Read On How Lavender Found Out That She Had Gallstones!
I am Lavender, and I am 44 years old. I haven’t had any health issues besides diabetes, but the recent abdominal pain proved very problematic. But I am glad that instead of self-diagnosing myself, I opted for an online consultation, and the online doctor determined that the cause of my symptoms was gallstones.
My abdominal pain was getting worse!
It all started with mild abdominal pain. The pain was near the middle of my abdomen and lasted for 15minutes. It worsened after I ate, so I took several antacids as I thought the pain was probably due to indigestion, but that didn’t help me.
I consulted a doctor on Your Doctors online to see if I required immediate medical help!
Soon, I started experiencing nausea and vomiting. Moreover, the pain worsened. The pain seemed to be spreading to my right shoulder as well. I took a few painkillers and waited for the meds to kick in. Unfortunately, after 30minutes, the pain was still there. I signed up for online consultation in agony to see if this was a medical emergency because I did not want to visit the ER unnecessarily.
The online doctor said that the symptoms were probably due to gallstones!
The online doctor first calmed me down and then gently told me that my symptoms were probably due to gallstones. Furthermore, she explained that the gallstones could sometimes block the cystic duct and lead to acute cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder. That results in upper or middle abdominal pain symptoms that usually worsens 15-20 minutes after eating. Pain may radiate to the right shoulder as well. Other individuals may experience chest pain, nausea, vomiting and yellowing of the eyes. She also informed me that being diabetic made me more prone to having gallstones. However, she told me not to waste any time and visit the ER for evaluation and imaging.
I was referred to the ER due to the severity of my symptoms.
To confirm the diagnosis and treatment, I was told to visit the ER. Although, she also asked me to follow up after my visit to the ER. As the online doctor predicted, the ultrasound scan revealed gallstones. I was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis and treated with IV fluids, painkillers and antibiotics.
Thanks to the online doctor at Your Doctors Online, I made it to the hospital in time and got proper treatment!
I was doing much better after the initial management at the ER. Although, I was referred to a specialist for further imaging. I felt very grateful and returned to chat with the online doctor to thank her for providing authentic medical advice at the right time.
FAQs About Gallstones Answered By Your Doctors Online Team!
Gallstones are hardened deposits commonly made of cholesterol or bilirubin that take the shape of stones. They can vary in size but can sometimes leave the gallbladder and block a duct leading to inflammation or infection.
A person with gallstones can also remain asymptomatic. However, if the stone blocks a duct, a person may experience the following symptoms:
Upper/middle abdominal pain
Chest discomfort
Nausea/vomiting
Pain radiating to the right shoulder
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Some risk factors that may increase the chances of developing gallstones include:
Being over 40
Being a woman
Being overweight
Having a family history of gallstones
Having medical conditions such as diabetes or crohn’s disease
Taking oral contraceptives
Gallstones are present in the gallbladder, a small organ located under the liver that stores/concentrates bile. The bile aids in the digestion of fats.
A person can remain asymptomatic, but if the stone blocks a duct such as a common bile duct, a person can experience upper/middle abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and pain in her right shoulder or between shoulder blades.
Yes, studies have suggested a genetic predisposition in the development of gallstones.
Hardening of the bile present in the gallbladder can result in the formation of gallstones. There are mainly two forms of gallstones, namely cholesterol and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones form from hardened cholesterol deposits, and pigment stores are hardened bilirubin deposits.
Pain caused by gallstones occurs when a stone dislodges and blocks a duct such as the common bile duct.
