The only time most people pay any sort of attention to their gallbladder is when something is wrong with it. Despite not being an essential organ, gallbladder problems can be hugely uncomfortable and threaten health and well-being. There are several different causes of these problems, and we will examine them here, as well as possible management options.
Some signs and symptoms accompanying gallbladder problems depend on the exact condition(s) causing the problems. Individuals also experience these symptoms differently. In fact, the same condition may present with different symptoms among different people.
Furthermore, these signs may also be indicative of other problems with the digestive tract and are not exclusive to gallbladder problems. Nonetheless, below are common signs of problems with the gallbladder.
Different conditions are implicated in gallbladder problems. They are outlined below.
These are deposits of solid material that can form in the gallbladder. The solid material is usually made of digestive fluid, like cholesterol and bilirubin. Gallstones develop when high fat and bile levels lead to the formation of crystals, which may then grow into stones.
The stones differ in size, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters. However, most gallstones are small in size. Some individuals have just one gallstone, while some have several simultaneously.
Gallstones can lead to several other gallbladder problems. Also, there may or may not be symptoms accompanying the development of gallstones. If there are no symptoms, there is usually no need for medical attention. Conversely, if symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, darkening of urine, jaundice, and pale stool arise, it is important to get medical attention.
Also known as common bile duct stones, this condition is another cause of gallbladder problems. The common bile duct is where the hepatic and cystic ducts join. It conveys bile stored in the gallbladder into the small intestine. Choledocholithiasis results when there is a blockage in this common bile duct by gallstones.
Depending on where the stones are formed, choledocholithiasis can be classified as primary or secondary. When stones form in the common bile duct, the condition is primary. However, when the stones form in the gallbladder and then pass into the common bile duct, the condition is secondary. The secondary type of choledocholithiasis is the more typical type, but it is not as likely to cause an infection.
Symptoms of choledocholithiasis include pain (particularly in the upper right part of the stomach), darkening of urine, paleness of stool, and jaundice.
This is the inflammation of the gallbladder, and it occurs when bile is stuck in the gallbladder. If there is excess bile in the gallbladder, there is subsequent irritation of the gallbladder, which ultimately causes reddening and swelling (inflammation). Cholecystitis can be acute or chronic, depending on if it is short-term or long-term, respectively.
The most typical cause of cholecystitis is when gallstones become large enough to block tubes that drain the gallbladder. Infection, tumors, decreased blood flow, and biliary sludge can also cause inflammation of the gall bladder.
Acute cholecystitis lasts around three days, with varying symptoms depending on the individual. However, it is common to experience pain in the upper middle or right side of the abdomen, which lasts for about half an hour. The pain can radiate to the back and shoulders. Other symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and bloating.
This is an infection of the liver’s bile duct, which typically results from the blockage of the normal passage of digestive fluids. Gallstones are the most common cause of duct blockage, but tumors can also be responsible.
Symptoms of this condition include weakness, itching, dryness of the eyes and mouth, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, darkening of the urine and skin, pain, and weight loss. Cholangitis can be either acute or chronic, depending on the duration of symptoms.
It is important to have this condition assessed and identified by your doctor right away, as the infection may spread to other parts of the body, increasing the risk of sepsis.
The chances of cancer being the cause of gallbladder problems is quite rare, but it is notoriously difficult to manage. This is because of how quickly cancer can spread to other body organs before medical practitioners detect it, opening the door to several other health conditions. Again, gallstones are implicated in gallbladder cancer, significantly increasing the risk of developing it.
Women and older adults have a higher risk of developing gallbladder cancer. Common signs that an individual has gallbladder cancer include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, paleness of stools, darkening of urine, fatigue, indigestion, malaise, and jaundice.
This is an umbrella term for many different conditions that involve abnormal tissue growths (polyps) in the inside lining of the gallbladder. There are no observable signs of polyps, with medical practitioners usually stumbling across them in imaging tests. Generally, polyps are harmless, but they may point to other gallbladder problems.
If there is indeed another gallbladder condition, like gallstones or inflammation, the individual will experience different symptoms, particularly pain in the upper right abdomen. More concerning is the risk of polyps turning into cancers.
The rule of thumb when dealing with polyps is that, if it is larger than a centimeter, it is likely to become cancerous. However, if it is smaller, it presents no immediate threat, but may be an indication that other gallbladder problems may be present. Always follow up with your practitioner to get them monitored.
This is another complication of gallstones, and as the name suggests, a perforated gallbladder is a condition characterized by a hole or tear in the gallbladder. This can cause the content of the gallbladder to leak into other areas of the body, which can then cause serious infections. Aside from gallstones, a perforated gallbladder may be due to a complication with gallbladder inflammation.
Another name for this condition is porcelain gallbladder, due to the brittleness of the gallbladder, and it occurs due to repeated deposits of calcium in the gallbladder wall. Over time, the gallbladder wall becomes rigid and there is a concurrent reduction in function.
Porcelain gallbladder presents as a painful condition, with the pain spreading from the upper right part of the stomach to just beneath the shoulders. Aside from the pain, the individual may feel bloated and have an urge to vomit. These symptoms may get worse as the day progresses.
Often, health experts are unsure of the exact reason gallbladder problems develop. However, studies have identified several risk factors.
