Gallstones

Gallstones don’t usually cause symptoms unless they get stuck and create a blockage. If this happens, you might have:

• upper abdominal pain, which can be central or felt more towards the right side of your body

• nausea and/or bloating

• pain under the right rib cage, with tenderness or pain when you move

These symptoms can be mild or severe, come and go or be constant, and will often be triggered after eating a fatty meal. 

If the gallstones move from your gall bladder into your bile duct, you may also notice:

• yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice)

• a fast heart rate

• sweating

• dark urine or pale poo

• fever – which is caused by an infection from inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis) or the gallbladder (cholecystitis)

Gallstones are common – around 5.5 million adults in the UK have them. 

They form when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens into a stone-like material. Too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin (a bile pigment) can cause gallstones.

While anyone can have them, they’re thought to be more common in:

• women

• overweight people

• people with a family history of gallstones

• people over 60

At Welbeck, a consultant gastroenterologist will ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and examine you by pressing gently over the right side of your abdomen. This area may feel tender if your gallbladder is inflamed.

You may also need further tests, including:

• blood and urine tests – to check how well your liver is working

• an ultrasound scan

• a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram (MRCP) – an MRI scan of the gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas

• an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) – a detailed X-ray of your pancreas and bile ducts using an endoscope

• a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan – when X-ray images of your gallbladder are taken after an injection with iodine dye

It’s not possible to prevent gallstones completely, but you may be able to reduce your risk of cholesterol stones, which are the most common type of gallstone. 

Reducing cholesterol in your diet and losing weight can help with this, but you shouldn’t lose weight too fast, as it can increase your risk of gallstones.

It’s rare to have complications from gallstones, but they can sometimes cause a blockage, which may lead to:

• inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or pancreas (pancreatitis)

• jaundice

If gallstones are causing you pain, you have jaundice, an inflamed pancreas or gallbladder cancer, you may need surgery to remove your gallbladder.

There are 2 techniques used to remove it, which include:

• laparoscopic cholecystectomy – when your gallbladder is removed through small cuts in your abdomen via keyhole surgery

• open cholecystectomy – when your gallbladder is removed through one large cut in your abdomen via open surgery

At Welbeck, our gastroenterologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.