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Gallstones Diagnosis and Treatment Gallstones are very hard desposits that form inside of the gallbladder. The stones are comprised of bile salts, cholesterol and calcium. Although many people have gallstones, they usually only find out about their existence after a "gallbladder attack". An attack usually occurs after eating fatty foods or after a meal. During a gallbladder attack, a person may experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and chest pain. Usually the pain is located in the upper right part of the abdomen and many be sharp and cramping. Sometimes, patients develop a fever or jaundice. Because of the pain experienced during an attack, most people seek medical attention either immediately or shortly after an attack. At that time, a medical professional will run tests to determine if the pain is actually due to gallstones or some other issue. One of the tests that is done is an ultrasound of the abdomen. It is during this procedure that a professional may notice that the gallbladder is full of gallstones. They may also notice that the stones have blocked the bile duct as well. Other tests may be done to make a diagnosis as well as to rule out other conditions. These tests may include including blood work, or a CT scan. Some health care professionals also like to do an ECG to rule out a possible heart attack as a gallbladder attack can cause chest pain. In addition, during the tests, a medical professional may also check to see if there is any inflammation of the bile duct or cholangitis that is also causing the pain. Sometimes, the gallstones may also lodge in the common bile duct and create pain too. This condition is called cholelithiasis. In some cases, the gallbladder may also swell after numerous gallbladder attacks; this painful condition is called cholecysitis. After the tests have been run and a diagnosis has been made, a medical professional will devise a treatment plan.
Usually the treatment plan for dealing with gallstones is to remove the gallbladder. If the problem was caused by gallstones, this will relieve the pain immediately and permanently. In years past, the surgery was more invasive than today and required a long recovery time. Today, gallbladder surgery is done using a laparoscopic procedure. Usually, the procedure is considered to be day surgery and patients are home by the end of the day. If a patient had complications, they may require a longer hospital stay. If there are no surgical complications, most patients are able to go back to work a few days after the surgery.
After surgery, patients should eat a low fat diet until their body adjusts. Eventually, most people are able to eat just like they did before gallbladder surgery.
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