In order to diagnose digestive health issues, it's best to see a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract - a gastroenterologist.  Gastroenterologists, or "GIs," can answer your questions, perform tests in making a diagnosis and prescribe the best course of treatment to help you feel better.

There are several different forms of gallbladder disease.  These include:

• Biliary colic
• Common bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis)
• Gallstones
• Gallbladder cancer
• Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
• Gallbladder polyp
• Strawberry gallbladder

To identify possible causes for the symptoms you are experiencing, your doctor will first request your medical history and then complete a physical exam.  As part of the exam, the doctor will ask you to give a detailed description of the symptoms you are experiencing, so it's helpful to keep track of what you feel, how long the symptoms have lasted, and the location of discomfort.

When gallstones are suspected, routine liver blood tests are helpful.  Other diagnostic procedures used to identify and diagnose gallbladder disorders include:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Cholescintigraphy, or HIDA scan
• CT scan
• Endoscopic ultrasound or EUS (which utilizes a small ultrasound probe at the tip of an endoscope passed into the stomach).
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or ERCP (X-ray dye)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

Regardless of the cause of illness, treatment is available. Discuss your concerns with your doctor or GI specialist.  And learn more about your options for treating gallbladder disorders now.