When it comes to your gallbladder, one of the most common issues involves the development of or the problems caused by the onset of gallstones. But what happens if your gallbladder isn’t working correctly, and gallstones aren’t the root cause? This condition is known as biliary dyskinesia or functional gallbladder disorder, and it’s the focus of today’s blog.
Causes and Symptoms of Biliary Dyskinesia
Biliary dyskinesia is a blanket term for an issue with the gallbladder that isn’t caused by gallstones, so the exact nature of the condition can vary from patient to patient. Depending on your exact condition, some symptoms you may experience could include:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Gas, bloating or burping
- Nausea
- Low bile ejections on scans
- Constipation or diarrhea
Causes of the condition also vary from patient to patient, but the common causes of biliary dyskinesia include chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, excessive stress, or muscular issues with the organ. Patients who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism are also at an increased risk for developing biliary dyskinesia.
Diagnosing and Treating Biliary Dyskinesia
Before we can treat the condition, a clear diagnosis needs to be made. This can be done with some imaging tests or blood tests. Imaging tests can help to determine if your gallbladder is inflamed and how much bile it is releasing, while a blood test can determine if thyroid issues may be playing a role in your gallbladder condition. Regardless of the testing procedure, it is a quick and effective way to determine what’s going on with your gallbladder.
Treating biliary dyskinesia depends on the underlying cause of the condition. If hypothyroidism is contributing to the problem, then effectively managing your thyroid condition with medication can help to control gallbladder issues. Muscle relaxers and other medications can sometimes help with gallbladder muscle or stress issues, but in most cases where biliary dyskinesia is causing moderate to severe symptoms, a cholecystectomy is performed.
A cholecystectomy is a surgery that involves removing the entire gallbladder. You can function just fine without a gallbladder so long as you make a few small lifestyle and dietary changes. The procedure can be performed on a minimally invasive basis, and it has very high success rates. Click here to learn more about the cholecystectomy operation, and for more information on biliary dyskinesia, reach out to Dr. Koeplin’s office today.
