5 Signs You’re a Candidate for Gallbladder Surgery

Of the more than 20 million people in the United States with gallbladder disease, about 1 million will have the organ removed this year. How do you know it's time for you to have gallbladder surgery?

At Transform Bariatrics in Germantown and Greenbelt, Maryland, our skilled surgeon, Dr. Hitesh Amin, performs gallbladder surgery when it is the best choice for our patients. He wants to share some of the common signs that you may need gallbladder surgery.

1. Recurring gallbladder attacks

Gallbladder attacks cause sudden and severe abdominal pain when a gallstone blocks the tube that delivers bile to the digestive tract. Your gallbladder's main job is to store bile, a substance that helps you digest fat from the food you eat.

Bile consists of several substances, including cholesterol and bile salts. An imbalance in the composition of your bile can cause the normally liquid substance to harden into gallstones. These stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

When the gallstones get too big or get stuck in the duct that connects the gallbladder to the intestine, bile backs up, causing the gallbladder to spasm, resulting in sudden and severe abdominal pain. 

2. Nausea or indigestion after eating

We may also recommend gallbladder surgery if you experience nausea or indigestion after eating, especially foods with fat. Your discomfort may mean you're not getting enough bile to help digest the foods you eat.

Your liver takes over the function of the gallbladder after its removal, delivering bile into the intestine to help with digestion. It may take a little time for your body to adjust, but you should experience less discomfort after we remove the gallbladder. 

3. Fever, chills, and belly pain

In addition to pain, gallstones that block the flow of bile may cause swelling and inflammation of the gallbladder, a condition called cholecystitis. If you have a fever, chills, and belly pain, you may have an infection.

While we can give antibiotics to help clear up the infection, surgery to remove the gallbladder is the primary treatment for acute cholecystitis. 

4. Sudden and severe radiating pain

Sudden and severe abdominal pain that radiates into the shoulder is another symptom of cholecystitis. If you experience this type of pain frequently, gallbladder surgery is the only way to prevent the ongoing discomfort. 

5. Yellowing of the skin 

Yellowing of the skin, or jaundice, can occur from a buildup of bilirubin from a blocked bile duct. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment made from the breakdown of red blood cells. It leaves the body through urine or stool. When levels get too high, it builds up in the blood, causing your skin or the whites of your eyes to turn yellow.

You should seek medical care if you experience jaundice. The symptom may mean you have a bile duct obstruction that can lead to other problems, including liver damage.

Gallbladder surgery is common and safe. Our surgeon customizes surgical plans based on medical history, but uses minimally invasive techniques when possible to reduce post-operative pain and recovery time.

If you have gallbladder disease that causes symptoms that disrupt your life, it's time to consider surgery. We can review your options and help you make an informed decision. 

Call us today or book an appointment online.