Gallstones
in Denver

Stress can impact your health. For example, people who are often experiencing stress may find they eat in a hurry, which can cause spasms of the bile duct and lead to liver or gallbladder issues. However, the act of feeling stressed on its own does not directly lead to the formation of gallstones.

Gallstone disease is the most common disorder of the biliary system, which is the system that transports bile in the body. Gallstones form in the gallbladder and biliary tract or the ducts that lead from the liver to the small intestine.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, are the first-line therapy to manage pain or discomfort associated with acute biliary colic or complications of gallstones. These medications can help to relieve inflammation, pain and fever from gallstones or complications associated with gallstones.

Gallstones do not usually go away on their own, and treatment may be needed. There are some instances in which gallstones can be cleared with medication or non surgical treatments. Large stones, or those that cause severe pain will require surgery.

Coffee is usually OK to drink if you have gallstones. However, you should be sure to stick to no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is about 3 to 5 cups a day. If you are having issues with your gallbladder, you may want to avoid adding excess cream to your coffee, as this may lead to discomfort. If you have any questions regarding dietary changes following a gallstone diagnosis, contact South Denver GI today.

No, gallstones do not cause weight gain. In fact, if your gallbladder is not functioning optimally and your body cannot absorb much fat, you may actually lose weight.

There are certain medications that can be used to break up small cholesterol stones. However, if you have many stones, it may take months or years to break up all of the stones with this treatment option. Your South Denver GI provider will speak with you to determine if a medication regimen is a good treatment option for your gallstones.

The first sign of gallstones is often a sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right part of the abdomen or in the center of the abdomen, just below the breastbone. Patients may also experience back pain between the shoulder blades, as well as nausea or vomiting. If you are experiencing intense abdominal pain that doesn't allow you to sit in a comfortable position or a high fever with chills, seek immediate care. The South Denver GI team of specialists can help at our Lone Tree, Englewood, Parker or Castle Rock clinics.

Cholesterol has been found to play a role in the formation of gallstones. Because of this, it is recommended that people avoid eating too many foods that are high in saturated fat. Examples include sausages and fatty cuts of meats, butter, cream, hard cheese, food containing coconut or palm oil or cakes and other desserts.