The short answer:
Gallstones cant pass through the urinary system. because they are located in the biliary system (within your gallbladder or the bile duct) which is totally separated anatomically from the urinary system.
Key facts:
- Gallstones cannot pass through the urine as they are formed in the biliary system with is completely separated anatomically from the urinary system. Their only passway is through the intestinal route with stool.
- Gallstones could obstruct the flow of bile secretion therefore, bile is trapped and could enter your bloodstream instead of the digestive system. The absorbed bile pigment leads to jaundice accordingly, your urine color changes into a dark, orange, or brown.
- Gallstones can not lead to blood in the urine (Red urine) which is commonly reported with kidney stones.
- When gallstones block the bile duct and prevent the flow of bile into your intestine, the color of stool turns pale yellow due to the absence of bilirubin which blocked inside the gallbladder
Content:
Do gallstones pass through urine or stool?
Can gallstones change urine color?
Do gallstones change stool color?
Do gallstones pass through urine or stool?
The answer is no they cannot. Gallstones can not pass through the urinary system.
Gallstones are located in your gallbladder or bile duct (Ref). So, their normal movement passway is from your gallbladder to your intestine through the bile duct. After that, they are transferred from your intestine to the outside during poop.
The urinary system is completely separated anatomically from the biliary system. There is no link between the two systems.
The normal passway for gallstones is through your digestive system with your stool. So, when gallstones are pretty small, they can pass from your gallbladder into your intestine through your bile duct.
Once gallstones reach your intestine, you can get rid of these stones through defection (with the stool).
Can gallstones change urine color?
In short, the answer is yes. In certain cases, gallstones could lead to a change in urine color.
Even gallstones are formed in the gallbladder or the bile duct which is anatomically separated from the urinary system However, the urine color could be changed as a result of gallstones disease (Ref).
How gallstones could change urine color?
When the gallstones moved out from your bladder to your intestine through the bile duct, obstruction of the bile duct may occur. In this case, the bile is trapped and could enter your bloodstream instead of the digestive system.
The bile pigment leads to jaundice which changes your urine color into a dark, orange, or brown in addition to yellow skin and eyes witness (Ref).
Bilirubinuria (an increase in bilirubin in urine which is a component of your bile) is usually indicative of liver dysfunction and intrinsic or extrinsic biliary obstruction due to gallstones
Do gallstones change stool color?
Yes, gallstones could lead to a change in stool color.
The normal color of the stool is brown. This is attributed to the function of bile slats secrets by the liver and stored in the gallbladder (Ref).
The stool color could be changed when there is a problem in bile salt formation due to liver diseases such as cirrhosis, or alcoholic hepatitis, or due to a health problem that blocks the flow of the bile salts from the gallbladder, this includes gallstones.
During the passage of gallstones from your gallbladder into the intestine, gallstones could block the flow of bile into your intestine. This led to a pale yellow, light-colored, white, or clay-colored stool. This is due to insufficient bile reaching your stool due to bile duct obstruction (Ref).
FAQs:
1. Can gallstones cause red urine?
In contrast to kidney stones, gallstones don’t cause blood in the urine. So, they can’t change the urine color to red. However, kidney stones do.
2. Do gallstones affect kidneys?
Yes, gallstones could lead to kidney problems
Numerous studies reported that gallstones can cause kidney stones and the opposite is correct (Ref).
3. Can water break up gallstones?
Drinking plenty of water is a natural remedy that helps in gallstone dissolving.
Staying hydrated is a very effective way that could help in smooth bile production.
Drinking 6-8 glasses of water daily help to remove cholesterol from your body. Cholesterol is the main component of gallstones
4. What is the normal size of gallstones?
Actually, there is no definite size for gallstones. Patients with gallstones can develop stones varying in size from tiny gallstones to stones of 5 cm in length or more.
Most commonly, gallstones range in size between 5–10 mm in diameter.
However, the size of gallstones is not as important as the related symptoms.
The most important point is do you have symptoms associated with gallstones or your gallstones are asymptomatic?
The treatment options for gallstones are strongly linked to whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic.
5. What are the components of bile secretion?
The bile consists of:
- Water
- Cholesterol
- Fats
- Proteins
- Bile salts
- bilirubin.
The main function of bile secretion is to help the breakdown of fats in your diet in the intestine.
Also, bile is important for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients from your intestine.