Gallbladder pain worse when lying down. Best Sleeping Positions for Gallbladder Pain Relief: Expert Tips

18.07.202303.07.2023 by alexxlab

What are the most effective sleeping positions to alleviate gallbladder pain. How can different resting positions impact gallbladder discomfort. Which sleep postures should be avoided during a gallbladder attack.

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Understanding Gallbladder Pain and Its Causes

Gallbladder pain is a common issue that affects millions of Americans. But what exactly causes this discomfort? The gallbladder, a small digestive organ, stores bile – a substance crucial for fat digestion. When the chemical balance of bile is disrupted, it can lead to the formation of gallstones.

Gallstones are small, crystallized protein deposits that can block the bile duct, resulting in what’s often referred to as a gallbladder attack or biliary colic. These attacks can cause severe pain in the upper abdomen, sometimes lasting for hours. It’s estimated that over 20 million Americans have experienced or will develop gallstones in their lifetime.

Common Symptoms of Gallbladder Issues

Severe upper abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Pain that radiates to the back or right shoulder
Fever and chills
Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)

The Impact of Sleep Positions on Gallbladder Pain

Can your sleep position really influence gallbladder pain? Research suggests that certain sleeping positions may indeed help alleviate discomfort during a gallbladder attack. While much of the evidence is anecdotal, many individuals report significant relief by adjusting their sleep posture.

Optimal Sleeping Position for Gallbladder Pain Relief

When experiencing gallbladder pain, sleeping on your left side is often recommended as the best position. This posture allows the gallbladder to contract and expand freely, potentially helping to clear blockages in the bile duct. By facilitating the natural movement of the gallbladder, this position may help resolve pain more quickly.

Positions to Avoid During a Gallbladder Attack

While left-side sleeping is beneficial, certain positions may exacerbate gallbladder pain:

Right-side sleeping: This can constrict the gallbladder and make it harder for gallstones to pass.
Sleeping on your back: This position may not provide adequate relief and could increase discomfort.
Stomach sleeping: Pressure on the abdomen may worsen pain during a gallbladder attack.

Additional Home Remedies for Gallbladder Pain Relief

Beyond adjusting your sleep position, several at-home strategies can help manage gallbladder pain:

Apply a warm compress to the affected area
Drink peppermint tea to soothe spasms
Consider magnesium supplements to aid gallbladder emptying
Practice gentle stretching exercises
Maintain proper hydration

Are these remedies effective for everyone? While many find relief through these methods, it’s important to note that individual experiences may vary. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.

Recognizing When to Seek Medical Attention

How can you differentiate between manageable gallbladder pain and a medical emergency? While home remedies and sleep position adjustments can often provide relief, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

Severe abdominal pain lasting several hours
Persistent nausea and vomiting
Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
Fever accompanied by chills
Light-colored stools or dark urine

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek medical help promptly. Delaying treatment for severe gallbladder issues can lead to complications and potentially life-threatening conditions.

The Role of Diet in Managing Gallbladder Health

Can dietary changes help prevent gallbladder attacks and alleviate pain? While sleep positions and home remedies can provide relief during an attack, long-term management often involves dietary modifications. A gallbladder-friendly diet typically includes:

Increased fiber intake
Reduced consumption of saturated and trans fats
Incorporation of healthy fats from sources like olive oil and avocados
Regular meals to promote consistent bile production
Adequate hydration

By adopting these dietary habits, you may reduce the frequency and severity of gallbladder attacks. However, it’s essential to work with a healthcare provider or nutritionist to develop a personalized diet plan that addresses your specific needs and medical history.

Understanding Gallbladder Surgery: When Is It Necessary?

In some cases, lifestyle changes and pain management techniques may not be sufficient to address chronic gallbladder issues. When might surgery be recommended? Cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder, is often considered in situations such as:

Recurrent gallbladder attacks
Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
Large or numerous gallstones
Gallbladder cancer

Is gallbladder removal a major surgery? While any surgical procedure carries risks, cholecystectomy is a common and generally safe operation. Most patients can return home the same day and resume normal activities within a week or two. However, it’s crucial to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare provider to determine if surgery is the right option for you.

Preventive Measures for Gallbladder Health

While some risk factors for gallbladder issues, such as age and genetics, are beyond our control, there are several proactive steps you can take to maintain gallbladder health and reduce the likelihood of painful attacks:

Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a significant risk factor for gallstones.
Exercise regularly: Physical activity can help prevent gallstone formation.
Stay hydrated: Adequate water intake supports proper bile flow.
Avoid rapid weight loss: Crash diets can increase the risk of gallstone formation.
Limit high-fat foods: A balanced diet can reduce stress on the gallbladder.

