You finish a heavy meal and suddenly feel a sharp pain under your right ribs. It may spread toward your back or shoulder, last for hours, and then disappear.
A few days later, you feel fine again, so you decide to ignore it.
This is a common mistake we see among patients in Anand Vihar and nearby East Delhi areas. Gallstone pain can come and go, but that does not necessarily mean the gallstones have gone away.
Gallstones are hard particles that form inside the gallbladder. They can develop when the substances that make up bile become unbalanced and form stones.
Some people have gallstones without any symptoms. These are often called silent gallstones and may not require treatment.
The situation changes when gallstones begin causing repeated pain or other complications.
Gallstone attacks often cause pain in the upper right or upper middle part of the abdomen.
The discomfort may appear after eating, particularly after a heavy or fatty meal, and can sometimes spread to the back or right shoulder.
Some patients also experience nausea or vomiting.
If you have severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever, yellowing of the eyes or skin, repeated vomiting, or other worrying symptoms, you should seek prompt medical assessment rather than assuming it is simple indigestion.
Not everyone with gallstones needs an operation.
If stones are discovered incidentally and are not causing symptoms, your doctor may recommend observation rather than immediate surgery.
Surgery becomes more relevant when gallstones repeatedly cause painful attacks, inflammation of the gallbladder, infection, blockage of the bile ducts, or other complications.
The common operation is laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in which the gallbladder is removed through small incisions.
Patients often ask, “Why not just remove the stones?”
The problem is that gallstones can form again if the gallbladder remains. In suitable patients, removing the gallbladder addresses the source of the problem rather than repeatedly treating individual stones.
Your surgeon will decide whether this approach is appropriate after reviewing your symptoms and investigations.
Imagine a patient who has experienced three or four attacks of right-sided abdominal pain over several months.
Each time, the pain settles after a few hours, so the patient takes a painkiller and continues normal life. Eventually, another attack becomes more severe and lasts much longer.
An evaluation reveals symptomatic gallstones.
The important point is that the earlier attacks were warning signs. Waiting until symptoms become an emergency can make an otherwise planned problem much more complicated.
Here is an important point patients often miss.
Finding gallstones on a scan does not automatically mean the stones are causing your pain.
Indigestion, acidity, ulcers, liver problems, pancreatic conditions, and several other issues can produce abdominal discomfort.
That is why we do not recommend surgery simply because a scan says “gallstones.”
Your symptoms, examination, scan findings, and medical history all need to make sense together before surgery is recommended.
For suitable patients, laparoscopic gallbladder removal is commonly used.
The surgeon makes several small incisions and uses a camera and specialised instruments to remove the gallbladder.
Compared with traditional open surgery, the minimally invasive approach generally involves smaller incisions and may allow a quicker recovery for appropriate patients.
However, surgery can occasionally need to be changed to an open approach if unexpected findings or safety concerns arise.
A good surgeon should explain this possibility before the operation.
Before agreeing to gallstone surgery, ask:
Are my symptoms definitely related to gallstones?
Do I need surgery now?
What happens if I wait?
Is laparoscopic surgery suitable for me?
How long will recovery take?
When can I return to work?
What complications should I know about?
These questions can make your consultation much more useful.
The gallbladder stores bile, but your body can continue to digest food without it because the liver continues producing bile.
Most patients gradually return to their usual diet and activities after recovery, although individual experiences vary.
Your surgeon will provide specific instructions about eating, activity, medicines, wound care, and follow-up.
Do not judge your recovery by someone else's timeline.
Dr. Aamir Iqbal is a New Delhi-based surgeon experienced in general and laparoscopic surgery, including minimally invasive treatment for abdominal conditions. He focuses on evaluating the cause of symptoms before recommending surgery and discussing the expected benefits, risks, and recovery with patients.
Gallstones generally become a stronger reason for surgery when they cause repeated symptoms or complications such as gallbladder inflammation or bile duct blockage. Silent gallstones may not always require surgery.
Some pain and discomfort are expected after surgery, but laparoscopic surgery generally involves smaller incisions than traditional open surgery. Your surgeon will explain pain control and expected recovery before the procedure.
Some gallstones that cause no symptoms may simply be monitored. Once gallstones are causing repeated attacks or complications, surgery is often considered the definitive treatment for suitable patients.
A single episode of abdominal discomfort may have many causes. But repeated pain, particularly in the upper right abdomen after meals, deserves proper evaluation.
If you are considering Gallstones Surgery in Anand Vihar, consult Dr. Aamir Iqbal for an assessment of your symptoms and reports.
Do not choose surgery just because gallstones were found. Choose treatment when the diagnosis, symptoms, and medical need all point in the same direction.
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