Gallbladder stones (gallstones or cholelithiasis) affect millions of people, yet many don’t know they have them until a painful episode strikes. If you’ve been experiencing right-sided stomach pain and searching for a specialist near you, this guide will help you understand your symptoms, dietary management, and when surgery is the right step.
What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or bile pigments that form inside the gallbladder — a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile for digestion. They range from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball.
Symptoms of Gallbladder Stones
Many people with gallstones have no symptoms (“silent” gallstones). When symptoms occur, they typically include:
- Biliary colic: Sudden, intense pain in the right upper abdomen or just below the ribs, lasting 1–5 hours
- Pain that radiates to the right shoulder or back
- Nausea and vomiting after fatty meals
- Feeling of fullness and bloating
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes) — if a stone blocks the bile duct
- Fever and chills — if gallbladder is infected (cholecystitis)
Risk Factors (The “4 F’s”)
- Fat: Overweight or obese individuals
- Female: Women are twice as likely due to estrogen effects
- Forty: Risk increases with age
- Fertile: Pregnancy increases gallstone risk
Dietary Management
Diet cannot dissolve existing gallstones, but it can reduce symptom flare-ups:
- Avoid high-fat, fried, or greasy foods that trigger biliary colic
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
- Increase fibre intake (vegetables, fruits, whole grains)
- Reduce cholesterol-rich foods (egg yolks, organ meats)
- Stay hydrated — drink 8–10 glasses of water daily
- Lose weight gradually (crash dieting can worsen gallstones)
When is Surgery Needed?
Surgery (cholecystectomy) is recommended when:
- You have recurrent, painful episodes of biliary colic
- Acute cholecystitis (infected, inflamed gallbladder)
- Stones blocking the bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
- Pancreatitis caused by gallstones
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
The standard surgical treatment is laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy — removal of the gallbladder through 3–4 tiny incisions using a camera and instruments. Benefits include:
- Minimal scarring
- 1–2 day hospital stay
- Return to normal activities within 1–2 weeks
- Low complication rates
Gallstone Treatment at Farazy Hospital
Farazy Hospital’s general surgery and gastroenterology departments offer ultrasound diagnosis, specialist consultation, and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. Our experienced surgical team ensures safe, minimally invasive procedures for patients across East Dhaka.
📞 Book a surgical consultation: 01777-317772 | Banasree, Dhaka 1219
