Gallbladder Disease Specialist in Wichita, KS

What is a Gallbladder?

Before understanding the disease, it’s important to understand the function of a gallbladder. As a small, pear shaped pouch under the liver, the gallbladder essentially acts as a storage vessel for bile. As you begin to digest food, a series of signals will trigger the gallbladder to release bile into the small intestine. This bile will assist in the breakdown of fats, aiding the digestive system. The expertly trained gastroenterologists at KU Wichita Gastroenterology are expertly trained in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the gallbladder including cancer. Call (316) 293-3455 to request an appointment at our gastroenterology clinic in Wichita.

What is Gallbladder Disease?

While the term seems very specific, gallbladder disease is just an umbrella term for any issue that happens within the gallbladder. There are specific diagnoses for most problems, but the symptoms are typically very similar. The most common forms of gallbladder disease include:

• Gallstones
• Low-functioning gallbladder
• Bile Reflux
• Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
• Cholestasis
• Gallbladder Cancer
• Gallbladder Polyps

What are the Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease?

Because of the proximity of the gallbladder to your ribs, and the usage of the gallbladder in your digestive system, there can be a wide range of physical symptoms. However, because there is such a wide range, the diagnosis of your gallbladder disease cannot be determined without tests from your doctors.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Pain under the rib cage on the right side or between the shoulder blades.
• Bitter fluid coming up after eating
• Indigestion

If you are experiencing any, or a combination of these symptoms, it’s important to contact your gastroenterologist to discuss next steps.

Gallbladder Disease Treatment in Wichita

Once officially diagnosed with gallbladder disease, your treatment options will depend heavily on the severity of your pain. Initially, your doctor may recommend dietary changes, exercise, or the use of gallstone dissolving drugs.

If the pain is more severe, you will be recommended gallbladder removal surgery. While both will remove the gallbladder, an open cholecystectomy will be much more invasive than a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.  This surgery will certainly help to alleviate pain, but you may still suffer from a few ongoing symptoms afterwards.