Best Side to Lay on for Gallbladder Pain?
A gallbladder attack is no laughing matter. Especially when you are experiencing gallstones. The gallbladder, when it is malfunctioning, can cause some serious issues, particularly pain and discomfort. Below we discuss what the gallbladder does and how to find some comfort when you are trying to get some necessary rest.
What Does The Gallbladder Do?
The gallbladder is an apple-sized organ that rests under the liver and near the pancreas. The main function of the gallbladder is to aid in digestion. The gallbladder stores bile that is made in the liver. Bile is a thick liquid. The gallbladder injects the bile into the small intestine when we eat fatty foods. The gallbladder is important, but not necessary for digestion. When it acts up it can cause some serious problems.
What Does A Gallbladder Attack Feel Like?
As many as 20 million Americans may suffer from a gallbladder attack.(1) Gallstones being the most common. Gallstones are a complication experienced when a blockage has formed in the gallbladder. If you are having a gallbladder attack you may experience abrupt and intense pain that increases suddenly. This pain may be focused around the upper right side of your abdomen. Some may experience this pain in the center of your abdomen below their breastbone. Others may even feel pain in their back between their shoulder blades. The pain level of pain experienced varies from person to person. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can develop at any time, but particularly after eating a meal. This pain and discomfort may last for a few minutes or several hours.
Can You Pass A Gallstone?
Most people don’t experience symptoms with gallstones and pass them without the need for medical treatment. If you are experiencing pain and discomfort from gallstones you might consider seeing your doctor and discuss your symptoms. If the symptoms are concerning you or you are experiencing pain so bad that you cannot sit still or find any comfort or you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) you should seek immediate care. These symptoms indicate a serious gallbladder attack or another complication.
After your doctor has diagnosed you with gallstones, using best practices, your doctor may recommend medications to help you break down or dissolve the stone(s) that are causing discomfort especially if you have experienced a gallbladder attack before or you cannot have surgery.
Some ways that your doctor may diagnose gallstones include:
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- Other Imaging Test
- and/or Blood Test
Do Gallstones Require Surgery?
Gallstones do not always require surgery and rarely require medical intervention for most people. Gallstones can reoccur and if this is your case then the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder. Removing the gallbladder has very little impact on your life. It is not a necessary organ. Once it is removed bile will now be directly injected into the small intestine from the liver. One temporary side effect may be diarrhea.
What Causes Gallstones?
Scientists are unsure as to why gallstones form, but they believe it is related to one’s diet. There are two types of gallstones the most common is the cholesterol gallstone. Formed by undigested cholesterol. The other, a less common type, is the pigment gallstone. By eating more fiber and maintaining a healthy weight you can reduce your risk of gallstones.
Best Side To Lay On For Gallbladder Pain
If you are experiencing a gallbladder attack and waiting to pass the stone there are some things you can do to ease the discomfort when sleeping or resting in bed. When you are sleeping or resting you should lay on your left side. Many doctors recommend sleeping on your left side as the most healthy side to sleep on as a general rule. This can be especially true when you are experiencing gallbladder pain. Laying on your left side can, in some cases, help clear the blockage faster. If you are experiencing a gallbladder attack it may not even be possible to lay on your back due to the pain and discomfort. Laying or sleeping on your right side may aggravate and prolong symptoms. This may be due to your gallbladder being located on your right side. Laying on your right side could cause your gallbladder to become constricted and increase the discomfort.
Sources:
(1) https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/1989/11/21/20-million-americans-may-suffer-from-gallstones/a411e7ba-b80f-4bc4-934d-ba219d298b52/
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