by Christobel Rajesh

Created on: February 23, 2008

Gall bladder is a common site of an acute infection called as cholecystitis. This particular disease process causes severe pain and tenderness in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. The infectious gall bladder is found to be filled with pus or sometimes stones which is the usual cause of pain in the gall bladder. The gangrene of the gall bladder with perforation will cause intense pain and may even lead to shock. Women suffer four times more than men with gall bladder pain.

Women with gall bladder pain are usually over 40 years of age, multiparous and obese. This is also common in women using oral contraceptives and are diabetic. Gall bladder pain may be vague or excruciating, starting from upper right abdomen radiating towards the back or right shoulder, associated with nausea and vomiting, and is noticed after a heavy meal.

Gall bladder pain can be relieved by both surgical and non-surgical measures. The non surgical measures are supportive, dietary and pharmacotherapy. Supportive therapy works best for approximately 80% of people with gall bladder pain. Supportive measures depend upon the person's general condition and the type or extent of the gall bladder disease. Dietary management is the major mode of therapy in treating people with gall bladder pain.

Some of the means to relieve gall bladder pain:
a. Avoiding meal high in fried or fatty foods.
b. Just resting and relaxing when there is pain.
c. Taking low fat liquids, powdered supplements that are rich in protein and carbohydrates.
d. Cooked fruits, rice or tapioca, lean meats, mashed potatoes, non gas forming vegetables, bread, coffee, or tea are good to relieve gall bladder pain.
e. Eggs, cream, cheese, pork, fried foods, rich dressings, gas forming foods and alcohol can aggravate pain. Hence, they must be avoided.
f. Analgesics such as meperidine help to relieve gall bladder pain but narcotics like morphine are not advised since they are proved to increase spasm of the sphincter of oddi.
g. Some medicines like ursodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid are used to treat gall bladder pain caused by gall stones.
h. Drink plenty of fluids, atleast 2-3 liters of water per day.
i. Doing breathing exercises help to relax and relieve pain.
j. Depending on the severity of the disease, surgical and endoscopic removal of gall bladder may be performed.

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