Your gallbladder is an organ within the body that is shaped like a pear and stores bile. The gallbladder is about 3 to 4 inches long and is connected to the liver by a duct known as the hepatic duct. Bile is stored in the gallbladder to aid in digestion of food and is released into the small intestines.
Sometimes the gallbladder can cause problems such as inflammation and gallstones. Inflammation of the gallbladder, or gall bladder disease, can cause a person to experience indigestion, especially after one eats a fatty meal. There are other symptoms of gallbladder disease such as tenderness under the right ribcage, pain that radiates between the shoulder blades, and bowel movements that appear light and chalky in color. Most people do not realize that this is a symptom of gallbladder disease and will often ignore the signs.
A gallbladder attack is often caused by gallstones that pass through the common bile duct. Gallstones form in the gallbladder by the crystallization of substances within the bile. Gallstones can range from the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil, to the size of a small rock. Once a gallstone begins passing through the common bile duct, pain is often excruciating and can lead to serious health problems. The bile duct can become infected or if the stone is too big, it can’t pass through the common bile duct.
About 12 years ago I experienced a gallbladder attack. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. The pain began as a dull ache under my right ribcage and began to radiate throughout my back and shoulders. Both arms hurt and my back hurt. I couldn’t do anything to get comfortable. It hurt to breathe, lay down, stand up, or walk. I thought maybe I was having a heart attack. I begin feeling pressure under my ribs and became nauseous, eventually vomiting. The pain lasted a good 10 to 15 minutes before it subsided.
I did not know what was wrong with me but knew that pain the I had experienced was not normal. It just so happened that my son had a check-up with our family doctor that afternoon. I still wasn’t feeling so great and the doctor could tell that and asked me what was wrong. I described to him the pain I experienced and how I had gotten sick. He asked me to lay on the table and pressed on my right side and told me he thought I had gallstones. He scheduled me an appointment for an ultrasound where it was determined that I did indeed have gallstones. He also informed me that it wasn’t good for gallstones to pass through the bile duct because they could lodge in the duct and cause serious damage as well as infection. I was scheduled a week later to have my gallbladder removed laparscopically. Since having my gallbladder out I have not had any painful episodes like that horrible night 12 years ago. The doctor only removed two stones. The stones were about the size of an eraser. It amazed me how something so tiny could cause so much pain.
I had surgery because the gallstones were causing me pain. Some people never experience pain with gallstones and in some cases surgery to remove the gallbladder is not required. Removal of the gallbladder is only done when it is interfering with your daily life or causing severe pain. Women who have had children are at risk of developing gallstones. Mine developed more than likely when I was pregnant with my son. People over the age of 40 are often at risk of developing gallstones. If you experience or have experienced any of these symptoms of a gallbladder attack, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
