Gallstones and Gallbladder Disease
What is gallbladder disease and its symptoms?
There are various types of gallbladder disease, most commonly inflammation of the gallbladder and gallstones. These conditions can have no symptoms, however many people may experience pain in the upper right abdomen (may last several minutes or even hours), fever and chills,nausea and vomiting. These often occur after eating a higher fat meal.
If a gallstone is stuck in the common bile duct, it can lead to jaundice (a condition where your skin turns yellow), dark urine and light coloured stools.
What is bile and the gallbladder?
Bile is produced by the liver. It is needed to digest fat from food. The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile. and releases it into the small intestine when fat is eaten.
How is gallbladder disease diagnosed?
Gallbladder disease is often diagnosed through blood work (liver enzymes may be elevated), or through imaging tests such as an ultrasound or CT scan. A doctor may also do a physical test and feel abnormal tenderness in the gallbladder.
How is gallbladder disease treated?
Treatment varies based on the type of gallbladder disease and severity. The goal of treatment is to prevent complications and decrease symptoms. Medications may be prescribed for gallstones which could help dissolve existing gallstones or decrease the chance of new ones forming.
A cholecystectomy may also be performed, which is a removal of the gallbladder. This often is the case with recurrent gallstones. The gallbladder is not an essential organ for digestion. Instead of bile being stored in the gallbladder, it will continuously be released into the small intestine.
Most people who have their gallbladder removed find their symptoms go away. While a low fat diet may be recommended for people who have gallstones, once treatment is completed most people are able to enjoy all foods without symptoms. Occasionally, some people find they still experience some sensitivity to high fat foods. In these cases eating fat to tolerance is recommended, minimizing triggers as much as possible.
If you have any questions about nutrition and gallbladder disease, reach out to your Constant Health dietitian!
References
Gallbladder Disease Information - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Gallstone Disease Treatment - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Diet After Gallbladder Surgery - NHS