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No matter whether your gallstone attacks are persistent or highly random — we have the personalized care you need. From testing to treatments, you’re the focus of all we do. Meet our team.
That pizza with extra everything hit the spot. Now, you can’t escape the familiar queasiness and sharp pain. What gives?
These telltale symptoms can signal that gallstones might be causing problems in your gallbladder. As tempting as it may be to brush off these signs, gallstones won’t disappear on their own. Untreated, they can block bile ducts, trigger infections and land you in the emergency department (you might know it as the emergency room or ER) or possibly needing urgent surgery.
While surgery might feel overwhelming, Cleveland Clinic’s digestive system experts are here to support you. Our team will guide you through every step of gallstone treatment — whether that starts with watchful waiting or moves straight to surgery.
No matter whether your gallstone attacks are persistent or highly random — we have the personalized care you need. From testing to treatments, you’re the focus of all we do. Meet our team.
Have you ignored your gallstone symptoms because having surgery makes you nervous? Our team will guide you through every stage, so you can feel confident about moving ahead with care.
Not all appointments need to be in person. When you need a quick check-in with your provider, you can save time by scheduling a virtual visit.
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Gallstones (cholelithiasis) form when bile secreted from your liver (and stored in your gallbladder) and excess cholesterol in your gallbladder harden into deposits. These stones can be as tiny as specks or as large as small rocks. Sometimes, they sit there quietly — you might not even know you have them. But other times, they move around and cause trouble. And when that happens, it’s hard to ignore.
That’s because gallstones can travel through your biliary tract, which includes your liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. As these stones move, they can cause painful blockages and other complications. These episodes (biliary colic) can happen randomly or more often. You may notice symptoms when your gallbladder contracts after you’ve finished eating. The pain can feel like heartburn or even a heart attack.
It’s your body’s way of sounding the alarm. That’s why it’s important to get checked out, especially if your symptoms are severe or happening more often. Even occasional attacks need attention. The gallstones that trigger them can keep growing over time or get stuck in your bile ducts. They might even cause pancreatic inflammation (pancreatitis) as they pass through your bile ducts.
When you come to Cleveland Clinic for gallstone treatment, we’ll start with a thorough evaluation. Your provider will listen closely to your story and ask questions about your symptoms, medical history and lifestyle.
They may order tests to detect inflammation, infections and blockages in your biliary tract. These could include blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound. If needed, you might have other tests to uncover where a lodged gallstone is blocking things. Your provider will walk you through which tests you’ll need to confirm a diagnosis and rule out other conditions.
We believe highly individualized care comes from an approach that combines the expertise and compassion of all providers you need into one care team. Your team may include:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations in Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Our team will go over all treatment recommendations with you. If your gallstones don’t cause problems, we may keep an eye on things with watchful waiting. But if you have severe, regular symptoms, or we suspect a blockage, we’ll start treatment right away.
Minimally invasive surgery is the only way to remove gallstones permanently. If you can’t have surgery, we’ll drain your gallbladder to remove the stones (cholecystostomy), but you may get them again.
We tend to consider using medications as a temporary or preventive treatment option. If we discover you have smaller stones that haven’t caused complications, we may prescribe medications that can dissolve them. It’s important to note it could take months, or even years, for the stones to dissolve — and there’s a good possibility they may come back.
Once gallstones form, they’re here to stay, and new ones can develop over time. Even if they aren’t causing trouble now, symptoms may appear eventually. If they do, don’t ignore them. Our team is here to help you understand what’s happening and guide you through what comes next.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s gallstones experts is easy. We’ll help you get the care you need.
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