How to Treat Gall Stone Symptoms

Your gallbladder is responsible for storing bile, a digestive juice that is produced by your liver. It is located just beside your liver, in your abdomen. Gallstones, composed of digestive fluid that has hardened, can sometimes develop in your gallbladder. According to the Mayo Clinic, they can reach the size of a golf ball sized or can be only as small as sand. Some of the risk factors for developing gallstones include being overweight or obese, diabetic, female, older than 60, eating a diet high in fat and low in fiber and taking medications for cholesterol.

Things You'll Need

• Medication
• Whole grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables

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Instructions

• 1

  You will usually not need any treatment if your gallstones do not cause symptoms, but see your doctor as soon as you experience pain. You may experience upper back pain and sudden and intense pain in your abdomen, which may last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

• 2

  Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience any symptoms that indicate severe complications from gallstones. These may include chills and a high fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) and extreme abdominal pain.

• 3

  Discuss your surgical option with your doctor. A procedure called a cholecystectomy is when your gallbladder is removed. This will help resolve your gallstones, however it may lead to diarrhea, because your bile will move directly into your small intestine. You will still be able to digest food normally.

• 4

  Take oral medication to dissolve your gallstones if they are not causing serious symptoms or complications. According to the Mayo Clinic, this treatment option is typically only used for patients who are unable to have surgery. It may be months or even years before medication can successfully dissolve your gallstones.

• 5

  Prevent gallstones that do not cause symptoms from getting worse by eating a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor about eating a high-fiber diet with whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Avoid a high-fat diet. Exercising regularly may also help reduce the risk of gallstones. If you are overweight, lose excess weight slowly. Losing weight too fast can raise your risk of developing more gallstones.