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Early Symptoms of Gallstones

For many people there are no symptoms of gallstones. Many times gallstones are discovered accidentally when a patient is undergoing abdominal scanning for other conditions. Typically, the stones are small enough that they do not require removal; however, if they become large enough they may block bile from entering the small intestine, causing interference with the digestion of fatty foods. This is why high-fat meals cause more abdominal discomfort. When there are symptoms present, the discomfort may last from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the severity of the condition. Even if you haven't had symptoms it's possible for them to appear suddenly, without warning.

  1. Mild Symptoms

    • Initially you may experience indigestion (including gas or burping), upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. If you have these symptoms on a regular basis, you should speak to your doctor. A diagnosis of gallstones may lead to the discovery of diabetes, sickle cell anemia, or Crohn's disease.

    Urgent Symptoms

    • Urgent symptoms indicate the possible need for surgery to remove the gallstones. These symptoms include middle back pain in the vicinity of the spine or between the shoulder blades. See your doctor to determine if gallstones are present and develop a rapid program for treatment.

    Emergency Symptoms

    • Extreme cases of gallstones may include symptoms such as sharp pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and vomiting that are accompanied by a fever, hard chills, and heavy perspiration. Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin, may be present as well. This is an emergency situation because toxins aren't being eliminated by the body; they are instead circulating freely in the bloodstream, which may cause very serious complications.

    Prevention

    • There are a number of supplements that can help keep gallstones at bay. Vitamins and common products sold over the counter can alleviate many gallbladder problems. Among those products are vitamins A, B, and C, garlic, cranberry juice, and natural antioxidants. Vitamin A can help the body heal itself; it's stored in the body and can reach toxic levels, so take vitamin A only as directed. B vitamins boost metabolic function and increase energy levels. Vitamin C aids the body's immune system and helps repair bone and tissue. Antioxidants will reduce the amount of free radicals in the body, and can be found in fruits and vegetables; good choices for natural antioxidants are cranberries, blueberries, apples, cherries, broccoli, grapes, and spinach. Garlic can counteract high fat in the diet.

    Seeking Care

    • Because there are often no symptoms of gallstones, if you should develop any of the symptoms mentioned in the sections above, you should speak to your doctor about the likelihood of gallstones. The earlier they're detected, the easier it will be to eliminate the problem.

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