This week Check-up looks at Gallstones
Last weekend I experienced severe pain in the upper right side of my stomach. My GP saw me at the time and diagnosed gallstones. Although he explained what was wrong, because I was in so much pain I now can't remember what he told me. Can you fill me in?
These small, hard stones develop in the gall bladder, a small bag about the size of a fig that collects bile from the liver. Some of the sediment in the bile can act as a collecting point for more sediment and the stone grows in size over time. Half of sufferers do not suffer from any pain as the stones quite happily lie at the bottom of the gall bladder causing no symptoms.
However, the other half experience severe pain, which fades in intensity over a few hours. The pain can be felt in the upper abdomen on the right side just under the ribs, in the middle of the abdomen and/or in the back. Nausea and vomiting may also accompany the pain.
What caused the pain?
The pain is as a result of the stones lodging in the cystic duct or common bile duct. When this happens, pressure rises in the duct as a result of a build-up of bile. The pain resolves only when the stone gets pushed forward into the duodenum or back into the gall bladder.
I seem to recall my doctor saying I would need an ultrasound. Will this get rid of the stones?
Treatment of an acute episode usually requires a strong analgesia to relieve the attack. However, making a definitive diagnosis requires an ultrasound examination or a special X-ray called a cholecystogram.
Depending on the size and location, you may be offered treatment involving shock waves, which shatters the stones. Other sufferers will require surgery to remove the gallstones and its stones.