Also called Cholelithiasis. Also see Gallbladder and Cholecystitis programs.GallbladderEncyclopedia Entry for Gallstones :Gallstones - discharge. You may have had an infection in your gallbladder. You may have received drugs to reduce the swelling and fight the infection. You may have surgery to remove your gallbladder or to remove a gallstone that is blocking a bile duct.You may continue to have pain and other symptoms if your gallstones return or were not removed.You may be on a liquid diet for some time to give your gallbladder a rest. When you are eating regular food again, avoid overeating. If you are overweight try to lose weight. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. Ask your health care provider about stronger pain medicines. Take any medicines you have been given to fight infection the way you were told to. You may be able to take medicines that dissolve gallstones, but they may take 6 months to 2 years to work.Call your provider if you have: Steady, severe pain in your upper belly Pain in your back, between your shoulder blades that does not go away is getting worse Nausea and vomiting Fever or chills Yellow color to your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice) Grey or chalky white bowel movements.Chronic cholecystitis - discharge; Dysfunctional gallbladder - discharge; Choledocholithiasis - discharge; Cholelithiasis - discharge; Acute cholecystitis.Cholelithiasis Cholelithiasis.Fogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts.Encyclopedia Entry for Gallstones :Gallstones. The cause of gallstones varies. There are two main types of gallstones: Stones made of cholesterol -- This is the most common type. Cholesterol gallstones are not related to cholesterol level in the blood. In most cases, they are not visible on CT scans. Stones made of bilirubin -- These are called pigment stones. They occur when red blood cells are destroyed and too much bilirubin is in the bile. Gallstones are more common in women, native Americans, Hispanics, people over age 40, and people who are overweight. Gallstones may also run in families. The following factors also make you more likely to develop gallstones: Bone marrow or solid organ transplant Diabetes Failure of the gallbladder to empty bile properly (this is more likely to happen during pregnancy) Liver cirrhosis and biliary tract infections (pigmented stones) Medical conditions that cause too many red blood cells to be destroyed Rapid weight loss from eating a very low-calorie diet, or after weight loss surgery Receiving nutrition through a vein for a long period of time (intravenous feedings) Taking birth control pills.Many people with gallstones do not have any symptoms. The gallstones are often found during a routine x-ray, abdominal surgery, or other medical procedure. However, if a large stone blocks a tube or duct that drains the gallbladder, you may have a cramping pain in the middle to right upper abdomen. This is known as biliary colic. The pain goes away if the stone passes into the first part of the small intestine. Symptoms that may occur include: Pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen for at least 30 minutes. The pain may be constant or cramping. It can feel sharp or dull. Fever Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) Other symptoms may include: Clay-colored stools Nausea and vomiting.Tests used to detect gallstones or gallbladder inflammation include: Ultrasound, abdomen CT scan, abdomen Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Gallbladder radionuclide scan Endoscopic ultrasound Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA) Your health care provider may order the following blood tests: Bilirubin Liver function tests Pancreatic enzymes.SURGERY Most of the time, surgery is not needed unless symptoms begin. However, people planning weight loss surgery may need to have gallstones removed before undergoing the procedure. In general, people who have symptoms will need surgery right away or soon after the stone is found. A technique called laparoscopic cholecystectomy is most commonly used. This procedure uses small surgical incisions, which allow for a faster recovery. A patient can often go home from the hospital within 1 day of surgery. In the past, open cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) was most often done. However, this technique is less common now. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and a procedure called a sphincterotomy may be done to find or treat gallstones in the common bile duct. MEDICINES Medicines may be given in pill form to dissolve cholesterol gallstones. However, these drugs may take 2 years or longer to work, and the stones may return after treatment ends. Rarely, chemicals are passed into the gallbladder through a catheter. The chemical rapidly dissolves cholesterol stones. This treatment is hard to perform, so it is not done very often. The chemicals used can be toxic, and the gallstones may return. LITHOTRIPSY Shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of the gallbladder has also been used for people who cannot have surgery. This treatment is not used as often as it once was because gallstones often come back.You may need to be on a liquid diet or take other steps to give your gallbladder a rest after you are treated. Your health care provider will give you instructions when you leave the hospital. The chance of symptoms or complications from gallstones surgery is low. Nearly all people who have gallbladder surgery do not have their symptoms return.Blockage by gallstones may cause swelling or infection in the: Gallbladder (cholecystitis) Tube that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and intestines ( cholangitis ) Pancreas (pancreatitis).Call your provider if you have: Pain in the upper part of your abdomen Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.In most people, gallstones can't be prevented. In people who are obese, avoiding rapid weight loss may help prevent gallstones.Cholelithiasis; Gallbladder attack; Biliary colic; Gallstone attack; Biliary calculus: chenodeoxycholic acids (CDCA); Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, ursodiol); Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - gallstones.Gallbladder removal - laparoscopic - discharge Gallbladder removal - open - discharge Gallstones - discharge.Digestive system Digestive system Kidney cyst with gallstones, CT scan Kidney cyst with gallstones, CT scan Gallstones, cholangiogram Gallstones, cholangiogram Cholecystolithiasis Cholecystolithiasis Cholelithiasis Cholelithiasis Gallbladder Gallbladder Gallbladder removal - Series Gallbladder removal - Series.Fogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts.