Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Identifying common gallbladder problems
• Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms of gallbladder disease
• Method 3 of 3: Get medical attention
• Tips
• Warnings

The gallbladder is a small digestive organ whose main function is to store bile produced by the liver. Sometimes the gallbladder does not function properly and the organ can become cluttered with gallstones. Gallbladder disease is more common in women, overweight people, people with stomach or intestinal problems, and people with high blood cholesterol. There is also a genetic component. Gallstones are the main cause of gallbladder disease, but two uncommon causes are gallbladder cancer and gallbladder inflammation, also known as cholecystitis. Recognizing the symptoms of gallbladder disease and seeking medical attention can help you avoid discomfort and medical complications.

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Method 1 of 3: Identifying common gallbladder problems

1. Learn about gallstones. When the bile in the gallbladder hardens and deposits form, gallstones can form. These deposits can be the size of a grain of sand or the size of a large golf ball.
2. Watch for signs of jaundice. You will notice that your skin or the whites of your eyes take on a yellow tint. You can also have white or chalky stools. Jaundice usually occurs when gallstones clog the bile duct, causing too much bile to enter the liver. The bile can then be absorbed into your bloodstream.
3. Recognize the symptoms of cholecystitis. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. This inflammation can be caused by gallstones, tumors or other gallbladder problems. The attacks usually cause severe pain generally on the right side of the body or between the shoulder blades. This pain is often accompanied by nausea and other stomach complaints.
   • A build-up of too much bile in the gallbladder can cause pain attacks.
   • People experience these pain attacks in different ways. The pain usually occurs on the right side of the body or between the shoulder blades, but it can also feel like lower back pain, cramping, or something similar.
4. Know that your diet affects your gallbladder. Large or greasy meals can trigger a pain attack. These attacks often occur in the evening, within hours of eating.
   • Gallbladder attacks usually indicate that something else is wrong with the gallbladder. A gallbladder attack can occur when the gallbladder stops functioning properly and does not drain as quickly as it should.

Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the symptoms of gallbladder disease

1. Watch for early symptoms. Some of the early symptoms of gallbladder disease are gas, burping, heartburn, bloating, constipation, and digestive problems. These symptoms can be easily overlooked and are often undiagnosed or dismissed as a less serious problem. However, early intervention can be important.
   • These symptoms indicate that the food you eat is not being digested properly. This is common in people with gallbladder disease.
   • You may also experience shooting pains, pain that feels like gas, or cramps in your stomach.
2. Watch for symptoms that seem to indicate stomach flu or mild food poisoning. This may include symptoms such as persistent nausea, feeling unwell, constant tiredness and vomiting.
3. Identify where you are in pain. People with gallbladder problems often experience pain in the upper abdomen that usually (but not always) radiates to the right shoulder. This can be constant pain, but also pain that comes and goes. This depends on the cause of the gallbladder problem in question.
   • The pain may be worse after eating a fatty meal.
4. Look for an unpleasant body odor or very bad breath. If you've always had a strong body odor or halitosis (chronic bad breath), chances are that this doesn't indicate anything. However, if you experience this suddenly and these problems don't go away within a few days, it could indicate an underlying problem such as a stopped gallbladder.
5. Check your stool. One of the most obvious signs of a gallbladder problem is stools that are light or chalky in color. Lighter, softer stools can be the result of a lack of bile. Your urine may also be darker in color, even if you still drink the same amount of water as before.
   • Some people experience diarrhea that can last for three months or more, requiring them to go to the bathroom up to 10 times a day.
6. Watch for signs of fever, shivering, and shivering. These symptoms generally occur in the later stages of gallbladder disease. Again, these are symptoms that are common with other conditions. However, if you have an upset stomach and other symptoms that indicate gallbladder disease, a fever could be a bad sign that the condition is progressing.

Method 3 of 3: Get medical attention

1. See your doctor if you have any of the symptoms that indicate gallbladder disease. You should definitely seek medical attention if you experience many of the symptoms described above. See your doctor as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms, if your symptoms get worse, or if you develop new symptoms.
   • Some gallbladder problems, such as smaller gallstones, do not require major medical treatment. These problems often go away on their own. However, you must see a doctor to have this determined.
2. Get scheduled for an ultrasound of your abdomen. It is necessary to have an ultrasound so that the doctor can determine how effectively your gallbladder is functioning and whether there are major blockages in the bile duct. The sonographer will look for gallstones, the flow of bile, and signs of tumors (which are rare).
   • Most polyps found in the gallbladder on ultrasound are very small and do not need to be removed. Your doctor may want to look at smaller polyps with additional ultrasound exams so that he can determine with certainty that they are not growing. Larger polyps usually indicate a greater risk of gallbladder cancer.
   • Your doctor will assess whether the polyps in your gallbladder need to be removed.
3. Get scheduled for gallbladder surgery if necessary. Many gallbladder problems are remedied by removing large gallstones or the gallbladder itself (cholecystectomy). The body can function normally without the gallbladder, so don't be alarmed if your doctor recommends having your gallbladder removed.
   • Gallstones are almost never treated with drugs. It can take years to dissolve a stone with medicine, and the stones that can be treated effectively are so small that it is almost never worth it.
   • Sometimes side effects (such as soft stools) can occur after removal of the gallbladder, but often none at all.

Tips

• Eat less fatty foods.
• Doctors recommend that their patients drink water and maintain a balanced diet.
• Over-the-counter digestive enzymes can help reduce symptoms such as gas and pain. They help digest fats, dairy and large meals.

Warnings

• Avoid foods that can trigger seizures, such as fatty meats, cauliflower, spicy foods, pork, and eggs. Seeds and corn are also known to irritate the gallbladder.