Bright, multi-colored walls adorned with hand-painted geckos, Aztec-inspired suns and giant cactuses surround you. Faint mariachi music plays in the background as small flames dance in hanging, wrought iron lanterns. This dim glow of candlelight illuminates your tile tabletop just enough for you to see what you came for—the ultimate, super grande, triple cheese, extra spicy, double steak burrito.
Whoa…not so fast amigo! While you might love spicy, rich food, your body sure doesn’t—in particular your gallbladder.
Your gallbladder is one of your smallest organs, but it can cause a lot of trouble; especially when you pack it like a piñata with fiery jalapenos, high-carb tortillas, whole milk cheese and fatty red meat. This small, pear-shaped organ sits just below your liver. It collects and stores bile, which is a digestive fluid produced in the liver. Bile helps your body digest food, fatty foods in particular.
The bile duct (tube) that leads from your gallbladder to your intestines can sometimes become inflamed. Symptoms of an inflamed gallbladder include:
● Pain in the abdomen (especially in the upper right side of the body)
● Tenderness in the abdomen when touched
● Chills
● Fever/ sweating
● Vomiting/ Nausea
● Bloating
Symptoms are usually worse after eating, especially if the meal is large or high in fat. Your gallbladder may also become aggravated if it is blocked with gallstones, scar tissue or a tumor. These irritants can cause a condition called cholecystitis. However, you should see your doctor immediately if you have symptoms or abdominal pain that are so intense you have problems sitting still or cannot find a comfortable position. At this point it may be an emergency and it’s time to vamos.
The risk of gallstones (cholelithiasis) and gallbladder inflammation increase with age. An inflamed gallbladder is also more common in women than in men. Gallbladder inflammation frequently results in a need to remove the gallbladder entirely. The procedure is known as a cholecystectomy. It is a common procedure and carries a small risk of complications. Removal of the gallbladder has little or no effect on most patients. Once removed, bile is released into the small intestines, rather than being stored.
There are two primary ways to remove the gallbladder.
- Laparoscopic surgery (open surgery): In an open cholecystectomy, the doctor makes one long incision to expose the gallbladder and remove it.
- Laparoscopy cholecystectomy: The surgeon removes the gallbladder with the help of cameras to make several, small incisions in the abdomen instead of one large incision.
Laparoscopy is the more common procedure; however, your physician should discuss both surgical options to determine which is best for you.
Most cholecystectomy patients are able to go home the same day of surgery. Yet, in some cases it may be necessary to stay in the hospital overnight. Patients should be able to function normally, but carefully. Brigham City Community Hospital advises gallbladder surgery patients to do the following:
● Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. Don’t overexert yourself!
● Keep your incision clean and dry.
● Stay away from fatty, spicy, rich or greasy food for at least a few days.
Most patients can return to their normal diet after several days. Yes, you can shake those maracas once more—you’ll still be able to eat your beloved burrito. However, that’s not to say that it might have you feeling like the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) afterward.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an inflamed gallbladder, contact our Brigham City hospital to explore the best treatment option for you.