If you are feeling a strange pain in your upper back, right shoulder, or upper-right side or center of your abdomen, then you may have gallstones. These are hard deposits of cholesterol or digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder.
You have a greater propensity for developing gallstones if you are overweight or eat a high-cholesterol diet. You can also easily get gallstones if you have diabetes, Crohn’s disease, or various blood disorders.
Let’s talk about how gallstones form and what can be done to treat them or remove them.
How Do Gallstones Occur?
The gallbladder is a fairly small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile from the liver and then transfers it to the small intestine when necessary for digestion. It’s located in the central right-hand side of your abdomen, right below your liver.
The jury is still out on what exactly causes gallstones to form, but it’s generally believed that they develop due to too much cholesterol in the bile, too much bilirubin in the bile (the body uses bilirubin to process red blood cells), or concentrations of bile itself due to the gallbladder not emptying properly.
Symptoms of Gallstones
Gallstones can range in size from sand particles to golf balls. It is possible for you to have one or more gallstones and not even know it, in which case you probably do not need to receive treatment for it.
There are certain symptoms that point to the presence of gallstones. A gallbladder attack can cause the following symptoms:
- Sudden and intense pain in the upper-right or central abdominal area
- Right shoulder pain
- Back pain between the shoulder blades
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever with chills
- Jaundice
The formation of gallstones may point to another health condition. For instance, cirrhosis of the liver and blood disorders may cause gallstones, which is why you need to seek medical treatment for gallstones and its symptoms.
Can a Gallstone Be Treated?
Because gallstones tend to recur and may create complications that can affect other organs such as the pancreas, your physician may suggest that you have your gallbladder removed. While this sounds like it could be a problem, what actually happens is that the surgeon removes the gallbladder and connects the liver directly to the small intestine for transfer of bile.
The gallbladder is not an essential organ. The lack of having a gallbladder may cause occasional diarrhea, but otherwise there is little effect.
However, if you would rather not or cannot have this surgery, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication to dissolve the gallstones. However, this treatment can take years to work, and the gallstones can still return. It is likely that you will have to take the prescription medication for the rest of your life. That said, this is a viable option.
Gallstone Diagnosis and Treatment in Austin, TX
For comprehensive gastrointestinal care, put your trust in our wonderful team of gastroenterologists here at Austin Gastroenterology. We specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including gallstones.
If you are ready to receive the best medical care for your GI or digestive issue, call the Austin Gastroenterology clinic nearest you or fill out our appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you feel as good as new!
