The gall bladder is a small pear shaped organ that is located on the underside of the liver. Gall bladder disease occurs when gallstones form in the bile duct which can slow the release or even block the release of bile into the digestive system.. When there are gallstones that do not cause any symptoms, there is usually no treatment required. Mild cases are usually able to be dealt with simply by having the patient make a few small lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.



Gall bladder surgery is one of the most commonly recommended treatment options, and there are actually a few different surgeries that you can go with. Laparoscopic gall bladder surgery is usually the most successful for the removal of small gall stones, and involves the removal of the gall bladder and gallstones through several small incisions in the abdomen.

The surgeon inflates the abdomen and then inserts a lighted scope inside. This allows them to clearly see what they are doing and they have a video camera attached to the scope. The surgeon removes the small gall stones. Recovery time from Laparoscopic surgery is usually just a few days.

For larger gall stones the gall bladder may be removed by abdominal surgery. After the gall bladder has been removed bile is no longer stored in the body and when the liver produces bile it will flow from the liver through the common bile duct and out into the small intestine. Recovery time for abdominal surgery can take up to several weeks.

After the Surgery

After your gall bladder surgery there are a few things you are going to want to be prepared for. Side effects are rare but do occur in many patients and in particular you may experience pain in the shoulder and abdomen. This pain may last anywhere up to a few days but if it persists longer than this you should mention it to your doctor to make sure that there is nothing serious at play here.

You may also notice that you are having more bowel movements than normal, possibly even diarrhea. Minor inflammation or drainage at the surgical wound sites may occur as may a loss of appetite and even some nausea.

Gall bladder surgery is usually not very complicated and you may have it as an outpatient or stay a couple days in the hospital. The majority of patients who go through with the surgery do not experience any side effects at all as a result of the procedure but it is important to be well aware of them beforehand so that you will not be surprised if you do notice any of these symptoms.

Life style changes is the best method of treating gallstones. Lowering your intake of fats and cholesterol and increasing your take of fluids and fiber can stop all of the symptoms of a gall bladder problem. Surgery will be necessary for the more persistent gall bladder problems and is if there are no factors present that may complicate the surgery. You will have to work together with your doctor here in order to determine which course of action is best suited for your condition.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating gall bladder problems such as vitamin c, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, niacin, oat bran, pectin, Phytosterols and Policosanol.

Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood.

Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid (EPA) lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides. Salmon Oil is one of the best known sources of natural EPA.

Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.

Phytosterols is found in flax seed and peanuts, which are suggested to help lower serum cholesterol.

Pectin limits the amount of cholesterol the body can absorb.

Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.

Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.