What are Gallbladder attack? Symptoms, treatment and gallbladder surgery option

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Frankford woman found out the hard way not to ignore stomach pain. Shakina Hawkins said she feared going to the hospital because of the pandemic and because of that her situation became more severe.

"I started experiencing stomach pains, they would come and go sometimes it would be sharp, sometimes it would be dull," said Hawkins.

Hawkins said the pain started last May and went on for months. Because of the pandemic, she eventually tried a telemedicine appointment.

"They advised me to go to the emergency room, I was a little skeptical about that because of everything that's going on right now," she said.

She said by August the pain was too much.

"Finally I just had no choice; I had to go," she said.

The tests confirmed she had gallstones and she was sent to Temple Health.

"Gallbladder attack commonly is due to stones," said Dr. Sanjiv Dewan, an assistant professor in clinical surgery. "When the stone gets stuck in the neck of the gallbladder that's what causes pain."

When the stones get to the point of Hawkins', you must have surgery to remove the organ. Doctors said once stones appear, they will keep coming back.

The gallbladder helps break down fatty foods, but yes you can live without it.

"The ducts of the liver and gallbladder get slightly bigger and they take over the function of the gallbladder," said Dr. Dewan.

At 44 years old, Hawkins is right in the demographic for gallstones.

"Commonly this happens in age group between 40 and 50, more common in females, more common in people who are obese, who have eaten high fat and high cholesterol diet," said Dr. Dewan.

Symptoms of gallstones is pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, pain in the back and even in the right shoulder. There could also be nausea, vomiting and indigestion.

Hawkins said, in her case, her fears of going to the hospital were misplaced.

"It was outpatient, which I was very surprised. So it was kind of like go in, boom, get it done and out the door," she said.

Doctors said not everyone who has gallstones will become symptomatic. And not everyone needs surgery but because Hawkins waited that became her only option.