Gallbladder Disease Specialist
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Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic, P.A
Sreelatha Reddy, MD
Gastroenterologist located in Sugarland, TX & Sugar Land, TX
Do you sometimes have pain between your shoulder blades or in your upper abdomen, especially after you eat? If so, you may be one of the million Americans who suffers from gallbladder disease, the condition that causes gallstones. At Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic in Sugar Land, TX, gastroenterologist Dr. Sreelatha Reddy understands the painful impact of gallbladder disease and helps to reduce your symptoms and improve how you feel. If you think you may have gallstones, don’t wait to see the doctor. Call Dr. Reddy’s office today or use the online scheduling tool to book your initial appointment.
Gallbladder Disease Q & A
What are the symptoms of gallbladder disease?
If you have gallbladder disease, the most common symptom is gallstones, which range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as big as a golf ball. Gallstones can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Upper abdomen pain, usually on the right side
- Pain between the shoulder blades or in the right shoulder
- Pain that comes and goes
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Fever
In extreme cases, gallstones can result in pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, or jaundice, a condition that causes your skin and eyes to yellow.
Sometimes gallstones create no outward symptoms. If you have gallstones, but don’t experience any difficulties, you may not need treatment.
What causes gallbladder disease?
Although the underlying causes of gallbladder disease are unknown, certain risk factors have been identified. Those with a higher risk of developing gallstones may:
- Have more cholesterol or bilirubin in their bile
- Take hormones or medications that lead to a decrease in gallbladder emptying
- Be obese
- Live a sedentary life
- Have diabetes or liver disease
- Be over 40
- Have a family history of gallbladder disease
You may be more at risk for cholesterol gallstones, the most common type in the United States, if you engage in crash diets or take birth control pills. Pigment gallstones, the most common type in Asian countries, is most often found in patients with severe liver disease or certain types of blood diseases like sickle cell anemia.
How is gallbladder disease treated?
Dr. Reddy and her team determine the best treatment for your gallbladder disease based on your symptoms and their severity. If you experience pain due to a gallstone obstructing a bile duct, they may recommend an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure that uses a thin tube and instruments inserted through the mouth to remove the stone.
If gallstones are a recurring problem, the team at Houston Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic, P.A, may suggest the surgical removal of your gallbladder. When gallbladder removal isn’t possible, they may prescribe a medication that can slowly dissolve cholesterol based gallstones.
When the pain from gallbladder disease and gallstones starts interfering with how you feel and function, find a solution that works with Dr. Reddy and her professional team. Call the office today or go online to schedule your appointment.
Dr. Reddy is a specialized gastroenterologist that sees patients for endoscopy, cancer screening and more located in Sugar Land, Texas and Houston, Texas. Call us to book your appointment today.