By incorporating these preventive measures into your lifestyle, you may significantly reduce your risk of developing gallbladder problems. Remember, consistency is key when it comes to maintaining optimal gallbladder health.

The Connection Between Gallbladder Health and Overall Wellness

How does gallbladder health impact your overall well-being? The gallbladder plays a crucial role in digestion, and its proper functioning is integral to maintaining overall health. When the gallbladder is compromised, it can lead to a cascade of health issues, including:

Digestive discomfort and irregularity
Nutrient malabsorption
Increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders
Potential liver complications

By prioritizing gallbladder health through proper sleep positions, dietary choices, and lifestyle habits, you’re not only addressing specific gallbladder issues but also contributing to your overall wellness. A healthy gallbladder supports efficient digestion, proper nutrient absorption, and can even influence your energy levels and mood.

Holistic Approaches to Gallbladder Care

In addition to conventional medical treatments and lifestyle modifications, some individuals find relief through holistic approaches to gallbladder care. These may include:

Acupuncture for pain management
Herbal supplements (under professional guidance)
Stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
Ayurvedic practices focused on digestive health

While these alternative approaches can complement traditional treatments, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before incorporating them into your gallbladder care regimen. They can help ensure that these methods are safe and appropriate for your specific situation.

In conclusion, managing gallbladder health involves a multifaceted approach that includes proper sleep positions, dietary considerations, preventive measures, and, when necessary, medical interventions. By understanding the intricacies of gallbladder function and implementing targeted strategies, you can significantly improve your quality of life and overall well-being. Remember, while gallbladder issues are common, they are often manageable with the right knowledge and care.

Best Sleeping Position for Gallbladder Pain

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Kathryn Watson on September 30, 2021

The gallbladder is a small digestive organ that stores bile. Bile is what your body uses to digest fat, and it’s usually released from your gallbladder into your small intestine.

When the chemical balance of bile is off, bile can crystallize into small protein deposits called gallstones. Gallstones can block the bile duct and cause what’s sometimes called a gallbladder attack or biliary colic.

It’s estimated that over 20 million Americans have had or will develop gallstones. These attacks can cause symptoms of severe pain in your upper abdomen. Sometimes this pain lasts for hours.

Resting or sleeping in certain positions may help relieve your gallbladder pain. There are also at-home strategies you can try while you wait to see if the pain resolves. We’ll cover the best sleep positions during a gallbladder attack, what to avoid while you’re in pain, and how to know when to seek emergency help.

When you’re experiencing gallbladder pain, you should sleep on your left side.

Sleeping or resting on your left side allows your gallbladder to freely contract and expand until the blockage of your bile duct has cleared. The theory is that this can help resolve pain.

While this is conventional wisdom, keep in mind that most of the evidence for it is anecdotal. There is currently no research that compares the pain level of different reclining positions when you are having gallbladder pain.

If you’re experiencing any type of gallbladder pain, you may want to avoid sleeping on your right side. That’s because your liver and gallbladder are both located on the right side of your body. Sleeping on the right side can constrict your gallbladder and can make it harder for a gallbladder stone to pass. The added pressure of sleeping on your right side may even make gallbladder pain worse.

You may also want to avoid sleeping on your back or stomach. These positions may not feel comfortable until the pain of your blocked bile duct has passed.

There are other pain relief remedies you can try when you’re in pain from a blocked bile duct.

While lying on your left side, try a warm compress to reduce pressure and soothe pain. A hot water bottle or heating pad can work well for this purpose.
Drink soothing peppermint tea to alleviate pain and calm spasms in your gallbladder.
Consider taking a magnesium supplement or mixing magnesium powder with warm water. Magnesium may help empty your gallbladder and provide relief from gallbladder attacks.

Gallbladder pain can be a sign that you need medical help. Call a doctor or go to the emergency room if you notice any of the following symptoms occurring along with your gallbladder pain.

severe pain in your abdomen that lasts for several hours
nausea and vomiting
yellowed tinge to your skin or eyes (jaundice)
fever and chills
light colored stool
dark urine

Gallbladder pain is relatively common and is usually caused by gallstones that block your bile duct. Resting or sleeping on your left side can help manage pain caused by gallstones if you have a clogged bile duct.

