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Cholelithiasis is a medical term from the presence of Gallstones in the Gallbladder.  They are more common in women (10%) than men (6%) and they can vary in size and number.

Some can be as small as a pebble and others as large as a big marble. They can be found as a single stone or in some cases as many as a few to dozens.

The cause of stones is not always known – but genetics, diet, water consumption, exercise, history, excessive cholesterol or calcium, and many more.

Complications can arise from stones including pain, gallbladder irritation and inflammation, infection, and more.

4 Primary Classifications or Types of Stones are seen:

1.)  Cholesterol
2.)  Calcium
3.)  Mixed
4.)  Fake stones

Cholesterol stones are green, white or yellow in color.

Calcium stones (also can be bilirubin) are usually small and dark in color.

Fake stones are typically a sludge like material.

Pigment stones – falls into some classifications and is formed from excess bilirubin, a waste product created by the breakdown of the red blood cells in the liver.

Risk Factors:

–  Obesity
–  Age
–  Female
–  Rapid weight loss
–  Pregnancy
–  Movement of grudge through Gallbladder
–  Body chemistry
–  Glucose intolerance
–  High intake of carbohydrates.
–  Constipaton

While exercise, high-fiber diet, and low carbohydrate diets all help reduce your risk

Symptoms:

–  Typically an individual has no symptoms initially
–  Can be discovered on routine radiographic studies.
–  10-20% have pain in abdomen generally or specifically on the right side
–  Pain can follow meals
–  Pain may radiate to shoulders [between shoulder blades]
–  Nausea
–  Gas
–  Bloating
–  Chills
–  Fever
–  Jaundice
–  Cholestasis

Treatment:

–  Treatment is not always required
–  Laparoscopic surgical procedure may be needed
–  Drinking water prior to meals may be beneficial
–  Ursodeoxycholic acid
–  Lithotripsy
–  ESP
–  ERCP
–  Removal of Gallbladder