According to the medical advisors that treated my wife during her recent bout with gallstones, there is no sure fire way to shrink or dissolve gallstones. You can either learn to live with the symptoms that come with having a gallbladder problem, or you can remove the gallbladder.

The good news is that advances in surgery techniques make the removal of the gallbladder a simple out-patient procedure. My wife was home resting after about 4 hours in the hospital, and fully recovered within days. She has had no adverse affect whatsoever since the removal of her gallbladder.

According to the source, in most cases, gallstone prevention is not possible. However, weight reduction, and reducing intake of fatty foods, may reduce the effect of symptoms in people with gallbladder disease.

As also mentioned in the source, in some special cases, the medicine ursodiol may shrink gallstones.

Details regarding gallbladder disease:
The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile produced in the liver. Bile aids in the digestion of fats, and is released from the gallbladder into the upper small intestine (duodenum) in response to food (especially fats). Conditions that slow or obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.

Types of gallbladder disease include:
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
- Cholelithiasis (gallstones)
Source(s):
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gallbladder-disease/overvie...

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