Cholecystitis is the medical term that describes inflammation of the gallbladder, which is the small organ near your liver that plays a big role in the digestion of your food. A normal gallbladder allows fluid called bile to pass through uninhibited on its way to the small intestine, but if the flow becomes impeded, the buildup can cause swelling, pain, inflammation and infections. Here’s a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for cholecystitis.

Causes and Symptoms of Cholecystitis

The most common cause of cholecystitis is from a gallstone that gets lodged in the cystic duct, which allows bile to flow out of the gallbladder. When a gallstone gets in the way, fluid builds up and inflammation sets in. This is by far the most common cause of cholecystitis, but the condition can also set in as a complication from another disorder, like diabetes.

Pain in your upper right abdomen is a common symptom associated with cholecystitis, but that’s not the only symptom that can set in. Other symptoms that may signal that you have gallbladder inflammation include:

• Nausea or headaches
• Vomiting
• Stomach tenderness
• Fever
• Pain while breathing deeply
• Pain after eating

Cholecystitis Diagnosis and Treatment

The diagnosis of cholecystitis is pretty straightforward, especially if you describe any of the above symptoms to your doctor. If you are experiencing these symptoms, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to look for swelling or tenderness in the area. If they believe you are dealing with a gallstone or gallbladder inflammation, your doctor will likely confirm the diagnosis with an ultrasound or a blood test.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will begin right away. Some common treatment options for cholecystitis include:

• Fasting – Fasting will relieve stress on your gallbladder, which attempts to excrete bile during digestion.
• Antibiotics – As we mentioned, bile buildup can lead to an infection, so antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to prevent an infection.
• Pain Meds – Gallbladder inflammation can be painful, and some of this pain can be controlled with medications. Symptoms will generally resolve in a few days, but cholecystitis frequently recurs, so most people with gallstones eventually need gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy.
• Surgery – A cholecystectomy is typically performed by sending a tiny camera into your abdomen to view the area and special surgical tools are used to remove the gallbladder. The surgeon will make four small incisions in your stomach and remove the gallbladder by watching the feed from the camera on a monitor.

After your cholecystectomy, your bile will flow directly from your liver into your small intestine. You may notice some difficulty digesting heavy meals after the operation, but generally most people don’t notice much of a difference digesting foods before or after a cholecystectomy.