Early symptoms and treatment of gallstones

Early symptoms of gallstones include abdominal pain, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, etc. These symptoms may vary depending on the size and location of the gallstones and whether they cause bile duct obstruction. Once you suspect you have gallstones, it is recommended to seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment. Treatment options include medication, minimally invasive surgery, and daily diet adjustments. The specific choice depends on the condition.

1. Early symptoms of gallstones

Symptoms of early gallstones usually include the following:

Abdominal discomfort or pain: The most common symptom is paroxysmal pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen, which may worsen after eating greasy food and last from minutes to hours.

Nausea and vomiting: Some patients may experience indigestion, belching or nausea, especially after eating greasy food.

Biliary colic: When stones block the bile duct, it can cause severe colic, which may be accompanied by fever or jaundice.

Jaundice and dark urine: If stones are blocking your bile duct, you may have yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark tea-colored urine.

2. Treatment of gallstones

Treatment options may vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and the location of your gallstones:

1. Medication

Drug treatment is suitable for people with mild symptoms and small stones.

Litholytic drugs: such as ursodeoxycholic acid, can help dissolve cholesterol stones, but the treatment course is long, usually more than half a year.

Antispasmodics: such as nitroglycerin, relieve pain caused by bile duct spasm.

Pain medications, such as ibuprofen, can be used to control biliary colic.

2. Minimally invasive surgery

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: This is currently a common method for treating gallstones. It has small incisions and quick recovery, and is suitable for most patients.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This procedure is used to remove stones from the bile duct through an endoscope.

Percutaneous gallbladder drainage: suitable for high-risk patients who cannot tolerate surgery and is used to relieve acute symptoms.

3. Daily care and dietary adjustment

Low-fat diet: Reduce the pressure of bile secretion and avoid eating high-fat, high-cholesterol foods, such as fried foods, animal offal, etc.

Increase dietary fiber: Eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains can help prevent the formation of gallstones.

Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity and rapid weight loss both increase the risk of gallstones, and weight should be maintained through a balanced diet and moderate exercise.

3. How to prevent the recurrence of gallstones?

For patients who have already received treatment, preventing gallstone recurrence is equally important.

Regular follow-up examinations: Even if symptoms have eased, regular follow-up examinations are required to detect problems early.

Adhere to a healthy diet: Avoid overeating and eat a balanced diet to effectively reduce the risk of gallstone recurrence.

Moderate exercise: Do about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day to keep bile flowing smoothly.

Friendly reminder

The early symptoms of gallstones are often ignored, but if not treated in time, they may cause serious complications such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis. If you experience symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain or jaundice, please seek medical attention as soon as possible. At the same time, improving eating habits and exercising regularly can effectively reduce the risk of gallstones and maintain good health.