You’ve changed your eating routine, started a weight-management plan or both. Then a pain appears high in your abdomen. It’s tempting to write it off as something you ate, especially if you’ve been expecting your stomach to feel different.
There are many possible explanations for abdominal pain. Gallstones are one of them, and they’re worth knowing about when you’re discussing changes in weight or medication. New or persistent abdominal pain deserves attention; an article can’t tell you what is causing yours.
What are gallstones?
The gallbladder is a small organ beneath the liver. It stores bile, a fluid that helps with digestion. Gallstones are hardened pieces of material that can form in the gallbladder. Some people have them without symptoms. Problems can occur when a stone blocks a bile duct.
A gallbladder attack often causes pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. Pain can last several hours, and some people also feel nauseated or vomit. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so the location alone isn’t a reliable way to diagnose yourself.
Know when to get help
Seek medical care promptly for abdominal pain lasting several hours, or pain with fever or chills, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. Dark urine or light-colored stools are also reasons to seek prompt medical advice. Severe or worsening pain needs immediate medical attention.
Don’t wait for the next routine weight-management check-in or try to decide at home whether a stone is definitely responsible. If you’re unsure how urgently to be seen, contact a medical professional promptly; for severe symptoms, use emergency care.
When you speak with someone, explain where the pain is, when it began, whether it comes and goes, and any other symptoms. Tell them about your medicines and recent changes in weight. That information helps the team decide how to evaluate you; it doesn’t replace an examination.
If you have the information handy, note whether you have had similar pain before and whether anything seems to bring it on. You can also ask someone you trust to help you remember the details. Don’t spend time completing a symptom diary when you need urgent care; the care team can ask follow-up questions when you arrive.
What does weight loss have to do with it?
Losing weight very quickly and going long periods without eating can increase gallstone risk. That doesn’t mean everyone who loses weight will develop gallstones, or that any particular meal caused a symptom. Your history and other factors matter.
Some weight-management medicines have also been associated with gallbladder problems. If you use or are considering a GLP-1 medication, ask your prescriber how the information for your specific medicine applies to you. A prior gallbladder issue is useful to mention before you begin, along with any other medical conditions and medicines.
There’s no need to adopt a crash diet to make progress. Ask for a plan that is appropriate for your health, leaves room for regular nourishment and can be followed in everyday life. If your appetite is very low or you’re struggling to eat or drink, let your care team know.
Preparing for a useful conversation
If you’ve had gallstones before, bring any records you have and note whether you had treatment. You can ask:
- Does my history change the way we approach weight management?
- Which symptoms should lead me to call, and when should I seek urgent care?
- Who should I contact if symptoms appear after starting a medicine?
- Is there follow-up or a referral you recommend for my situation?
Our health-history guide can help you gather the other details your prescriber may need. You don’t have to solve the mystery yourself. The important step is bringing a new symptom to the right person in time.