Gender - women have a higher risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder cancer.One of the less commonly identified yet crucial risk factors for gallbladder problems is stress. The body is equipped for managing stress, relying on its in-built stress-coping mechanism – the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response. This stress response system involves several organs of the body across six circuits.
The circuit linked to the gallbladder and liver, both involved in the biliary system, is the Bioenergetics Circuit. When this circuit dysregulates, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) may develop. This condition describes an adrenal dysfunction where the body’s stress response cannot cope with chronic life stressors. With AFS, the health and functioning of the liver and gallbladder may be affected. People with this condition are, therefore, also at a higher risk of gallbladder problems.
Fortunately, gallbladder problems are very much treatable. However, most gallbladder conditions worsen over time and may even spread to other parts of the body, so immediate care is necessary. For gallstones and polyps, medical attention is typically only required when symptoms arise.
Below are the go-to management options for gallbladder problems.
The surgical procedure medical practitioners employ is known as cholecystectomy, which is the complete removal of the gallbladder. This is not as dangerous or significant to health as you may think, considering the gallbladder is not an essential organ. That is, you do not need the gallbladder to survive.
If your healthcare provider observes gallstones or severe inflammation or infection, the whole gallbladder will likely be removed. After cholecystectomy, the bile the liver produces will flow directly into the common bile duct and the liver as opposed to being stored in the gallbladder.
This surgical procedure is generally safe and low-risk, but complications may arise. The complications may be mild, like experiencing loose stools from time to time. However, complications may also be severe, like bile leaking into other parts of the body, which can cause infection and inflammation in the affected areas. Also, the liver, bile duct, or small intestine may be injured during the surgery.
You should inform your healthcare provider of any discomfort you notice after a cholecystectomy.
Depending on the condition, healthcare practitioners may recommend other therapies, like chemotherapy. These therapies usually come after the gallbladder removal surgery to curtail the spread of the infection or cancer.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a technique that uses endoscopy and fluoroscopy to identify and manage specific biliary and pancreatic system conditions. Your healthcare practitioner may use an endoscope to identify and remove gallstones from your gallbladder. This procedure is done when surgery is deemed an excessive measure, for example with minor gallstones in the gallbladder.
Medical practitioners may recommend certain medications to combat gallbladder problems. For instance, ursodiol is a drug that can effectively dissolve gallstones. Also, several antibiotics can help manage infections arising from gallbladder conditions. Medications are also important in managing different symptoms, especially pain.
However, medications are not the preferred management option as the problems may resurface when the medication is stopped. Generally, medical practitioners only administer medications when surgery is not an option.
You may also be advised to adopt a new diet plan, often known as the gallbladder diet, in a bid to reduce the risk and improve recovery from gallbladder problems. Healthcare practitioners may also recommend this diet in the weeks leading to and after surgery.
Over the years, the gallbladder diet has emerged as a management option for gallbladder problems. Basically, the gallbladder diet involves abstaining from foods that may worsen gallbladder problems, like high-fat foods, processed foods, and refined carbs. At the same time, the individual adopts specific foods, especially those that are low in fat. They include:
While the gallbladder diet makes sense on paper, it is important to note that it cannot prevent or, on its own, manage many gallbladder problems. If an individual has problems with their gallbladder but without symptoms, then the gallbladder diet makes sense. On the other hand, people that suffer from symptoms relating to the gallbladder will need more than the gallbladder diet to relieve them.
There are some supplements that can help improve the health of the gallbladder and limit the risk of these gallbladder conditions. However, ensure you speak with your healthcare provider before incorporating these supplements into your diet.
This mineral plays an important role in emptying the gallbladder and alleviating gallbladder pain and spasms. Magnesium can reduce the risk of forming gallstones and is, therefore, a good supplement to support the gallbladder.
Obtained naturally from turmeric, curcumin is available as an oral supplement. This supplement can help reduce inflammation in the body, as well as assist in bile production and gallbladder emptying.
Vitamin C and Folic Acid have been found to help prevent the development of gallbladder conditions. While they can be obtained naturally from the diet, particularly from fruits and vegetables, they are also available as supplements.
Ox Bile can help reduce the risk of gallstone formation. It binds up excess fat in the diet so that the gallbladder doesn't 'have to work as hard to produce bile.
Digestive Enzymes help break down foods so that nutrients can be absorbed optimally. As more foods are broken down, the gallbladder doesn't have to produce as much bile to emulsify them.
The gallbladder helps in storing bile in the body. However, different gallbladder problems may arise, threatening the health of the biliary system and body system at large. Common causes of these problems include gallstones, infection, and inflammation of the common bile duct, and their complications.
Considering the gallbladder is not an essential organ, removal of the gallbladder is the default option when symptoms arise. Healthcare providers may also recommend the gallbladder diet, ERCP, or medications, depending on the individual’s specific needs.
For more information about gallbladder problems, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free, no-obligation phone consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234 where we will privately discuss your symptoms and various options. You can also send us a question through our Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.
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While the gallbladder diet is an important management option for gallbladder problems, it cannot prevent them. In fact, there is no known prevention for these problems. Nevertheless, the gallbladder diet can reduce the risk, as well as improve recovery from various gallbladder problems.
