Gallstones symptoms and stomach ulcer symptoms are sometimes mistaken for one another because of their similar symptoms.
There are 2 primary types of gallstones that may cause gallstones symptoms. One is the cholesterol gallstone, where the stone must be made up of a minimum of 80% cholesterol. Typically, these types of gallstones can vary from 2-3 cm, and they often have a darkish spot in the centre. These gallstones may be more difficult to detect via ultrasound examination, because it often blends in with the bile in your gallbladder.
The second gallstone is known as a pigment stone. This stone is usually darker in colour than the cholesterol gallstone and it is composed of minerals, such as calcium and bilirubin. These stones are easily detected through ultrasound. Sometimes, smaller gallstones might not cause much discomfort, which can cause people to ignore or overlook their symptoms. Larger gallstones may cause gallbladder attacks, which are painful.
Symptoms you might get are: pain on the upper right abdominal area, as well as chest and shoulder pain. The pain you receive might be either a dull ache or a quick sharp jab.
Along with these symptoms, you might experience excessive weight gain, headaches, acid reflux, increased flatulence, dizziness, constipation or diarrhea, and jaundice. These symptoms occur more often after large fatty meals.
Your digestive tract can form sores called ulcers. Ulcers occur when the acidic digestive juices in your stomach corrode the lining of your digestive tract. Most commonly, the sores are found in the duodenum. However, the ulcers can also be found in the stomach, and these are called gastric ulcers.
Similar to gallstones symptoms, stomach ulcer symptoms can vary and many people might have little or no symptoms at all.
Those with ulcers may feel a burning, gnawing, hunger pain a few hours after eating meals or in the middle of the night. Stomach ulcer pain is characterized by a throbbing pain. Often, these pains go away by eating food or taking antacids. It is important to note that the amount of pain one receives does not equate to how serious one’s ulcer is. Some individuals experience pain after an ulcer is completely healed! You may also feel bloating, loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, weakness, and fatigue.
A major difference in the two is that gallstones symptoms can lead to jaundice. This is a medical condition where bile is backed up into the liver and forced into the bloodstream. It will cause the whites of the eyes and the skin to turn yellow. This condition is serious, and if noted, one should see their physician right away.
If you are still unsure if you are having gallstones symptoms or a stomach ulcer, your doctor will be able to do an ultrasound or a barium GI x-ray examination to determine your condition.