What to know about gallstones

Mrs Benedicta (not real name) was having persistent abdominal pains and was buying over-the-counter drugs to relieve her of the pains. She later went to the hospital and the doctor asked her to do an ultrasound and other tests. The results revealed she was suffering from gallstone disease. She said the pains finally stopped after […]

Mrs Benedicta (not real name) was having persistent abdominal pains and was buying over-the-counter drugs to relieve her of the pains.

She later went to the hospital and the doctor asked her to do an ultrasound and other tests. The results revealed she was suffering from gallstone disease.

She said the pains finally stopped after surgery was performed on her to remove the gallstones.

Dr. Ofure Eborieme, a Consultant Surgeon, described gallstones as natural stones that occur in the body.

“There are two types of gallstones, namely cholesterol stones, which are the stones formed by fats, and pigment stones which are formed by bile produced by the liver,” he explained.

Dr. Eborieme who is the Medical Director, Ohize Medical Centre in Benin, and a retired permanent secretary in Edo State Ministry of Health said there are many reasons for gallstones formation but that one of the major reasons is the infection of the gall bladder.

“Gall bladder is beneath the liver and it is a storage tank where the liver secretes bile. When we eat food containing fat, the gall bladder will release bile to help in the digestion of the fat, but sometimes infection might set in coupled with interplay of other factors that precipitate the formation of those stones.”

He explained that gallstones sufferers will experience pains on the right side of their abdomen with some funny sensation and when they breathe they feel the pains more and when they eat fatty food they tend to nauseate, and they will pass lot of gas than before. Once this occurs we tend to think of gall stones disease, he said.

He noted that the disease was common in women who are above 50, fertile, light in complexion and also have about four or five children.

The medical director added that, “It also happens in children especially those with sickle cell disease because of the high concentration of bilirubin in their blood.”

He said there no major ways of preventing gallstones but that proper diet, exercise and drinking enough water might help.

“The disease is diagnosed like appendix but will be diagnosed through ultrasound examination. In gall bladder you have to confirm gallstones through ultrasound to locate stone,” he stated.

He said the disease is mainly common in the Middle Eastern countries.

Dr. Eborieme said the disease is treated with antibiotics and analgesic drugs.

“And if the patient is ready financially and psychologically we go for surgery to remove the gall bladder,” he said.

The physician advised people to see a doctor when they had abdominal pains instead of doing home treatment or taking herbal medicines as the delay might be dangerous.