Gallstones
What will happen to me?
You may worry about how gallstones will affect you in the future. It depends on how bad your stones are and whether you have treatment.
If your gallstones cause symptoms, such as bouts of pain in your abdomen or
inflammation of your
gallbladder, the usual treatment is an operation to take out your gallbladder. With this treatment, there's a good chance you won't have
any more symptoms. For example, more than 9 in 10 people who have this surgery because of painful gallstones stop getting
the pain.
1
2
inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.
gallbladder
The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver on the right side of your abdomen. Its job is to store bile, a chemical made in the liver that helps to break down food in the intestines.The chemicals in the gallbladder can, under certain circumstances, become solid and form small stones. If a stone gets stuck in the tubes that empty the gallbladder, there can be a backup of fluid, causing the gallbladder to swell and possibly become infected. This condition is called gallbladder disease.
The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver on the right side of your abdomen. Its job is to store bile, a chemical made in the liver that helps to break down food in the intestines.The chemicals in the gallbladder can, under certain circumstances, become solid and form small stones. If a stone gets stuck in the tubes that empty the gallbladder, there can be a backup of fluid, causing the gallbladder to swell and possibly become infected. This condition is called gallbladder disease.
Source:
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Source:
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
It is very unlikely that you will die from gallstones. This can happen only if you get serious problems and you don't get treatment quickly.
Such problems are rare. Also, people almost never die from gallstones in countries like the United States because you can get good treatment.
3
Source:
Cucchiaro G, Watters CR, Rossitch JC, et al.
Deaths from gallstones: incidence and associated clinical factors.
Annals of Surgery. 1989; 209: 149-151.
Cucchiaro G, Watters CR, Rossitch JC, et al.
Deaths from gallstones: incidence and associated clinical factors.
Annals of Surgery. 1989; 209: 149-151.
You may worry about gallstones causing cancer. Cancer of your gallbladder is also rare. About 80 percent of people who have this kind of cancer also have gallstones. But we don't know if the stones caused the
cancer. Most people with gallstones don't get gallbladder cancer.
4
Source:
American College of Gastroenterology.
Gallstones.
Available at http://www.acg.gi.org/patients (accessed 25 November 2008).
American College of Gastroenterology.
Gallstones.
Available at http://www.acg.gi.org/patients (accessed 25 November 2008).
If your gallstones have not caused any symptoms, doctors say you have silent gallstones. In this case, you probably won't get any problems in the future. So you probably won't need treatment.
In one study, only 2 in 100 people with silent gallstones started getting pain from them over the course of a year.
5 In another study, just 3 in 100 people got problems from their stones over the course of 10 years.
5
Source:
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Source:
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
The pain you get in your abdomen from your gallstones is called biliary pain. If you have had an attack of this pain, you may get more. And you might need an operation to take out your gallbladder.
This should stop you from getting more attacks.
1
2
Source:
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Source:
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
But other symptoms, like feeling sick to your stomach and getting indigestion, might not go away after your operation. This
may be because gallstones were not the cause of these symptoms.
1
6
Source:
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Source:
Bateson MC.
Fortnightly review: gallbladder disease.
BMJ. 1999; 318: 1745-1748 .
Bateson MC.
Fortnightly review: gallbladder disease.
BMJ. 1999; 318: 1745-1748 .
Researchers have looked at what happens to people who get attacks of biliary pain if they don't have treatment. Here is what studies show:
7
Source:
Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA.
Treatment of gallstones.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993; 119: 606-619.
Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA.
Treatment of gallstones.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993; 119: 606-619.
- About half of people who get an attack of this pain get another within one year.
- Some people have one or two attacks of biliary pain and then don't have any symptoms for many years. About 1 in 3 people who have an attack don't have another one for 10 years.
- In a year, 1 or 2 in 100 people who get attacks of biliary pain get a problem such as inflammation of their gallbladder.
- If you get attacks of biliary pain often, you will likely keep getting them often. If you only get attacks rarely, you will likely keep getting them rarely.
Source:
Friedman GD.
Natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones.
American Journal of Surgery. 1993; 165: 399-404.
Friedman GD.
Natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones.
American Journal of Surgery. 1993; 165: 399-404.
Your doctor will probably suggest an operation to take out your gallbladder. This should stop symptoms such as pain in your
abdomen and
fever. It should also stop you from getting more pain attacks.
1
2
fever
If you have a fever, your body temperature is above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). With a fever you often get other symptoms, such as shivering, headache or sweating. A fever is usually caused by an infection.
If you have a fever, your body temperature is above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). With a fever you often get other symptoms, such as shivering, headache or sweating. A fever is usually caused by an infection.
