I’m 18 and have just been told that i have gall stones, is it normal to be so young and have gallstones?
Jan 31, 2010
in
Gallstones
i just recently had a baby, and my husband left a week after i gave birth for the airforce. do you think that maybe stress caused the gallstones? i always thought that only old people got gallstones! but i guess i was wrong, and now im terrified that they are going to kill me!!!! so my first question would be, why do you think i have gall stones at such a young age. and my next question…what can i do to help the gallstones so it doesnt kill me.
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3 comments
Simonizer1218 on January 31, 2010 at 9:31 am
I assume that your were told about your gallstones by a physician. Otherwise, how would anyone else know. It is true that gallstones usually occur in older persons, but that isn’t always the case. It has to do with the formation of insoluble material in the ducts. The gall bladder aids in digestion by secreting bile, and if the duct is obstructed this can cause pain. This will not kill you if you have it treated by a physician. You can pass the gallstones, and they may not return. But do see a doctor.
Nice_guy on January 31, 2010 at 9:31 am
Pardon my straight-forwardness but I will say you should go see a doctor or something. Hopefully you will not need a surgery! Possibly the stress caused it but have you checked your diet for cholesterol also?
Crouching Doggie on January 31, 2010 at 9:31 am
Jessica, please, first off, please relax. My little sister was diagnosed with symptomatic Gallstones at the age of 21. She didn’t fit the prototype of a "heavy, fertile female in the fifth decade of life." She’s a petite little girl.
Gallstones (cholelithiasis) is extremely common in adults. If it’s asymptomatic, you really don’t need to do anything about it. If you do have symptoms, General Surgeons routinely perform cholecystectomies without many significant long-term complications. It’s not terribly common in the Western world (in my experience) for women to die of acute cholecystitis (unless complicated). If you experience symptomes, especially epigastric or RUQ pain, then you must seek medical attention without delay.
I wish you well, and I urge you not to be fearful. We don’t know exactly why young people get gallstones, but it’s such a common entity that you’re not alone, so don’t feel like there’s something "egregiously wrong with you." We’re pretty good at dealing with this sort of thing and so long as you see a physician, you’ll be okay.