Gallstones

Well I went for an ultrasound scan today and it would appear very likely that I have gallstones.

Looking up on the internet (Bupa website), I have found the following description of symptoms which can be associated with gallstones:

Symptoms

Despite being very common, most gallstones cause no symptoms at all, and most people aren't aware that they have them. Gallstones that don't cause any symptoms generally don't need any treatment.

However, gallstones may irritate the lining of the gallbladder (this is known as cholecystitis). Or, most commonly, the stones can get stuck in the tubes leading out of the gallbladder (the bile ducts). This can cause an attack of abdominal pain, called biliary colic, which:

* develops quickly
* is severe
* lasts about one to three hours before fading gradually
* isn't helped by over-the-counter painkillers (the kind of remedies you might normally take for a headache or stomach cramp)
* isn't helped by passing wind

The attacks can be quite frightening, and people sometimes fear that the pain is due to a heart attack because it can travel to the right shoulder or arm. Attacks are not frequent, and if they do re-occur they can be weeks or even years apart

Yep - that pretty much sounds like it...

Got a doctors appointment for next week (after I'm back from London) to discuss this in greater deal...

Oh the joy!