You may also want to try other home remedies for pain relief. Severe symptoms should not be ignored and could indicate a health emergency. Speak with a doctor if you are concerned about gallstones and gallbladder pain.

Last medically reviewed on September 30, 2021

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

DiBiase J. (2014). Evaluation and management of functional biliary pain in patients with an intact gallbladder.
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1586/egh.09.17
Galled by the gallbladder? (2015).
newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/02/galled-gallbladder
Johnson CD. (2001). Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1121646/
Symptoms and causes of gallstones.
niddk. nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/symptoms-causes

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Sep 30, 2021

Written By

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — By Kathryn Watson on September 30, 2021

Is Your Upper Abdominal Pain Acid Reflux or a Gallbladder Attack?

Have you ever noticed a pain at the top of your stomach, either after eating or when lying down? Two common conditions that cause upper abdominal pain are acid reflux and gallbladder disease. They can have some of the same symptoms. But understanding the differences will make it easier to start a conversation with your doctor so they can help you find the pain relief you need.

A Look at Your Gallbladder

Your gallbladder is located at the top of your upper right abdomen. The small sac is responsible for storing bile produced by your liver. The gallbladder typically functions the way that it is supposed to. However, if it becomes infected or blocked, it can lead to pain and a serious medical condition.

Gallstones are the most common cause of a gallbladder attack. They can block the bile ducts which puts pressure on the gallbladder, causing pain. If you frequently have attacks, there is a chance you’ll need to have your gallbladder removed.

Some of the risk factors for developing gallbladder attacks include:

Heredity – have others in your family had gallbladder attacks?
Being overweight
Hormone imbalances
Pregnancy or recently being pregnant as your hormones return to normal.

Whether you have risk factors or not, you can have a gallbladder attack. If there is too much cholesterol in the bile that is stored in your gallbladder, it can form into small stones that have to pass through the tiny ducts, causing a lot of pain.

If you eat a heavy or greasy meal, it can trigger a gallbladder attack.

The pain is typically intense and located in the upper right part of your abdomen but sometimes may be in the upper center part of your abdomen or even in your chest. It may even spread to the right shoulder or to the right side of your back. Beyond the pain, symptoms can include fever, chills, and diarrhea. Symptoms can last up to a few hours and usually go away on their own.

A Look at Acid Reflux

Acid reflux’s primary symptom is heartburn. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) occurs when acid reflux becomes chronic. Approximately two out of every five adults are affected by acid reflux. Diet and genetics are a big part of the equation, and age and obesity lead to a higher frequency of acid reflux.

Some of the symptoms you may encounter include not only heartburn but also sleep disruption, chest pain, voice changes, intolerance of certain foods, bloating, coughing and even asthma. The reason for this is because of a weak muscle valve that’s located between the esophagus and stomach. It causes some of the stomach acid to make its way back up your esophagus. Basically, you feel a strong burning sensation at the back of your throat, and sometimes at the base of your esophagus. This is because your esophagus isn’t lined like your stomach which can handle the acids. Acid in the esophagus leads to heartburn.

For those with mild acid reflux, which happens only now and then, treatment can be as simple as managing your diet and elevating your torso when you encounter problems. You can use some over the counter heartburn medications to ease the symptoms.

If you are experiencing acid reflux more than once a week or so, you might try an acid reflux over the counter medication. If you’ve tried various over-the-counter medications and lifestyle modifications but still have the symptoms, it’s best to talk to your doctor. There are some common surgeries available today that can relieve chronic heartburn (GERD) symptoms.

Take a Close Look at Your Abdominal Pain

It’s important to keep track of where your pain is so that your doctor will have more information for a proper diagnosis. Take notes about the following:

Is your abdominal pain every day when you eat, after you eat? At night?
What foods were you recently eating before the pain started?
Where is the pain located?
How long after you’re eating do you start to feel the pain?
Does the pain go away on its own? If so, how long does that typically take?
What did you eat over the past hour or two before you started having pain?

Acid reflux, for most people, will cause pain almost immediately after you eat a meal, or after eating specific foods. If you go to bed soon after eating, it can be aggravated by lying down. It may wake you up at night.

If gallbladder disease is responsible for your pain, it will often occur immediately or few hours after eating. It may also wake you up at night. Greasy and fatty foods can make it worse, but not always.

