A 24-year-old member asked:
What are gallstones?
4 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mark Hoepfneranswered
Surgery 41 years experience
Gallstones: Gallstones are made of various crystal that grow into stones in the gallbladder. They can be from bile (bilirubin) or cholesterol origin. They grow in the gallbladder, may be present without any symptoms, or may cause upper abdominal pressure, bloating, discomfort, nausea, or vomiting. Often eating fatty foods may aggravate the discomfort from gallstones.
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Dr. Rafael Lugoanswered
General Surgery 30 years experience
Stones: Stones inside the gallbladder made usually from cholesterol or calcium.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 36 years experience
R U In Pain?: The presence of gallstones in and of itself does not require treatment--as many as 75% of people with 'silent' stones will never develop symptoms. However, if you are having pain due to the gallstones, the best option is to have your gallbladder removed. Laparoscopic removal is usually an out-patient operation with low complication rates and a quick return to normal activities. Good luck!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Dr. Mark Hoepfneranswered
Surgery 41 years experience
Depends: Leave them alone & observe if you are having no abdominal symptoms of discomfort, nausea or vomiting. Laparoscopic surgery is a common means to remove gallbladder and gallstones if they are causing an illness or problem. Medication may dissolve non-calcified gallstones but may take years.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
Similar questions
A 37-year-old member asked:
What are gallstones and what are the symptoms?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Uyedaanswered
General Surgery 47 years experience
Gallstones are: Precipitants that form when the bile is supersaturated. It can form from any combination of cholesterol, bilirubinate, lecithin, and bile salts. It can cause biliary colic or acute cholecystitis. Classic symptoms are right upper quadrant postprandial pain with radiation to tip of scapula. But they can cause other symptoms too, so check with your doctor, he'll get tests to find out for sure.
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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Terrell, TX
A 23-year-old female asked:
Can gallstones be hereditary?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Benjamin Kimanswered
General Surgery 45 years experience
Technically no: Gallstones are precipitated material- usually cholesterol, less commonly bilirubinate(black stones). But certain inherited conditions (eg sickle cell anemia) may oversaturate the bile to form stones. Some families have high rates- probable combination of inherited metabolic traits and dietary habits.
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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Gallstones: what to eat and what not to eat?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Paxton Danielanswered
Radiology 34 years experience
Some: Find avoiding fatty foods helps with gallbladder symptoms. No diet will make the stones go away. The only viable solution to significant gallbladder pain is removing the gallbladder.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Can i die from gallstones?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 36 years experience
Highly Unlikely: Most people with gallbladder disease are troubled by transient episodes of pain, often after eating (biliary colic). If the gb is obstructed by a stone, inflammation can develop, but it rarely leads to an infection. If a stone exits the gb, it can block the: liver, potentially leading to serious liver infections (cholangitis), or the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis; very rarely, this is fatal.
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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Canada
A 37-year-old female asked:
How are gallstones diagnosed?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Funganswered
General Surgery 41 years experience
Usually ultrasound: Given the right medical history, gallstones are usually diagnosed by an ultrasound. On occasion, gallstones can be picked up by other means, such as ct scan or by plain x-rays of the abdomen. Usually asymptomatic gallstones are left undisturbed.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 11, 2018
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