A sudden, sharp pain in the upper abdomen, along with repeated nausea or vomiting, is something most people write off as gas or acidity. But gastroenterologist Dr. Unique Tyagi says this seemingly ordinary discomfort can actually point to a stone in the gallbladder, and ignoring it can allow the condition to turn serious over time.
According to Dr. Tyagi, gallstones are fairly common. What's notable is that most people with gallstones never experience any real trouble because of them. Many patients go years without even realizing a stone is sitting in their gallbladder. But in some people, that same stone suddenly triggers intense pain and other complications.
How to recognize gallstone pain
Dr. Tyagi explains that gallstone pain is usually felt in the upper right part of the abdomen. It comes on suddenly and tends to be quite intense. In many cases, the pain doesn't stay confined to that spot, it spreads to the back, the waist or the right shoulder. Doctors refer to this as biliary colic. Along with the pain, patients may also feel nausea, vomiting and general discomfort. In some cases, the pain becomes so severe that the patient has to be rushed to a hospital.
Warning signs you should never ignore
If the pain is accompanied by a high fever, chills, or the eyes and skin turning yellow, that is not a normal situation. Dr. Tyagi says such symptoms indicate that the stone has dislodged and become stuck in the bile duct, which can lead to infection or another serious complication. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted without any delay.
What are the treatment options
Dr. Tyagi says the most effective treatment for gallbladder stones is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a procedure in which small incisions are made to remove the entire gallbladder. This allows the patient to recover quickly and return to normal life. If a stone gets stuck in the main bile duct, it is first removed and the duct cleared through an ERCP procedure, after which gallbladder surgery is carried out if needed.