A change in diet and lifestyle can reduce upper abdominal pain for many people. But GERD and gallbladder disease may require surgery to help relieve the regular pain.

With the symptoms being in a similar area of the body for both acid reflux and gallbladder attacks, you can identify between the two if you know what to look for. However, you may also encounter nonspecific symptoms, such as a dull pain at the base of your stomach. Take note of that as well.

To figure out what you have and how severe it is your doctor may order a number of tests. An ultrasound, an endoscopy, a gallbladder HIDA scan, a ph probe, a manometry and other tests may be run to find the cause of your abdominal pain.

How Treatments for Abdominal Pain Vary

Ultimately, your goal is to be symptom-free by solving the cause of the pain. If you’re experiencing upper abdominal pain more than once a week, or taking acid reflux medications regularly for more than a few weeks at a time, you should consider scheduling an appointment with your doctor. Otherwise, you could end up dealing with the symptoms for months or even years. If you don’t schedule a special appointment, then be sure to mention it during your next regular checkup. If you don’t address the cause, you risk developing additional health conditions or damage to your esophagus and other organs. Generally speaking, the sooner you have a condition treated, the easier it is to solve.

Is Surgery Right for You?

Surgery isn’t the solution for everyone, but for some it can provide life-changing relief. If your doctor thinks it’s the best option, he or she will refer you to a surgeon like Dr. Howard who specializes in reflux and gallbladder surgery.

Acid Reflux Surgeries in The Woodlands

Dr. Howard performs a number of different surgeries, most of them with a short recovery period, depending on the diagnosis. These include:

Laparoscopic acid reflux surgery (Nissen)
TIF (Transoral Nissen fundoplication)
Linx
Hiatal hernia
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)

Gallbladder Removal Surgery in The Woodlands

You can live a normal life with some diet adjustments without a gallbladder. Living without pain is often a better option than repeated attacks. Such a surgery is known as a cholecystectomy. This gallbladder surgery is done laparoscopically with three to four small incisions to remove the gallbladder. The gallbladder is removed so that it’s no longer causing you pain. Additionally, you wouldn’t have to worry about an infection or gallstones in the future. The surgery is done as an outpatient surgery and you will return home the same day.

Is Surgery Right for You?

It’s important that you don’t automatically assume you need surgery. It’s an option for those who it can really help. Dr. Howard will always spend time explaining your options and making a recommendation he feels will help you the most. If you’re feeling upper abdominal pain regularly, be sure you’re tracking your symptoms to make it easier to diagnose and focus on a treatment that can give you relief once and for all.

If your doctor has recommended that you see a surgeon or you feel that you need a proper work up to find the right solution to your problem, schedule an appointment with Dr. Howard at our office in The Woodlands for a surgical consultation to find out what is best for you.

Categories: Acid Reflux & GERD

Pain in the side during pregnancy

Pain in the side during pregnancy can be a symptom of many diseases. The abdomen is not a single organ like the heart or the liver. The abdomen is filled with many different organs, tissues, structures. And every organ in the stomach can get sick. First of all, you should pay attention to the sudden sharp pain in the side. This pain may be the first symptom for immediate medical attention . If a sharp sudden pain in the side lasts more than 30 minutes, you should urgently call a doctor or go to the hospital to rule out an urgent surgical pathology.

You can fantasize about the diagnosis as much as you like, but only on the way to the hospital. Because if it is, for example, perforation (perforation or hole in the stomach), then it must be sewn up immediately. To figure out for yourself what abdominal pain can mean, you need to know the following. Conventionally, your stomach is divided into four quadrants (or segments) – upper right (right side from above), upper left (left side from above), lower right and lower left (right and left side from below). The localization of any symptom can now be assigned to one of the four quadrants.

Causes of pain in the side during pregnancy

The left upper quadrant of the abdomen contains the spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestinal loops (as, indeed, everywhere in the abdomen) and the left side of the diaphragm. Pain in the left upper quadrant may be associated with the spleen. The spleen lies very close to the surface of the body. The main job of the spleen is to remove red blood cells from the blood, after their normal life span of 120 days. It captures them, destroys them, after which their components pass into the bone marrow, where new blood cells are formed.

In a number of diseases, the spleen enlarges, its capsule is stretched, and this causes pain. Due to the fact that the spleen is located close to the surface of the body, it is prone to rupture. Causes of a ruptured spleen can be trauma and diseases such as infectious mononucleosis. With this disease, the spleen becomes enlarged and soft. And all this increases the likelihood of its rupture. Sometimes an enlarged spleen ruptures on its own. A signal sign of a ruptured spleen, in addition to pain and sensitivity in the corresponding area, is cyanosis of the skin around the navel (due to accumulation of blood).

