How to Treat a Gallstone

Gallstones are formed in the bile, and they lay in the gall bladder. They are caused by calcium salts and cholesterol. There are several risk factors for acquiring gall stones, including being overweight, female or elderly. When gall stones attack, symptoms such as nausea and stomach pain can be experienced. The pain related to them can be severe. With that in mind, there are several ways that gallstones can be treated.

Instructions

• 1

  Do nothing at all. There are some occasions when gall stones are discovered through routine checkups for other conditions. When this is the case, they really don't come with any symptoms, so your doctor will recommend just waiting it out to see if any symptoms appear.

• 2

  Get your gall bladder removed. If the gall stones and symptoms are severe enough, surgery is used to remove the gall bladder from the body. In laparoscopic surgery, a small incision is made and the gall bladder is removed by small tools. In open surgery, a large incision is made in the abdomen and the gall bladder is then removed.

• 3

  Take some tablets. There is a medication called Ursodiol that is used to dissolve small stones, also called bile salts. You may need to take these tablets for many years to prevent the recurrence of new stones.

• 4

  Get them broken up. Sound wave therapy is another treatment option that can be utilized. In this procedure, sound waves that have a really high frequency are sent into the gall bladder to break up the stones. After this happens, Ursodiol tablets are given to dissolve any fragments that might be left behind.

• 5

  Use a solution. Another treatment option is done with the use of a catheter. After the catheter is inserted into the gall bladder, a solution is sent through it that helps to dissolve gallstones. This takes place over a few hours and has a good success rate when it comes to recurrence.