Will gallstones cause bitter taste in the mouth and yellow skin?

Gallstones may cause a bitter taste in the mouth and yellow skin due to bile duct obstruction and cholestasis. If accompanied by these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible because it may indicate a serious problem such as cholecystitis or jaundice.

Gallstones are mainly formed by the deposition of cholesterol or bile pigments in the gallbladder. When the stones block the bile duct, bile excretion is obstructed and bile refluxes into the gastrointestinal tract, causing a bitter taste in the mouth. The yellowing of the skin is related to the inability to excrete bilirubin in the bile normally, usually manifested as jaundice. It may also be accompanied by symptoms such as dull pain in the right upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Patients with milder gallstones may not have obvious symptoms temporarily, but when the stones cause acute inflammation or bile tract infection, it will not only aggravate the bitter taste in the mouth and jaundice, but may also cause chills and fever.

For the treatment of gallstones, if the symptoms are mild, you can first consider non-surgical methods, such as relieving gallbladder pressure through a low-fat diet, or taking ursodeoxycholic acid as recommended by the doctor to help dissolve small stones. If the symptoms are severe or recurrent, you can choose minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is currently the mainstream method for treating gallstones. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is suitable for patients with small stones who have indications for stone removal. During treatment, reduce the intake of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods, and eat more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to help balance cholesterol metabolism.

If you experience bitter taste in the mouth, yellow skin or other accompanying symptoms, do not ignore it. Go to the hospital as soon as possible for ultrasound and blood tests to clarify the gallbladder function and seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid delaying the disease. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising moderately, and avoiding long periods of sitting and obesity are also important means of preventing gallstones.