Gallbladder Stone Removal

Gallstones form when digestive fluid hardens into deposits in the gallbladder. These stones can range from minuscule to the size of a small ball, and multiple stones can develop at the same time. If these gallstones do not cause symptoms, no further action is required. However, if you experience symptoms from your gallstones, surgery is most often required.

Surgery

• If surgery is required, you will undergo a procedure called a cholecystectomy. Since gallstones often reoccur, this procedure involves completely removing the gallbladder. In the normal human body, the gallbladder is used to store bile but once it is removed, the bile will be directed from the liver directly into the small intestine. People can live without a gall bladder with little or no problems. The most common side effect following a cholecystectomy is the tendency to have diarrhea.

Medication

• Another option for those who cannot undergo surgery are medications that work by shrinking gallstones. However, these medications are slow acting and may take many months or years to make the gallstones go completely away. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is an experimental treatment that works by injecting medication directly into the gallstone. This type of therapy is still being tested for efficacy and safety. Surgery is the preferred method of treating gallstones.

Alternative Treatment

• Though alternative therapies have not been proven effective in shrinking gallstones, there are several steps you can take to stop asymptomatic gallstones from changing into symptomatic ones. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, fiber and unsaturated fats from foods like fish and nuts can help control the size of your gallstones. Also, people who are deficient in vitamins C and E and calcium also are at a higher risk of developing gallstones. Though taking a supplement can help, eating foods rich in these vitamins and minerals is a healthier approach to controlling gallstones.