Ms. Lili, 35, had a small gathering with her colleagues after work, drank beer, had barbecue, and went to karaoke with friends after dinner. She felt unwell, with increasing pain in her right lower abdomen and back. In a hurry, her colleagues took her to the emergency department of a nearby hospital, where she was diagnosed with gallstones. Ms. Xiaoqian kept asking the doctor: Do we still need surgery? Do you want to have your gallbladder removed? I just started working for a few days and will be fired, which will affect my work ...
We often encounter this situation around us. Let's popularize the relevant knowledge:
Gallstones are a common disease mainly related to improper diet, chronic inflammatory stimulation, etc., which can lead to abnormal bile secretion, changes in bile composition, etc., and then form gallstones. The symptoms include the following aspects:
1. Fever and abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is the main symptom of gallstones, manifested as paroxysmal and spasmodic pain in the upper abdomen and right upper abdomen, accompanied by persistent aggravation, radiating to the right shoulder and back. Mainly due to the movement of stones within the gallbladder, which move to the cystic duct and common bile duct, causing cramping and contraction of the gallbladder smooth muscle, resulting in biliary colic.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: During acute attacks of gallstones, in addition to abdominal pain, there are symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. After the acute attack, it is often accompanied by aversion to oil and bloating.
3. Some patients may experience jaundice after pain, which is caused by biliary obstruction. This is a symptom that occurs during acute attacks of gallstones, but for most patients with gallstones, there are no symptoms because inactivity does not cause obstruction and therefore no symptoms. Some individuals may have bloating, aversion to oil, etc., but most of them have no symptoms and are discovered during physical examinations.
Don't panic when you find gallstones, it's not necessary to have the gallbladder removed. The main methods for treating gallstones include non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment depending on the situation:
1. Non surgical treatment: Gallstones smaller than 0.5cm may be discharged on their own, and most patients do not experience obvious discomfort, only occasional physical examination findings. Never caused attacks such as biliary colic or cholecystitis. During this period, it is recommended to drink plenty of water, have a light diet, exercise appropriately, and follow medical advice to dissolve and promote the expulsion of stones by using Ursodeoxycholic Acid Tablets, Gallstone Litong Capsules, Gallstone Granules, Gallstone Tablets, etc;
2. Surgical treatment: If the stone is relatively large and the patient already has discomfort such as abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin, yellowing of the sclera, bloating, nausea, vomiting, etc., which cannot be eliminated by non-surgical treatment, surgical treatment can be performed with the help of a doctor, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, open cholecystectomy, etc.
During the recovery period, it is important to avoid eating high-fat, high cholesterol, and high sugar foods such as butter, animal offal, fatty meat, lard, and fried foods. Smoking and drinking should be strictly avoided, and a light diet and plenty of water should be consumed to avoid stimulating the affected area and worsening or recurrence of gallstones. At the same time, it is also possible to go to the hospital every 1-2 months for a follow-up examination of liver function, liver and gallbladder ultrasound, etc. If there are any abnormalities, seek professional medical help in a timely manner.
If gallstones do not occur, it is generally not necessary to remove the gallbladder and medication can be taken under the guidance of a doctor for treatment. If the stones recur, it is recommended to remove the gallbladder if the physical condition allows. It depends on the specific situation. Patients with gallstones should avoid greasy foods, overeating, and regularly undergo liver and gallbladder ultrasound examinations.