4) Bloating
Different from severe vomiting episodes and severe abdominal pain, bloating is a common symptom in patients with undiagnosed gallstones. Sometimes these stones become challenging to diagnose because the only thing patients feel is a sensation of bloating along with abdominal discomfort right after having a large meal. They usually think it’s a digestive problem and they might have eaten too much, so they do not pay much attention to this symptom. However, this could be a leading symptom to suspect gallstones.
In the event of bloating and abdominal discomfort –sometimes even abdominal pain- after a large meal, it is advisable to perform an abdominal ultrasound as a part of the complementary check-up and visit your doctor for a physical exam and further instructions. If you are able to detect gallstones before they turn into an emergency, it will be easier to program a safe surgery or recommend a helpful diet to control these symptoms. Instead, waiting and delaying the diagnose would make patients face the consequences if the gallstone ever gets stuck, and nobody wants a risky and unplanned emergency surgery if we can prevent it.
