What are common symptoms of gallstones?
The most common symptoms include pain in the right upper abdomen combined with nausea and vomiting. These symptoms typically occur after meals, particularly fatty meals. Gallstones are also the most common cause of pancreatitis. This occurs when gallstones block up the tubes leading to the small intestines. How are gallstones diagnosed? Gallstones are seen on an abdominal ultrasound. This is a noninvasive, painless test. What if I have these symptoms, but I don’t have gallstones on ultrasound? There are other problems associated with the gallbladder aside from gallstones. Sometimes the gallbladder does not empty properly, which can result in the same symptoms as gallstones. This condition is known as biliary dyskinesia. What is a cholecystectomy? A cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder. This is almost always done laparoscopically, through 4 very small incisions (1 – 2 cm each). This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis; however your surgeon may decide to keep you
