Gallbladder disease, or cholecystitis, is a health condition that can lead to pain and life-threatening situations. Gallstones can be asymptomatic. But if the stones continue to grow major surgery may be required.
Cholecystitis, or gallbladder disease, signs and symptoms
Pain may be one of the early signs of gallbladder stones disease. The pain usually occurs in the upper right side of the abdomen. Gallbladder pain is usually confused with liver issues since the gallbladder is located near it. Pain is located around the area where the liver is located (upper right side of the abdomen). Pain can be also occur under your right arm and radiate to your back.
Another symptom of gallbladder disease is to have pain after a meal. The gallbladder is an organ that releases bile to aid digestion of food. If stones are obstructing the bile flow then you may experience a “gallbladder attack” (usually taken as an liver issue). These gallbladder attacks are more prone to occur if you eat fatty foods. In fact, eating fatty food is a guarantee to get a gallbladder after-meal pain for people with cholecystitis disease.
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, bad digestion or no digestion at all of foods are also signs and symptoms of gallbladder diseases. Jaundice (skin and eye yellowing) is experienced by people with gallbladder stones. This is because the bile duct may become blocked by a stone.
Treatment of cholecystitis
The first thing is to be sure you have a gallstone problem. This is usually evaluated by an ultrasound which will show the presence of an inflamed gallbladder or an obstructed bile duct.
Once the disease has been confirmed there may be some treatment options. The first one is to use a medication called Ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid) or acid bile. This medication aims to dissolve stones but success is limited. There is also the possiblility of trying to dissolve the stone by using solvents injected directly in the bile duct or into your gallbladder. Finally, major surgery is recommended when pain attacks due to gallstones are too frequent. This surgery includes the removal of your gallbladder. Gallbladder is not essential for living since the liver can somehow take on bile delivery. Today gallbladder removal is an easy procedure made by laparoscopy, a less invasive technique than traditional surgery.
Sources:
Gallbladder Disease
University of Maryland