Have
you ever had an attack of gallstones? If you haven't
personally experienced an attack of gallstones, it's likely
that you know someone who has experienced this extremely
painful condition. You might be surprised to learn that
gallstones are the most common digestive disease in the US
affecting over 20 million Americans, with a million new
cases diagnosed each year.
Did you
know that women are twice as likely as men to develop
gallstones? This is thought to be caused by multiple
pregnancies, obesity, and rapid weight loss in women.
More Facts About
Gallstones
- Gallstones
affect approximately one in ten Americans, and are
associated with approximately 3,000 deaths annually.
- More
than 800,000 hospitalizations each year are caused by
gallstones that are large enough to cause significant
pain.
- Over
500,000 people undergo surgery for gallstones annually.
- Obesity
is one of the strongest risk factors for gallstones.
- Rapid
weight loss diets significantly increase the risk for
gallstones.
This
week, women talk about their personal experiences with
gallstone attacks. Feel free to jump in and add your
gallstone story, or ask questions about your gallbladder
symptoms...
Two Attacks,
Pain, and Surgery
"I had
two attacks before I decided to have mine removed. Both
after a rich meal, like the previous poster said. Mine was
also diagnosed with ultrasound. It felt like I was being
stabbed in the gut repeatedly - horrible pain, slightly
easing, then horrible again. I think they can diagnose it
when you are not having an attack, though, so you might want
to check with another doctor." - ANALISA_ROCH
Emergency
Surgery
"Yeah,
they can diagnose when you're not having an attack. I had a
terrible attack on a Monday morning (2 a.m.) and the ER
where I went didn't even CONSIDER that it might be gall
bladder. They just gave me some sedatives and sent me home
saying I had the flu and to check with my doctor. I went to
my doctor's office later that day, and he sent me for the
ultrasound (I wasn't having the attack anymore). During the
ultrasound, the technician told me 'don't panic, I'll be
right back,' as she RAN to get a doctor. Needless to say, I
was on the operating table in a matter of hours having the
thing ripped out. After the surgery, the doctor told my
boyfriend that he was about two minutes away from having to
abandon laparoscopy and pull it out the old-fashioned way (a
difference of two months recovery vs. two weeks). It was a
horrifying experience for me, I know that!" -
STUNNED2 Symptoms Like A
Heart Attack
"I had
my gallbladder removed in September. I only had one major
attack. I had minor ones before, diarrhea, stomach cramps,
etc. The major attack that sent me to the emergency room was
awful. I told them I thought I was having a gallbladder
attack since I had a strong family history of stones, but
they treated me first as if I was having a heart attack
since the symptoms are sometimes similar. I was diagnosed
with ultrasound. My symptoms were pain in my chest that
didn't go away until I got Demerol, pain in the middle of my
back, and shortness of breath." -
Lauren
