What to do if you have gallstones after eating greasy food

The pain of gallstones after eating greasy food is mainly due to the fact that high-fat diet stimulates the contraction of the gallbladder, causing the stones to get stuck in the cystic duct or common bile duct, causing biliary colic. The key to relieving pain is to reduce the stimulation of gallbladder contraction, and medical treatment is required if necessary. Symptoms can be relieved by adjusting diet, drug treatment and surgical intervention.

1. Adjust your diet. Reduce the intake of high-fat foods and avoid greasy and fried foods. Choose low-fat, high-fiber foods, such as oats, vegetables and fruits. Eat small meals frequently and avoid eating too much at one time. Drink plenty of water to help dilute bile and reduce the risk of stone blockage.

2. Medication. Painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can relieve mild pain. For biliary colic attacks, doctors may prescribe antispasmodics such as atropine or anisodamine to help relax the gallbladder and bile duct smooth muscle. Choleretic drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid can promote bile excretion and reduce stone blockage. Antibiotics such as cephalosporins or penicillins are used to prevent or treat cholecystitis.

3. Surgical treatment. Cholecystectomy is a common method for treating gallstones, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy. For patients who cannot undergo surgery, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or endoscopic retrograde pancreaticocholangiopancreatography can be used to remove the stones. Common bile duct stones can be treated by endoscopic sphincterotomy or common bile duct exploration.

The pain of gallstones needs to be treated promptly to avoid the development of serious complications such as cholecystitis or pancreatitis. Long-term management should focus on diet control and regular physical examinations, and if necessary, medication or surgery should be performed under the guidance of a doctor.