Sage-Tips

What helps dissolve gallstones?

Medical options. If you can’t or don’t want to undergo surgery and your gallstones are small, one option is to take ursodiol (Actigall, Urso), a naturally occurring bile acid that helps dissolve cholesterol stones when taken by mouth two to four times a day.

What can worsen gallstones?

Eating a high-fat diet. Eating a high-cholesterol diet. Eating a low-fiber diet. Having a family history of gallstones.

How should you lay when you have gallstones?

When you’re experiencing gallbladder pain, you should sleep on your left side. Sleeping or resting on your left side allows your gallbladder to freely contract and expand until the blockage of your bile duct has cleared.

Do gallstones go away without surgery?

Gallstones can be treated without surgery, but only if they meet certain criteria. Have you ever felt a strange aching pain in your upper abdomen? Usually digestive discomfort after a hearty meal isn’t anything to worry about, but for others, it’s a sign of a malfunctioning gallbladder.

Can an inflamed gallbladder heal itself?

It is not a medical condition on its own but can lead to conditions, such as gallstones and pancreatitis. It can also go away on its own .

Why does gallstone pain come and go?

The most common problem caused by gallstones occurs when a gallstone blocks the cystic duct that drains the gallbladder. It often causes bouts of pain that come and go as the gallbladder contracts and expands. The bouts of pain are often severe and steady.

What will happen if I don’t have my gallstones removed?

You can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. Your liver will still make enough bile to digest your food, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder, it drips continuously into your digestive system.

How do you get rid of a gallstone in your gallbladder?

Sometimes doctors use ERCP to remove a gallstone that is stuck in the common bile duct. Oral dissolution therapy. Ursodiol (Actigall) and chenodiol (Chenix) are medicines that contain bile acids that can break up gallstones. These medicines work best to break up small cholesterol stones.

Should I talk to my doctor about my gallstones symptoms?

If your gallstones are not causing symptoms, you probably don’t need treatment. However, if you are having a gallbladder attack or other symptoms, contact your doctor. Although your symptoms may go away, they may appear again and you may need treatment.

What are the possible complications of gallstone surgery?

The most common complication is injury to the bile ducts, which can cause infection. You may need one or more additional operations to repair the bile ducts. Doctors use nonsurgical treatments for gallstones only in special situations, like if you have cholesterol stones and you have a serious medical condition that prevents surgery.

Where is the gallbladder located and how do you remove it?

– The gallbladder is in your upper right abdomen just below your rib cage. (Don’t push on it too much.) Massage the spot just opposite to it, underneath your left rib cage (green spot in diagram). This may feel sore too. Press and massage it deeply for 1 – 2 minutes to stop gallbladder pain.