Treatment of Gallbladder Issues

Once your physician has the information to develop an accurate diagnosis and they will suggest a treatment plan.

If you have gallstones but are not experiencing symptoms, you may not require treatment. If you are experiencing pain due to gallstones, sludge, or dysfunction, your physician will order appropriate blood and imaging tests to determine whether a stone is lodged in the common bile duct. If so, surgery to remove the gallbladder is the next step.

The most common form of gallbladder removal is by laparoscopic surgery. This involves the surgeon making small incisions in the belly to remove the gallbladder. The recovery period for this surgery varies from patient to patient. For some patients, an open surgery (cholecystectomy) may be  required. .

Your body is able to function properly without the gallbladder. Some patients may experience diarrhea after surgery depending upon their diet and recovery. If this happens, you should see your gastroenterologist. It is possible there may be pain where your gallbladder used to be. Modifying your diet after surgery is usually a good idea to allow your body to adjust to having no gallbladder. A healthy, low-fat diet, is recommended.

See one of our gastroenterology specialists if you are suffering with symptoms of gallstones or gallbladder disease. We have offices in Salt Lake and Utah Counties to conveniently serve you.