Gallstones - You can also do something about it yourself

gallstones - You can also do something about it yourself

You try to eat healthily, but suddenly you notice that a few hours after eating fatty meals you have problems with your stomach.

Gallstones are often the cause. About 25% of people are affected by gallstones, but only a small proportion of those affected actually feel pain due to the blockages in the bile ducts.

The human gallbladder is located in the right upper abdomen, directly under the liver. This contains the bile that is needed to break down fats and promote digestion. The liver produces around 700 ml of bile every day and then stores it in the gallbladder between meals.

The gallbladder not only stores bile, but also transports parts of it into the duodenum when fatty foods are consumed. The gallbladder also functions to remove waste products from the liver via the intestines.

If this bile changes and the composition of the bile becomes unbalanced, it can happen that components such as cholesterol and bilirubin, which are harder to dissolve, precipitate. This initially creates small crystals, which then grow over time and can become gallstones. They appear individually or in groups in a variety of ways, and range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.

From the age of 40, the risk of gallstones increases, with women being more affected. Gallstones in the family or Diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, Diabetes or Crohn's disease are additional risk factors. The risk of gallstones also increases if there is a high triglyceride level or a low level of "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol). Finally, body weight also has a particular influence on the risk of gallstones.

Biliary colic

Gallstones do not cause any symptoms at first, and this can remain the case for quite some time. However, if a gallstone has slipped into the bile duct, it prevents the bile from flowing into the intestine. The muscles in the bile duct try to push the stone further and contract in the process. This causes cramp-like, very severe pain in the upper abdomen under the right rib cage. The pain can radiate into the back and last between 15 minutes and 5 hours.

The typical symptoms of biliary colic are:

• Sudden pain in the right upper abdomen
• Sudden pain in the middle of the abdomen, just below the breastbone
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Pain in the right shoulder
• nausea or vomiting

The pain usually occurs in the evening or overnight, painkillers such as ibuprofen can relieve the pain, as soon as the stone dissolves, the pain ends. Nevertheless, he should Doctor should be sought out, especially if it is a recurring problem or if the symptoms become more severe.

The examination of the gallbladder by ultrasound is part of our Complete health check 

Abdominal ultrasound can be used to visualize the gallstones. If the results are inconclusive or if complications are suspected, other imaging tests may also be helpful.

The definitive treatment for gallstones

Gallbladder surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in adults and is the only way to permanently prevent biliary colic and complications.

The operation to remove the gallbladder, cholecystectomy (CCE), is performed under general anesthesia. Open surgery is rarely necessary, especially if the gallbladder is severely inflamed or infected. However, most operations are performed minimally invasively, either with an endoscope (laparoscopic) or with robot-assisted surgery.

The minimally invasive techniques use one to four small incisions and a camera to remove the gallbladder under visual control. After a minimally invasive operation, you have to stay two to three nights in the Hospital and can be physically active again after about a week.

It is also possible without a gallbladder

The gallbladder is not vital. If it is removed, the bile from the liver flows directly into the small intestine. After the procedure, the patient may temporarily experience softer, more frequent stools or a stronger urge to defecate, but this is usually only temporary.

Blockages in the bile duct can lead to an emergency

Blockages that last longer than a few hours can lead to complications, such as infections or inflammation of neighboring organs. If these symptoms occur, you should see a doctor immediately - because if left untreated, gallstone complications can even be fatal. These are the warning signs:

• Abdominal pain lasting several hours
• Nausea and vomiting
• fever or chills
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine or light stool

You can also prevent gallstones yourself

The main risk factors for gallstones have to do with your lifestyle. Gallstones develop more often in overweight people, especially in overweight women. To prevent the formation of gallstones, the rules of healthy weight development apply:

• a balanced, fiber-rich and low-fat diet
• alternatives with unsaturated fatty acids
• lots of vegetables
• little sugar
• regular exercise - at least 30 minutes per day

If you are obese, you should not lose weight too quickly. This also releases a lot of cholesterol, which increases the risk of gallstones forming. A high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich and low-fiber diet Nutrition can also lead to gallstones. Rapid weight loss, for example after obesity surgery, also promotes the formation of gallstones.