A buildup of too much bile in the gallbladder can cause gallbladder attacks. Different people experience gallbladder attacks differently. Although pain typically is on the right side, or between the shoulder blades, it may also feel like low back pain, cramps, or the like.
Gallbladder attacks are usually a symptom indicating that something else is wrong with the gallbladder. If gallbladder function is compromised and the gallbladder doesn’t empty as quickly as it should, a gallbladder attack may occur.
These symptoms indicate that food is not digesting properly, a common occurrence with gallbladder disease. There can also be “twinges” or pain that feels like gas or cramps in the midsection.
This pain may be worse after a meal that is high in fat.
Some people experience diarrhea that may last up to three months or more and may have up to ten bowel movements per day.
Some gallbladder problems, such as smaller gallstones, will not require invasive medical treatment. These can sometimes resolve on their own. However, a doctor’s visit is needed to determine this.
Most polyps found in the gallbladder during the ultrasound are very small and do not need removal. Your doctor may want to monitor smaller polyps through additional ultrasound examinations to ensure they do not grow. Larger polyps generally indicate a greater risk of gallbladder cancer. Removal of gallbladder polyps is at the discretion of your doctor.
Gallstones are almost never treated with medicine. It takes years to dissolve the stone with medicine, and the stones that can be treated effectively are so small that it almost never worth the bother. Removal of the gallbladder sometimes have side effects, (such as loose stools) but often none at all.
