Gallbladder Pain: What Is Cholecystitis?
Understanding gallbladder pain begins with appreciating the role in digestion that our gallbladder plays. The gallbladder is a small, 8 x 4 cm pear-shaped organ which holds bile manufactured by the liver, in storage. During digestion, certain hormones trigger the release of bile from the gallbladder in various concentrations to assist with emulsifying, (breaking down) fats so that they can be absorbed and used by our bodies. Bile fluid also contains ingredients which help to make fat soluble vitamins water-soluble and able to enter the bloodstream.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis refers to inflammation, swelling and pain of the gallbladder due to gallstones, a tumor or other bile duct blockages. Most cases of cholecystitis are due to hard, “stone” formations consisting of cholesterol, bile salts and debris. These stones can range in size from tiny grains of sand to large marbles. They often cause no discomfort or problem and may go unnoticed, however when they move into the small bile duct which delivers bile to the intestine, they may block it, leading to pressure and inflammation that manifest itself as gallbladder pain.
The condition of cholecystitis can lead to serious and even life-threatening health problems such as infection of the gallbladder wherein trapped fluid becomes infected and poses a risk for rupture leading to septicemia or blood infection. As well, death of the gallbladder tissue which is deprived of necessary circulation due to blockage, can also lead to tearing and rupture of gallbladder contents.
When a person is diagnosed with cholecystitis, they are likely to be hospitalized because rupture of bile contents into the abdominal cavity is a possible and serious complication. Removal of the gallbladder in cases of chronic inflammation and gallstones is the most common treatment for gallbladder pain. But do note that even if the gallbladder is removed, gallstones will tend to form and therefore pose a thread in the long run unless dietary choices are taken.
You may be advised not to eat or drink for a time to allow the gallbladder to rest. Fasting can temporarily alleviate stress on the gallbladder. If a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal is ordered it will most likely be performed laparoscopically, with a tiny video camera on the end of thin, flexible tube. Very small incisions are made to insert instruments and are typically hidden well in and around the belly button. An open procedure, less commonly, involves a longer incision and a lengthier recovery but this is rarely required.
There are newer, less invasive surgical options being studied now worldwide and they may become more common in the future but at this time, laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgery remains the preferred procedure for cholecystectomy.
Non-Surgical Solutions To Gallbladder Pain
Gallbladder symptoms of pain and indigestion may return even years after the gallbladder surgery and that is why other non-surgical procedures are preferred, such as the Pulverexx Protocol, a program that dissolves gallstones and aids you in passing them with ease and without pain. The powerful set of herbs from the Amazon region dissolves and breaks down gallstones.