Source:
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.
Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?
Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
Source:
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.
Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
Most people who have an inflamed gallbladder find the pain either doesn't go away or comes back soon if they don't have treatment.
About 1 in 3 people who don't have treatment for an inflamed gallbladder get the same problem, or another gallstone problem,
within three months.
7
Source:
Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA.
Treatment of gallstones.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993; 119: 606-619.
Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA.
Treatment of gallstones.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993; 119: 606-619.
Inflammation of your gallbladder can lead to serious problems. In about 1 in 10 people with this, the gallbladder bursts or
starts to die (called gangrene).
9 If this happens, you need emergency surgery. Without treatment, about 1 in 5 people die.
10
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Source:
Isch JH, Finnernan JC, Nahrwold DL.
Perforation of the gallbladder.
American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1971; 55: 451-458.
Isch JH, Finnernan JC, Nahrwold DL.
Perforation of the gallbladder.
American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1971; 55: 451-458.
Here are some other serious problems you can get from gallstones.
9
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
If a stone stops bile from flowing properly, the bile can get infected.
5 When this
infection happens in the tube that carries bile to your bowel (your bile duct), it is called cholangitis.
Source:
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
Beckingham IJ.
ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.
BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.
This is serious. It causes pain in your abdomen, yellow skin and eyes (called jaundice) and a fever. The infection can also
spread. If it gets into your bloodstream, this can cause a very serious condition called sepsis.
But getting an infection of your bile duct is rare.
9
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
This happens when a stone blocks lower down in your bile duct. The blockage can stop the flow of digestive juices from your
pancreas. So it gets inflamed. Doctors call this pancreatitis.
pancreas
Your pancreas is an organ that's behind your stomach. It makes several different chemicals. Some of the chemicals help your body digest food. Your pancreas also makes a chemical called insulin, which helps your body use the sugar in your blood.
Your pancreas is an organ that's behind your stomach. It makes several different chemicals. Some of the chemicals help your body digest food. Your pancreas also makes a chemical called insulin, which helps your body use the sugar in your blood.
About 1 in 20 people with painful gallstones get an inflamed pancreas.
9 If this happens, you might need surgery.
9
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Your gallbladder sits near your bowel. So if your gallbladder gets very inflamed, it may stick to part of your bowel. This
could make a hole in your bowel. Doctors call this a fistula.
You will probably need an operation to take out your gallbladder and fix the hole. But getting a hole in your bowel is rare.
9
Source:
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Lee SP, Ko CW.
Gallstones.
In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
Fortunately not. You can live quite healthily without your gallbladder.
After your gallbladder is taken out, your liver will carry on making bile. Bile is the digestive juice that is usually stored
in the gallbladder until it's needed. When you eat, the bile is pumped into your bowel to help digest your food. If you don't
have a gallbladder, the bile will flow straight into your bowel more often.
Having more bile in the bowel can cause diarrhea. About 1 in 100 people who have their gallbladder removed get diarrhea.
11
Source:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House.
Gallstones.
Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones (accessed on 25 November 2008).
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House.
Gallstones.
Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones (accessed on 25 November 2008).
Sources for the information on this page:
- Berger MY, Olde Hartemen TC, Bohnen AM.Abdominal symptoms: do they disappear after cholecystectomy?Surgical Endoscopy. 2003; 17: 1723-1728.
- Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.Treatment of gallstone and gallbladder disease.Available at http://www.ssat.com/cgi-bin/chole7.cgi (accessed 25 November 2008).
- Cucchiaro G, Watters CR, Rossitch JC, et al.Deaths from gallstones: incidence and associated clinical factors.Annals of Surgery. 1989; 209: 149-151.
- American College of Gastroenterology.Gallstones.Available at http://www.acg.gi.org/patients (accessed 25 November 2008).
- Beckingham IJ.ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system: gallstone disease.BMJ. 2001; 322: 91-94.
- Bateson MC.Fortnightly review: gallbladder disease.BMJ. 1999; 318: 1745-1748 .
- Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA.Treatment of gallstones.Annals of Internal Medicine. 1993; 119: 606-619.
- Friedman GD.Natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic gallstones.American Journal of Surgery. 1993; 165: 399-404.
- Lee SP, Ko CW.Gallstones.In: Alpers D H, et al (editors). Textbook of gastroenterology. 4th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2003.
- Isch JH, Finnernan JC, Nahrwold DL.Perforation of the gallbladder.American Journal of Gastroenterology. 1971; 55: 451-458.
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House.Gallstones.Available at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones (accessed on 25 November 2008).
This information was last updated on May 12, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
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Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
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