gallbladder (and GALLstones)

 
 
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What is the gallbladder?

The gallbladder is a small sac located on the right side of the belly. Its job is to store bile. It releases bile into the intestines after eating. This helps with digestion, especially after eating fatty food.

 

Gallstones

  • It is common for people who have sickle cell disease to develop stones in their gallbladder. These gallstones form when there is too much bilirubin in the blood.

  • Bilirubin is released into the blood when red blood cells break down. Because the red blood cells of people with sickle cell disease break down faster, more bilirubin is released, so the risk of gallstones is higher.

How do you know if you have gallstones?

Most gallstones do not cause problems. But if a gallstone moves and gets stuck between the gallbladder and the intestines, it may cause a blockage.

Symptoms of a blockage include:

 

◦ Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting
◦ Feeling like your belly is swollen or bloated, especially right after eating

◦ Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

◦ Pain on the right side of the belly, under the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades (this usually happens after eating greasy, spicy or high fat foods).

 

An ultrasound of your stomach will show if you have gallstones and if they are causing problems.

TREATMENT

There are 2 main ways that gallstones are treated:

  1. Diet changes that help you eat less fat can decrease symptoms.

  2. Surgery to remove the gallbladder

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Gallbladder checklist

For you and your health care provider

Surgery:

🄯 Talk with your provider about whether surgery is needed to remove your gallbladder.

🄯 If surgery is recommended, talk with your sickle cell provider about whether you should get a blood transfusion before the surgery.

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SECTION OVERVIEW

  • Eating a well-balanced healthy diet may lower the risk of getting gallstones.

  • Tell your provider if you have symptoms of gallstone disease.

  • Surgery may not be needed if symptoms are mild, or if you are able to control the symptoms with your diet.