Gallstones are hard deposits that form in the gallbladder. Many cause no symptoms, but some cause repeated pain.
Common symptoms
- Pain in the upper right belly, sometimes spreading to the back or shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting after fatty meals
- Bloating and indigestion
When it is urgent
Severe continuous pain, fever, yellow eyes or skin need a doctor the same day.
Diagnosis and treatment
An ultrasound usually confirms stones. Laparoscopic (keyhole) removal of the gallbladder is a common treatment for stones that cause symptoms. Your surgeon will advise after examination.
Eating tips
Prefer light home-cooked meals with less oil and fried food, and avoid long gaps between meals.
What causes gallstones?
Gallstones form when substances in bile, mostly cholesterol, harden. Risk factors include being overweight, rapid weight loss, a fatty diet, diabetes, pregnancy, family history, and being female or over 40. Many people have stones without symptoms, but some develop repeated attacks.
How are gallstones diagnosed?
An abdominal ultrasound shows stones in the gallbladder in most cases. Blood tests check for infection or blocked bile ducts, and further scans are used when the picture is unclear.
Why surgery is usually advised
When stones cause attacks of pain, the usual treatment is to remove the gallbladder, because stones tend to return and complications such as infection, jaundice or pancreatitis can be serious. Medicines to dissolve stones are slow and rarely suitable, so surgery is the standard treatment for symptomatic stones.
Keyhole gallbladder surgery and recovery
In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon makes a few small cuts, inflates the abdomen gently with gas and removes the gallbladder using a camera and fine instruments. Many patients go home within a day or two and resume light work in about a week. Digestion continues normally; a light, low-fat diet helps at first. Dr. K. Praveen Reddy performs keyhole gallbladder surgery at Swastha Multispeciality Clinic, Vanasthalipuram.
Why gallbladder stones should not be ignored
Stones can block the bile duct and cause infection of the gallbladder, jaundice or inflammation of the pancreas. Repeated attacks usually mean the gallbladder is diseased, and removing it is the lasting solution.
What to expect from keyhole surgery
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is done under anaesthesia through small cuts. The gallbladder is removed with its stones, and most people go home within a day or two and return to light work in about a week. Dr. K. Praveen Reddy performs the surgery with careful attention to safe technique.
Eating habits
- Prefer small, low-fat meals while you have symptoms
- Avoid fried and very oily food
- Do not crash-diet; rapid weight loss can form stones
After surgery, most people eat normally, though large oily meals may need to be reduced for a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can stones dissolve with medicines?
Rarely, and results are uncertain. Discuss the options with your surgeon.
This is general information and does not replace an examination. Consult Dr. K. Praveen Reddy at Swastha Multispeciality Clinic, Vaidehi Nagar, Vanasthalipuram.
Read more: Laparoscopic surgeon in Vanasthalipuram | Our doctors
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