Roughly 20 million Americans suffer from some form of gallbladder disease. Luckily, gallbladder-related diseases and illnesses are generally fairly easy to treat; gallbladders are not essential organs and can be safely removed, with a fairly minimal recovery process. Here are a few of the major symptoms of gallbladder problems — though, naturally, a patient should always be diagnosed in person by a professional.
- Pain or tenderness within the abdomen. The abdominal pain related to gallbladder disease can range from mild tenderness when pressure is applied to a fairly severe pain whenever a patient moves. This pain may get worse shortly after a meal has been eaten and may increase when the patient takes a deep breath.
- Nausea, fever, and chills. Some of the symptoms of gallbladder issues can appear to be a common cold or the flu. However, these issues will persist much longer than a cold or flu normally would. Patients may experience vomiting, light-headedness, and other similar problems. They may also experience a related lack of appetite.
- Jaundice. A patient with gallbladder issues could experience yellowing, both in their skin and in their eyes. Jaundice can also represent many other potential issues, however, so it should always be looked into by a professional physician. When jaundice occurs, the issue has usually become fairly serious.
- Heartburn and indigestion. Patients may experience an upset stomach and other digestive issues following eating. They may also experience excessive gas, which — combined with abdominal pain — can be confused for a variety of dietary issues.
Gallbladder issues don’t always come with symptoms — there are some gallbladder-related issues that can be entirely asymptomatic, but sill requires some treatment. Dr. Elijah Mobley is a skilled general surgeon serving Los Angeles County, including San Dimas, Glendora, and Victorville. Through Dr. Elijah Mobley’s clinic patients can receive state-of-the-art surgical care, including robotic surgery for gallbladder disease.
