Sometimes the triumph of losing a lot of weight quickly can come at a great price. The toll of losing most of your body weight can wreak havoc on your gallbladder and cause stones to form. These stones are called cholelithiasis by medical professionals. Although gallstones are often a routine matter, they can become a serious condition and life threatening if not taken care of in a timely manner.
What are Gallstones?
Gallstones form in the gallbladder. This is a small organ that is shaped like a pear. It hangs just beneath the liver under the ribcage on the right. The gallbladder's primary function is to hold bile that helps break down fat. Gallstones are nuggets of materials that hardened inside the gallbladder. They are most commonly made of cholesterol. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 10 to 15 percent of the people in America have gallstones. Some are symptomatic, but many are silent and go unnoticed.
Why Do Stones Form with Rapid Weight Loss?
According to a study published by the "International Journal of Obesity," there are three reasons why gallstones form from rapid weight loss: bile cholesterol concentration, formation of cholesterol crystals and decreased movement of the gallbladder. When the bile becomes too concentrated with cholesterol, it sets up a situation where gallstones are likely. This leads to the formation of cholesterol crystals to form that cannot be broken down. Finally, the gallbladder does not contract because there is very little food coming into the stomach and intestine to stimulate it. This causes the contents to become immobile and harden.
What are the Symptoms of Gallstones?
Some people have gallstones and don't know it, but you may have pain that alerts you to the stones. If you have pain in your right side, under your ribs, you might be having a gallbladder attack. Pain that radiates to the right shoulder and back is also indicative of a gallbladder problem. However, if you start noticing that your skin or eyes are turning yellow, you should seek a doctor immediately. Also, if you are having abdominal pain that is very uncomfortable or accompanied by fever and chills, you should have it checked out by a physician.
How are Gallstones Treated?
If you know that you are going to lose weight rapidly, there are drugs you can take that can protect your gallbladder, such as ursodiol. However, it is currently not approved for this usage by the Food and Drug Administration. The standard treatment for gallstones is surgical removal of the gallbladder or cholecystectomy. There are some medications to take by mouth and some that are injected directly into the gallbladder to dissolve stones, but these are less commonly used. These are usually reserved for people who are a poor surgical risk.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Dieting and Gallstones; National Institute of Health; April 2006
- International Journal of Obesity; Gallbladder Motility and Gallstone Formation in Obese Patients Following Very Low Calorie Diets. Use It (Fat) to Lose It (Well); D Festi, et. al.; 1998
- MayoClinic.com; Gallstones; July 2009
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