How are gallstones treated? Medication, surgery, diet, tea?

For most of the gallbladder stones detected, which do not cause any complications or pain, no treatment is necessary. Only adherence to the diet is enough.

For asymptomatic gallstones, a follow-up sonography 1 time a year is recommended.

Only when pain is present, removal of gallstones or use of medication is recommended.

When the stones become larger, removal of the gallbladder is recommended. This is also recommended in people with other associated diseases such as diabetes, immune disorders. Also in cases where the size of the stone exceeds 2 cm, and in the case of porcelain gallbladder, which is associated with the occurrence of gallbladder cancer.

Treatment of pain is aimed at bed rest and adherence to diet, irrigation of the body and administration of drugs to relieve cramps and pain.

A colic attack is treated with bed rest, fasting and diet. Spasmolytic drugs are given to relieve the spasms. Only after the symptoms subside is removal of the gallbladder recommended. In case of inflammation, antibiotics are also given.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is the most common procedure.

The aim of the treatment is to remove the stones by surgical means.

Removal of the gallbladder is the best treatment method. If only the gallstones are removed (this is done by a procedure called lithotomy), gallstones will soon start to form again in the gallbladder.

The gallbladder is not essential for life. Only a very small proportion of people suffer discomfort after gallbladder removal.

Removal of the gallbladder can be done in two ways. Either by conventional surgery, which involves a surgical incision to remove the gallbladder, or by laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery is referred to as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The advantage of laparoscopic surgery is shorter post-operative care and shorter hospital stay. However, not all cases of gallbladder stones are suitable for removal by this method.

After gallbladder removal, bile drains from the liver directly into the small intestine. It is not stored in the gallbladder.

Lithotripsy is a non-surgical procedure that does not put much strain on the patient. This procedure is performed using a shock wave to avoid damaging the surrounding tissues. Its action breaks the gallstone.

However, this procedure is little used. The stones are broken into small stones which are sharper. Therefore, there is a higher risk of them getting stuck in the bile duct.

ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is the removal of gallstones using an endoscope. This procedure does not require any incision.

Non-surgical treatment

It is possible to shrink and dissolve gallstones by chemical means. Medications containing bile acids are given for a long time to reduce the lithogenicity of bile. This method is lengthy.

To dissolve cholesterol-type gallstones in the gallbladder, drugs containing ursodeoxycholic acid are administered. The stones must be no larger than 15 millimetres and the function of the gallbladder must be preserved.

Some types of stones can be dissolved by ursodocholic acid, but not completely. If the stones do not dissolve within 2 months, surgical removal is the only option.

For gallbladder attack, you can take antispasmodics.

Cholerics increase the production and excretion of bile and relieve pain in gallbladder disease.

There are several types of over-the-counter medications to aid digestion.

To increase bile excretion in gallbladder disorders, gallstone formation and liver disease, drugs are given to dissolve cholesterol stones.

Conservative treatment is aimed at adherence to a diet that is supposed to be wholesome and low in fat.

Spa treatment is also a suitable alternative.

Grandmotherly advice for gallstones

There is a lot of grandmotherly advice on the Internet on how to get rid of gallstones. None of them guarantees their elimination.

However, one should be careful when trying them to avoid gallbladder attack.

Over-the-counter medications are also available at the pharmacy to support gallbladder function or to control the pain of a gallbladder attack.

Lifestyle changes are very important. Various teas and supplements can be added for proper gallbladder function.

Herbal teas that support gallbladder function and are useful for digestive disorders include: triple-leaf vetch, borage, dandelion, yarrow, yarrow, nettle, dandelion, dandelion, milk thistle, chamomile.

For a gallbladder attack, try, for example, chicory tea, peppermint.

Is turmeric suitable for treating gallstones?

Turmeric has antiseptic and antioxidant effects on the body and in small amounts does no harm.

It contains several potent alkaloids. Therefore, it should be avoided or used with caution by people suffering from gallbladder problems. Its effect of increasing bile secretion may worsen the problem.

Avoid consuming turmeric if you have gallstones or a blocked bile duct.

In people who have had their gallbladder removed, its consumption does not cause difficulties in most cases.

Prevention of gallstones

Reduce the risk of gallstones:

• Eat regularly. Skipping meals or fasting increases the risk of gallstones due to irregular release of bile from the gallbladder.
• If you want to lose weight, lose weight slowly. Rapid weight loss, like skipping meals, can increase your risk of gallstones.
• Eat a diet containing fibre. Include fruit, vegetables and whole grains in your diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of gallstones.

The overall lifestyle has a big influence on the course of cholelithiasis. Not only the diet itself, but also the psychological state can worsen the disease.

The diet for gallstones is aimed at reducing the intake of sugars and fats. The diet should be easily digestible, varied and wholesome, with a sufficient intake of fruit and vegetables.

In a gallbladder attack, fasting until the pain subsides, increased fluid intake and administration of pain-relieving drugs are recommended. After the pain subsides, dry bread or biscuits with tea are added.

Read also the article:

• What are the basics and principles of the gallbladder diet? What foods to eat / not to eat?
• How to recipes for gallbladder diet? + Foods that do not irritate the gallbladder

Inappropriate foods for gallbladder stones

• Fresh baked goods, completely avoid fresh baked goods that are still warm
• Wholemeal bread, yeast dough, puff pastry, puff pastry, sandwiches, linzer dough, sandwiches
• High-fat milk, whipped cream
• Ripe and mould cheeses
• Fatty meats, cured meats, canned meats, red meats, offal
• Fish - salmon, tuna, seafood, mackerel, sardines
• Fruit - pears, dates, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, plums, coconut and small fruits with seeds e.g. raspberries, currants, gooseberries, nuts, poppy seeds, blueberries, cranberries
• Alcohol
• Wine, beer
• Strong coffee and coffee with sediment
• Bubbly drinks
• Vegetables that cause bloating, such as cabbage, kale, legumes, garlic, onions, leeks, peppers, cauliflower, cucumbers, mushrooms
• Spicy spices, flavourings, broths
• Mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, tartar sauce
• Fried and deep-fried foods
• No food should be prepared in oil or fat
• Sweets, chocolate

Inappropriate foods for gallstones

• Lean meat - lean pork, turkey, chicken, rabbit, lean fish - cod, bream
• Meat preparation steamed, stewed
• Side dishes rice, pasta, potatoes without cooking in oil
• Oat flakes
• White bread, but not fresh, rusks
• Egg white, egg yolk only on a limited basis
• Skimmed milk products
• Vegetables without bloating, fresh, frozen, sterilised, e.g. carrots, celery, parsley
• Fruit bananas, apples, peaches, apricots
• Still waters, herbal teas

Diet after gallbladder removal

After gallbladder removal, a person must be careful about the diet and avoid excessive and sudden consumption of fatty, hard-to-digest foods. Bile is released into the intestine gradually and cannot process fatty foods in the intestine.