3 Things to Know About Your Gallbladder

A pulsing, throbbing pain on the right side of your abdomen has traditionally been considered an appendix issue, but if it is a little higher, right under the first rib, it actually may be a gallbladder attack. The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ, sits quietly, tucked under the liver on your right side. When it becomes inflamed or when stones or sludge block the bile duct, it can cause a sharp and sudden pain in your abdomen, back or shoulder blades. Sometimes, it can cause you to feel nauseous or feverish. At Medco ER & Urgent Care of Plano, TX, we commonly diagnose and treat gallbladder disease and gallstones.

“Gallbladder inflammation, stones or sludge can cause severe pain and can become a very serious condition very quickly,” said Medco ER & Urgent Care’s Medical Director, Dr. Nasir Khan. “We can diagnose using ultrasound, CT scan and in-house blood tests and can get you the treatment you need right away.”

Causes of gallbladder disease

Gallbladder inflammation can be caused by a blocked bile duct. The gallbladder releases bile after you eat. It goes into a shared duct that the liver and pancreas also use. If stones that form in the gallbladder are released into the duct, they can get stuck there and block the flow of bile, causing the gallbladder to become inflamed and possibly even infected.¹

What causes gallstones? Gallstones are possibly caused by an excess build-up of cholesterol or bilirubin, a digestive fluid.²

While gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder inflammation, some others include tumors, abscesses, congenital defects, cancer and infection.

Gallbladder disease is on the rise

Gallbladder disease is becoming more prevalent and the median age is lowering, as well. Since it is linked to obesity and diabetes, which are also on the rise, it stands to reason that gallbladder disease is also increasing.³

Gallbladder disease can be life-threatening

“A blocked bile duct is serious,” said Dr. Khan. “The pancreas uses the same duct and when it is blocked, it starts to deteriorate. When you are experiencing severe abdominal pain, it is important to come right away to Medco ER. We are here 24/7 to help you.”

Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

If you have any of these symptoms, come to Medco ER & Urgent Care right away:

• Intense abdominal pain or back pain or shoulder pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Dark urine
• Light colored stools
• Skin or eyes turning yellow or jaundiced

Get help fast at Medco ER & Urgent Care

Have you felt intermittent pain in the upper abdominal area? It is possible you have been experiencing biliary colic pain. This means you have possibly already experienced stones passing through the gallbladder and bile duct. If the pain increases or is ongoing, come in right away for quality medical care. Our ER offers almost no wait time and fast access to board-certified physicians. Open all day and night, we’re here when you need us.

• Plano location:

3960 Legacy Drive, Plano TX 75023 (on the corner of Legacy and Coit Road)

            Call us @ 469-392-4000

¹ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15265-gallbladder-swelling–inflammation-cholecystitis

² https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/symptoms-causes/syc-20354214

³ https://www.bmhvt.org/gallbladder-disease/