If symptoms persist or if fever (>38.5 °C rectally) and/or jaundice (jaundice) occur, hospitalization is required.
General Measures
- Aim for normal weight! Determine BMI (body mass index) or body composition using electrical impedance analysis.
- BMI ≥ 25 → participation in a medically supervised weight loss programNote! Reduce excess weight slowly, as rapid weight loss promotes stone formation; if weight loss exceeds 1.5 kg per week, there is the option of drug gallstone prevention with ursodeoxycholic acid.
- Regular physical activity of at least 30 minutes per day.
- Review of continuous medication due topossible effect on existing diseaseNote: Benefit-risk assessment of estrogen-based hormone therapy for prevention of gallstones: This should take into account the increased risk of gallbladder stones and biliary symptoms from estrogens.
Conventional non-surgical therapy methods
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) can be used to crush gallstones nonoperatively via shock waves. However, this method could not meet the high expectations placed on it. This is due on the one hand to the fact that only about 10 to 20 % of patients are eligible for this treatment – only stones up to 3 cm can be treated – and on the other hand to the fact that sufficient bile drainage must be ensured so that the small stone fragments can leave the body. In addition, recurrences often occur. Most often, ESWL is therefore combined with drug therapy.Their fixed place has the shock wave lithotripsy, however, in the treatment of choledocho- and pancreatolithiasis (occurrence of stones in the bile duct and pancreas).
Regular checkups
- Regular medical checkups
Nutritional medicine
- Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
- Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
- A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
- Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
- Observance of the following specific dietary recommendations:
- Avoid
- Too high calorie intake
- Diet too rich in fat
- High intake of refined carbohydrates
- Low fiber diet
- In the event of biliary colic, follow a “tea rusk diet” for 24 hours (duration: three days, longer if necessary; as long as there are no other diseases against it).
- Avoid
- Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis.
- See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
- Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.
