Gallbladder stones are pretty common, and many people face this issue. This happens when the digestive fluid gets hardened in the Gallbladder and accumulates in solid deposits. Two components that usually form Gallbladder stones are bile cholesterol and bilirubin. The size of the Gallbladder stones can vary on the stage, and it can be anywhere between the size of a small grain to the size of a golf ball.
The cost of surgery depends on the room you select, the hospital you choose, and the city you are in. As per a general observation, the Gallbladder stones removal surgery cost varies between Rs 30,000 to Rs 1.4 Lakhs, and the average price in most cases is close to Rs 58,000.
To date, the exact cause of the Gallbladder stones is not known to the doctors. It is, however, believed that excessive calcium, cholesterol or bilirubin can lead to Gallbladder stones. Some of the additional factors that increase the risk of Gallbladder stones are Aging, Gender Female, Being Overweight, Family History of Gallbladder stones, Sedentary Lifestyle, High Fat Intake, Liver Issues and even hyperthyroidism.
You will experience one or more symptoms because of the Gallbladder stones, including nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, indigestion, gas, bloating and some other things. The diagnosis is usually through Ultrasound, CT Scan and MRI.
Usually, it is challenging to remove Gallbladder stones, so the doctors prefer removing the Gallbladder. This also prevents any future occurrence of Gallbladder stones. The procedure to remove the gallbladder is called cholecystectomy, and it can be done with minimal invasion. Below are the details of what happens during the surgery.
Note – In some cases, the doctor may recommend an open surgery with an incision of about 5 to 7 inches. The doctors will let you know if you are eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy or need open surgery.
It is a common myth that removing the Gallbladder can mess with your ability to digest the food, but that is not true. There are no such implications of removing the Gallbladder. You may encounter bloating, abdominal pain, or digestive problems during the short term, but this will be temporary, and it will go away with time.
Q1. Why Does Someone Get Gallbladder Stones?
It has been seen that women are more likely to develop gallstones, and along with that, age is another factor here. People 40 years plus age usually are more prone to have gallstones. Eating habits can also cause such stones to form inside your gallbladder, for example, obesity and eating a protein-intensive diet can be responsible for this. Talking about some other reasons, that’ll include, a family history of gallstones, diabetes, pregnancy, hormone replacement, cholesterol-lowering drugs, etc.
Q2. How Does Someone Get Diagnosed For Gallbladder Stones?
Using a simple ultrasound test, doctors can determine whether you have gallbladder stones or not. An examiner can also tell what size those stones are using the ultrasound test. And you may already know that having an ultrasound test is completely painless.
Q3. When Should One Get Treatment Or Surgery For Gallbladder Stones?
If the diagnosis confirms that you’ve gallstones, then doctors will suggest treatment options based on the type and size of the stones. If the stones are fairly small and less in quantity, and they’re not causing severe pain, in such a case, doctors will prescribe medicines to break down those stones and hopefully, you’ll have no issue in the future regarding gallstones. But, if the stones are larger in size and blocking the secretion of bile juice, and causing a lot of pain to the patient, then having gallbladder stone surgery is the best choice.
Q4. What To Expect After The Surgery?
If in your case, the stones have damaged the gallbladder, then the surgeons may remove the gallbladder during the surgery. However, it is a very important organ in our digestive system which helps break down the protein content. But after the surgery, doctors can prescribe you some medicines and in some cases, suggest little diet changes.