How do you get rid of gallstones in your gallbladder?

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. If gallstone signs and symptoms occur in the future, you can have treatment. Treatment options for gallstones include: Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder, since gallstones frequently recur.

What are gallstones made of?

Gallstones are usually formed in the gallbladder. They are made from the bile and consist of mainly two things, cholesterol or bilirubin. The usual center of gallstones is a mixture of cholesterol, bilirubin and calcium, in differing amounts of each. These stones can be black, red, white, green, or tan-colored.

What happens when you have gallstones?

However, with the presence of gallstones, this flow may be blocked, resulting in the swelling of the gallbladder. This leads to pain in the abdomen, vomiting, ingestion, and also fever in some cases. The chances of developing stones in the gallbladder increase with age. People who are above 40 are more susceptible to developing gallstones.

What is another name for gallstones in the gallbladder?

What is another name for gallstones in the gallbladder?
Just because it is called a gallstone doesn't mean it is necessarily in the gallbladder itself. However, gallstones in the gallbladder is the most common. Another word for stone is concretion or calculus. Sometimes gallstones will be called biliary calculi or gallbladder calculi.

How long does it take for gallstones to go away?

How long does it take for gallstones to go away?
Medications to dissolve gallstones. Medications you take by mouth may help dissolve gallstones. But it may take months or years of treatment to dissolve your gallstones in this way, and gallstones will likely form again if treatment is stopped. Sometimes medications don't work.

How do you test for gallstones with an endoscope?

A thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a camera on the end is passed down your throat and into your small intestine. The dye enters the ducts through a small hollow tube (catheter) passed through the endoscope. Tests and procedures used to diagnose gallstones and complications of gallstones include: Abdominal ultrasound.

When should I see a doctor about gallstones?

Your doctor will determine if treatment for gallstones is indicated based on your symptoms and the results of diagnostic testing. Your doctor may recommend that you be alert for symptoms of gallstone complications, such as intensifying pain in your upper right abdomen. If gallstone signs and symptoms occur in the future, you can have treatment.

What are the signs and symptoms of a blocked gallstone?

If a gallstone lodges in a duct and causes a blockage, the resulting signs and symptoms may include: Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone Back pain between your shoulder blades

Should I talk to my doctor about my gallstone symptoms?

Should I talk to my doctor about my gallstone symptoms?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate care if you develop signs and symptoms of a serious gallstone complication, such as: Abdominal pain so intense that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position. Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes.

What is the difference between bile and gallstones?

What is the difference between bile and gallstones?
Bile is a digestive fluid produced in your liver and stored in your gallbladder. When you eat, your gallbladder contracts and empties bile into your small intestine (duodenum). Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder.

What causes gallstones in the gallbladder?

Too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin (bile pigment) can cause gallstones. When gallstones are present in the gallbladder itself, it is called cholelithiasis. When gallstones are present in the bile ducts, it is called choledocholithiasis.