Common symptoms including severe and sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, bloating and flatulence are often misunderstood to be only peptic ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as GERD). A number of patients do not pay enough medical attention when these symptoms arise, for example in women over 40. Rather than being suspected diseases e.g. peptic ulcers or GERD, a lack of regular health screening and check-ups results in “gallstones” with delayed diagnosis. Being aware of warning signs and symptoms of gallstones remains important. Regular screening and early detection play a major role in effective and timely treatment of gallstones.
Pain that indicates “gallstones”
Abdominal pain caused by gallstones typically happens after consumption of big meals with fatty foods. Pain include:
- Epigastric pain: pain or discomfort right below the ribs in the area of upper abdomen.
- Intermittent abdominal pain that comes and goes.
- Abdominal pain lasting for an hour.
- Pain that radiates to right shoulder or back (between shoulder blades)
In addition, aggravated symptoms might include severe abdominal bloating, jaundice with nausea and vomitting.
Noticeable differences between gallstones and peptic ulcers
*** High fever and chills might be presented with severe and sudden abdominal pain due to the inflammation of gallbladder (cholecystitis) which is complication of gallstones while having high fever in peptic ulcers is unlikely.
After taking the full course of peptic ulcer treatment and symptoms are persistent without significance improvement, additional physical examinations and tests are highly recommended.
