatment.

Shock wave lithotripsy is another option. The lithotripter is a machine that generates shock waves that pass through a person. These shock waves can break gallstones into smaller pieces.

Diet tips for gallstones

To help improve the condition and reduce the risk of gallstones, try these diet and diet tips:

• Reduce your fat intake and choose low-fat foods whenever possible. Avoid fried, greasy, and high-fat foods.
• Add fiber to your diet to make your stools more solid. Try to add only one serving of fiber to each meal to avoid gas that can occur from eating too much fiber.
• Avoid foods and beverages known to cause diarrhea, including caffeinated beverages, high-fat dairy products, and very sweet foods.
• Eat several small meals a day. Smaller meals are easier for the body to digest.
• Drink a sufficient amount of water, between 6 and 8 glasses a day.
• If you want to lose weight, do it slowly. Try to lose no more than 1 kilo per week. Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones and other health problems.