How to Stop Gallstone Pain

Stop the Pain from Gallstones

Gallstones, also known as choleliths, are crystallized bile fluids developed by the gallbladder. A gallstone can be as large as a golf ball, or as small as a grain of sugar. Causes of gallstones are usually due to not enough bile salts or too much cholesterol in the bile. Symptoms of gallstones include abdominal and back pain, often after eating a meal containing lots of fat. There are both medical and surgical options to consider when suffering from gallstones, as well as home remedies that may help your gallstone pain.

Things You'll Need

• Ursodiol

Instructions

1. Go to the doctor. Your doctor may prescribe you bile salt tablets, or ursodiol, which will dissolve smaller gallstones. Although this treatment takes some time to work, your doctor may prescribe you a pain medication like tramadol while you are waiting for the gallstones to dissolve.

2. Eat foods that are low in cholesterol. You can avoid gallstone attacks by eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and staying away from eggs, cheese and fatty meats. If you notice a pattern of eating specific foods before having gallstone attacks, avoid eating these foods.

3. Take a very hot shower followed by a very cold shower. This home remedy has been known to shock the system in order to soothe gallstone pain.

4. Drink a mixture of apple juice and apple cider vinegar. This home remedy works to soften gallstones due to the acidity of the vinegar and the apple juice. Add two parts apple juice to one part apple cider vinegar. Drink a small amount of this mixture once every hour.

5. Get gallstone surgery. Many gallstone sufferers will only experience relief after getting their gallbladder removed, which is a surgery called a "cholecystectomy." If your doctor recommends this route, you will likely suffer no gallstone symptoms after your gallstone is removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgeries in America.

• See your doctor immediately if your gallstone pain is unbearable, or is associated with a high fever.

References

• MayoClinic.com: Gallstones
• EarthClinic.com: Gallstone Home Remedies

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Digestive.Niddk.Nih.gov: Gallstones