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Nowadays, people who suffer from problems of their gallbladder, can have their gallbladder removed through ‘keyhole’ (laparoscopic) surgery. This is a safe procedure, in which the operation is performed through small holes in the abdominal wall. It makes it unnecessary to make a wide opening. This normally doesn’t cause a big burden on the patient. People usually recover quickly, and can resume their life free of complaints.
However, there are still widespread myths surrounding gallbladders. In this article, I will discuss five of them, and explain why they are incorrect.
Myth 1: “Removing the stones is enough”
People often confuse the treatment of kidney stones with that of gallbladder stones. The kidney is an essential organ, so if people have kidney stones, everything will be done to preserve the kidney. The entire focus is only on getting rid of the stones.
The gallbladder however, is an entirely different story. This organ has no essential function, but an additional function. It helps the body store excess bile that is produced by the liver. In the absence of a gallbladder, the excess bile will simply flow into the digestive tract. Then, it gets discarded with the stools.
You might have a problem with your gallbladder, such as stones or an infection. The recommended treatment is to remove the whole gallbladder. Removing only the stones would still leave you with a problem, as the disease would be likely to reoccur. Besides, the removal of the gallbladder is a good, safe and beneficial procedure. It provides a permanent solution to the problem.
Myth 2: “When you are without a gallbladder, life will not be the same”
Some people don’t realize that you can lead a perfectly normal life without a gallbladder. The gallbladder only helps store excess bile, it doesn’t produce it. It is the liver that produces the bile. After removal of the gallbladder, the connecting duct between the liver and the bowel adapts to the situation. Bile will still reach the digestive tract, and help in digesting the fat in the food.
The overwhelming majority of people doesn’t feel any difference. Except, of course, that the gallbladder can no longer cause pain attacks! A small percentage of people may feel that they have a higher tendency towards diarrhea or a bloated feeling, if they eat food that contains an excessive amount of fat.
Myth 3: “When you are without a gallbladder, you will gain a lot of weight”
This is a common myth, but it is not true. There is, however, a theory which might explain where this myth originated from. Many people who are having gallbladder attacks, will refrain from eating fatty food, either instinctively or because they know they should avoid it. They find out that whenever they eat something with a lot of fat, they are likely to have an attack. It may be the case that because of this, they are on a relatively lower weight by the time they undergo the operation.
After removal of the gallbladder, they won’t have pain attacks when eating fat anymore, and their weight may increase in comparison to before. They might, for instance, start eating all the fatty food that they had been missing out on.
So: it’s not the absence of the gallbladder that increases your fat, but simply eating more fried food and other fatty things, that may make some people have an increased weight after gallbladder surgery.
Myth 4: “I can overcome gallstones without an operation, but with diet or medicine”
This isn’t a total myth. First of all, there is indeed a medicine (Ursodeoxycholic Acid) that can decrease the size of certain types of gallstones. However, it is reserved for certain rare conditions and situations, as it would not be efficient enough in most situations. Secondly, there are diets in the realm of alternative medicine that claim that they can reduce gallstones, and even make them disappear.
Although this indeed sounds great, there is no solid scientific proof that these diets actually work.
All in all: there is worldwide medical consensus that removing the gallbladder is the best solution for problematic gallstones and most other diseases of the gallbladder.
Myth 5: “Everyone who has gallstones, needs an operation”
No. Often, gallstones are found by accident, while a patient is being investigated for something else. We call these “incidental gallstones” or “asymptomatic gallstones”, because the patient is not having any pain, or any other complaints caused by them.
People who have asymptomatic gallstones in most cases do not need an operation. They just need to know that if symptoms arise, they should consult a doctor, and be sure to tell the doctor that they have gallstones. It is common practice that people with asymptomatic gallstones get a referral to see a surgeon. This way, proper education and consultation can be provided.
The majority of people who have asymptomatic gallstones, spend the rest of their life without getting any trouble from them. However, even if only one episode of pain that can be related to the gallbladder occurs in such patients, they should definitely consult a surgeon.
That’s it for now!
Hopefully, this article has been helpful to you! Feel free to share it with your friends, colleagues and relatives.
If you have gallstones, and wish to know more, you are very welcome at Mediclinic Al Ain Hospital for a tailor-made consultation that fits your specific situation. Simply call 800 2000, and our call center will set up an appointment for you! This website also has a Google Maps location of the hospital, to help you find your way to the clinic.
Dr. Tariq Shadid
Consultant General Surgeon