how do women pass gallstones ? Is there anything that helps the pain ?

Dear Anon, thank you for the question and as a former sufferer of stones on the gall bladder, I feel your pain and understand your worries about passing them. I had 15 stones altogether when the doctor removed the gallbladder. I never passed any stone that I am aware of but there were a few attempts when my body tried. This is the time when you feel the horrible sharp pain across your belly and through the back and it feels like you are having a heart attack. If you have passed a stone you may notice in your urine or bowel a floating yellowish oily substance (bile) but after hours of pain!

One of my stones was so large that in a way it helped block the smaller ones from leaving the bile duct. It caused pressure and pain when they attempted to pass but like I say, the large one blocked the passage. Eventually the pain attacks were so severe that the gallbladder was removed and the doctor counted all the stones (15) including the larger one. Ironically, a little one was left behind (managed to lodge in the bile duct) after the surgery and several years later, it was dejavu all over again. The stone had grown to the point that blocked the bile duct causing the same pain as if I had the gallbladder.

A test called ERCP confirmed the presence of the stone which by the way passed on its own after a few days at the hospital with acute pancreatitis caused by a back up of bile in the bile duct.

The pain will be treated with IV pain killers at the hospital but if you are at home, depending on the severity of the pain and other symptoms (jaundice, short of breath, etc) I would make sure to call your doctor and have pain medicine with codeine available. If the pain is minor and more like an indigestion, I would live it alone and just try a calming tea like chamomille. Drink plenty of water too.

One of my younger sisters recently had her gall bladder removed. There's such a thing as "eating well" (meaning a diet of rich foods) without actually eating healthfully; it's all about food choices and lifestyle. Stones may or may not be of a size that can be passed; regardless, it's painful.

As the article suggested, maintaining a regimen of fresh foods that include citrus and good fats, and drinking plenty of fresh water daily, and staying active can help keep your system healthy.