Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of solid material that form from cholesterol or bilirubin in your gallbladder. These gallstones range in size. Some stones are as small as a grain of sand, while others are as large as a golf ball. Having just one gallstone or more than one gallstones are both possible.
There are two main kinds of gallstones:
In many cases, people with gallstones experience no symptoms, and thus they even don’t realize that they have gallstones. These stones can be called “silent gallstone”. This condition usually requires no treatment. But if gallstones cause a blockage, symptoms may occur, including:
Doctors don’t know what exactly makes gallstones form in your gallbladder, but it is thought that gallstones may take shape when:
Your risk of gallstones will be increased if you:
Gallstones may lead to some complications, such as:
If a gallstone becomes lodged in the neck of the gallbladder, your gallbladder will be inflamed, causing severe pain and fever.
Gallstones may block the tubes through which bile flows from your gallbladder or liver to your small intestine, leading to jaundice and bile duct infection.
Gallstone may also block the pancreatic duct. Due to the blockage, pancreas will be inflamed and cause intense, constant abdominal pain.
Having a history of gallstones will increase your risk of gallbladder cancer, but this case is very rare.
Your doctor may use the following tests and procedures to diagnose gallstones:
Images created by an abdominal ultrasound or a CT scan may be analyzed to look for signs of gallstones.
Tests such as a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can help your doctor determine whether a gallstone is causing blockage.
Blood tests can help your doctor confirm whether you have complications caused by gallstones.
Treatment is not necessary unless you have symptoms. Based on your symptoms and the result of diagnosis, your doctor will decide whether you need treatment. Treatment options usually include:
Considering that gallstones often recur, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder. Without gallbladder, bile will flow directly from your liver into your small intestine. After the removal, your digestive ability will not be affected. But you may sometimes have temporary diarrhea.
You can take medications by mouth to help dissolve gallstones. However, it usually takes months or years to dissolve gallstones, and they will form again once you stop the treatment. In some cases, medications are not effective. Therefore, this option is not commonly recommended. It is reserved for people who can’t have a surgery.
Keyword: gallstones.
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