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Medical Testing To Rule Out Gallbladder Disease

7 March 2023 by Sasha Meyer

If you have a gallbladder disorder such as gallstones, an inflamed gallbladder, or a bile duct obstruction, then you may experience symptoms such as pain in the upper right quadrant of your abdomen, upper right back pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If a blocked bile duct is obstructing the flow of bile, you may also develop jaundice and itching of the skin, and yellowing of the sclerae in your eyes.

To rule out gallbladder disease, your primary care doctor may recommend medical testing such as the following.

Blood Chemistry Profile

A blood chemistry profile can show if your bilirubin and liver enzymes are elevated. An elevated bilirubin level may indicate a bile duct obstruction or gallstones. Similarly, if your liver enzymes are high, gallbladder disease, liver dysfunction, or pancreatic disorders may be present. If these blood components are only minimally elevated, your physician may recommend simply repeating the blood chemistry profile in a few weeks or so.

Temporary rises in bilirubin and liver enzymes do not always mean that gallbladder disease is present. It can mean that you were mildly dehydrated when your blood was drawn, that you had an infection such as a cold, flu, or dental abscess, or it may be the result of taking certain medications. 

Ultrasound Of The Gallbladder

If your doctor believes that you may have gallbladder disease based on your blood chemistry profile results, they may recommend an ultrasound of your gallbladder. The gallbladder ultrasound is an accurate and safe test. Ionizing radiation is not used to capture images of your gallbladder during your ultrasound because the machine uses sound waves to generate pictures.

The gallbladder ultrasound can show if your gallbladder is inflamed, which is called cholecystitis, and if you have gallstones. Treatment for uncomplicated cholecystitis includes antibiotics and pain relief management. Consuming a low-fat diet may also help ease abdominal pain if you have an enlarged gallbladder. If you have gallstones, your doctor may recommend taking medication to help dissolve them.

If your gallstones are those known as pigment stones, your physician may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder because pigment stones typically do not respond to dissolving medications.

If you have signs and symptoms of gallbladder disease, make an appointment with your family practice doctor for a complete physical examination and medical testing. Once your gallbladder disease has been effectively treated, your pain will subside and your jaundiced skin and sclerae will resolve. 

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