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Reader Stories: Your Gallbladder Disease Experience

From , former About.com Guide

Updated July 29, 2010

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Gallbladder disease is the most common and costly digestive disease in the United States. More than 800,000 hospitalizations annually at estimated cost of over five billion dollars are attributed to gallbladder disease. Over 20 million Americans have gallstones with approximately one million new cases diagnosed each year. Women are twice as likely as men to develop gallbladder disease. The higher prevalence of gallstones in women is thought to be caused by multiple pregnancies, obesity, and rapid weight loss.

Christmas Dinner Gallbladder Attack

I had no pain/attack for a couple days and while at work I felt the pain coming. I was immediately sent to ER and they were going to put me on meds for an ulcer, but did an ultrasound just to check t…More

Gallbladder Removed During Pregnancy

The doctor at the ER suspected gallstones but also felt my symptoms could indicate a blood clot that went to my lungs. (At 20 weeks pregnant I had recently been on bed-rest which was a concern). Firs…More

10 Years After First Gallbladder Symptoms She Has Surgery

I did not have gallstones, but my gallbladder was enlarged and covered in a thick layer of scar tissue from years of inflammation. The ultrasounds (multiple ones) and HIDA scans showed nothing wrong.…More

Emergency Gallbladder Surgery

I got to the hospital, the doctor did a few quick tests and got me some pain meds right away. They took me in and did an ultrasound of my chest and abdomen. Within 30 minutes, I was admitted to the h…More

Dietary Restrictions After Gallbladder Surgery

I went to the Emergency Room telling them that I felt just awful and thought I was having a heart attack. I had the chest xray, blood tests and overall heart check but that showed it wasn't the heart…More

No Insurance Means Gallbladder Surgery Is Impossible

Had a hida scan & ultrasound. The pain comes and goes. I was on medication at one point & the stones were gone, but the gallbladder is still considered chronic cholecystitis. I don't have medical cov…More

Test For Gallbladder Disease Was Fried Bacon

I entered the hospital through the ER and was admitted. The "test" they performed was to give me a couple of pieces of fried bacon the next morning. When I went into yet another attack, they determin…More

Gallbladder Patient Says To Avoid Greasy / Oily Foods

I was never diagnosed with gallstones after having an MRI but even without stones, gallbladder disease greatly affected my life. If I had to be somewhere, I would not eat for hours beforehand to assu…More

I Thought I Was Having A Heart Attack

I went to the ER with chest pain, thinking I was having a heart attack. They performed a CCP which showed my bilirubin and lfts were elevated. Then an ultrasound showed I had a large amount of stones…More

Hospital Worker Has Gallbladder Attack At Work

I was not happy and did not want to believe I had gallstones, but the more people I spoke to the more I found out almost 1 in 3 people I know had their gallbladder removed including my mother.Being i…More

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