Advice for gall bladder stone

Is it necessary to get operated if somebody has gall bladder stone or the stone can be removed through some medication and which medication should be prefered?
(October 27, 2010)

Advice for gall bladder stone

The gall bladder is a small pear-shaped pouch that stores bile. Gall stones are hard substances that form inside the gall bladder, bile duct and cystic duct. These stones are irregular in appearance and varied in size. They are made up of calcium salt, lecithin, bilirubin, phospholipids, crystallized cholesterol and bacteria. These are all products which accumulate inside the gall bladder after they are filtered through the liver.


Gall bladder and kidney stones can cause other health problems if they are ignored and so it is important to visit your doctor as soon as possible for appropriate kidney or gallbladder stones treatment.

In many cases, there are no detectable symptoms before the diagnosis of the condition. Many individuals also think the symptoms to be part of some other ailments. The symptoms of gall stones start occurring much later and include nausea, vomiting, belching, heartburn, fever and jaundice. Consumption of fatty foods may also lead to discomfort. Individuals with gall stones may also experience severe pain in the area between the shoulder blades or in the right upper abdomen. This is referred to as biliary colic. In severe cases, there may also be inflammation of the bile duct, gall bladder and pancreas. The jaundice which occurs as a result of gall stones is caused by an accumulation of bilirubin in the bile. Bilirubin is actually a waste product from the red blood cells which is transported to the liver for excretion. Bilirubin is what causes the urine to become yellow. When there is concentration of bilirubin in the blood, the skin becomes yellowish in color. Gall stones are mainly diagnosed through an ultrasound test or a cholecystography and gallbladder stones treatment can be started soon after.

In many cases, the recommended treatment for gall stones is surgery. Gallstone removal without surgery involves dissolving the stones. Other methods of treatment for gall stones involve disintegration of the stones. However these methods of gallbladder stones treatment often lead to recurrences. Surgery is a permanent solution for gall stones as the gall bladder is removed. Most physicians see it as the safest method of treating gall stones. If left untreated, gall stones could contribute to infection of the other organs. The gall bladder may also rupture. For an individual whose condition is not very serious, gallbladder stones treatment may be done through natural treatment such as heat application to the abdomen. This will help to alleviate pain and discomfort. There are also some over the counter medications that are helpful in reducing pain. In case pain or fever persists for more than 3 hours, immediate medical treatment is required. The best way to prevent gall stones is to follow a diet that is low in fat. 

Gall Bladder Stone Advice 

Gallbladder is a part of biliary system which helps to store bile until required for the digestion of fat. Most common type of gallbladder stones are cholesterol stones which are formed when there is excess cholesterol stones present in bile. Pigment stones are also formed when there is excess bilirubin (a type of bile pigment) in the bile. These stones can vary in size; they can be of few millimeters or few centimeters. Depending on the type and size often a treatment option is decided by a specialist.

Surgery for gall bladder stones would depend on the condition and severity of symptoms a person exhibit. There are various other non-surgical procedures to control the symptoms too. Most of the gallstones do not cause any symptoms and the minor ones can be controlled by following a low-fat diet. However if this doesn't work then surgery would be the first option as a mode of treatment as about half the time the stones reoccur after non-surgical treatments. If a person's condition prevents the use of anesthesia then non-surgical options like oral dissolution therapy, contact dissolution therapy or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy can be used as a mode of treatment. Consult a specialist for through examination and discuss the flaws and advantages of all the treatment options before opting any.