Pain in the left side from above during pregnancy can give the stomach. Anything that irritates the stomach lining, causes gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) or functional dyspepsia, can cause pain. More often, this pain is aching in nature, often accompanied by nausea and even vomiting. Antacids prescribed by your doctor will help. In general, only a doctor can tell you exactly what you have. Pain in the stomach can be with peptic ulcer and cancer. After completing a series of laboratory tests and examinations (including endoscopic), the doctor will finally make a diagnosis for you and prescribe the treatment. Pain in the upper left quadrant may be associated with diaphragmatic hernia. In the diaphragm, which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, there is a hole through which the esophagus passes on its way to the stomach.

When the muscles that control the size of this opening weaken, the opening enlarges, allowing the upper stomach to exit the abdominal cavity, where it should be, into the chest cavity, where it certainly should be. This condition is called diaphragmatic hernia. More commonly seen in older people. Due to acidic stomach contents, you feel pain in the left upper quadrant. We must not forget that the pain in the left upper quadrant can give the pancreas. After all, it is stretched through the upper abdomen and when the pancreas becomes inflamed, you can feel pain on the right, in the middle and on the left side of the abdomen. Various diseases and toxins can affect the pancreas, including cancer. You should suspect that you have a pancreatic disease if the pain that occurs is very sharp, comes from the inside, is shingling, radiates to the back, is accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, and if you also belong to a high risk group for pancreatic disease, that is, you have a gallbladder disorder, you smoke a lot, drink heavily, suffer from diabetes, take diuretics or steroid hormones (the latter are mainly prescribed for asthma, arthritis, cancer, and some chronic diseases).

Pain in the left side from below during pregnancy can be the result of all conditions that cause pain in the right lower region, with the exception of appendicitis.

Pain in the right side from above during pregnancy

In this area there are such organs as the liver, gallbladder, part of the intestine, the right part of the diaphragm. Disease or injury to these organs gives you pain in the upper abdomen. The intensity and severity of pain will depend on what is happening and where. Pain in the right hypochondrium can be with inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). The infectious agents that most often attack the liver are viruses. Hence the so-called viral hepatitis. There are three main types: viral hepatitis A, B, C. People usually get viral hepatitis A after they swallow food or water contaminated with sewage. Hepatitis B is especially common among homosexuals, drug addicts and those who have been in close contact with them. Hepatitis C is almost always transmitted through contaminated blood transfusions, medical needles, and products containing blood. It is especially common among drug addicts. Various chemical agents and drugs can also damage the liver due to their toxicity. This is the so-called toxic hepatitis. The most dangerous nucleus for the liver is alcohol. With regular alcohol abuse, alcoholic hepatitis develops. The liver can also suffer from heart failure, when the heart muscle does not pump the blood that comes to the heart well. Part of it stagnates in the lungs and causes respiratory failure, and part stagnates in the liver, stretching it and causing pain.

Pain in the right side from above during pregnancy may be associated with the gallbladder. It should be noted that bile plays an important role in the body. Bile, which is produced in the liver, helps digest food. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder. And if you have eaten a lot of fatty foods, then you need a lot of bile to absorb fats. Therefore, the gallbladder injects its contents into the intestines. Infection, poor liver function, or gallstones are often responsible for upper right side pain.

There is also another important organ in the abdomen – the pancreas. The pancreas (or pancreas) is a glandular organ located deep in the abdominal cavity that secretes digestive enzymes, juices, and insulin. The pancreas is extended from right to left. The “head” of the gland is in the upper right quadrant, the “body” crosses the midline of the abdomen, and the “tail” is located in the upper left quadrant. The most common cause of pancreatic pain is inflammation (pancreatitis). The attack of acute pancreatitis has a number of features. First, the attack is extremely painful, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and profuse sweating. The pain radiates straight to the back. It increases in the prone position, and it becomes easier for the patient to sit with an inclination forward. The diagnosis usually requires confirmation by laboratory tests to determine the content of certain enzymes secreted by the damaged gland.

Sometimes pain in the right side from above during pregnancy is caused by a kidney pathology. The kidneys are located on the sides. One kidney on each side of your body, so kidney disease usually causes pain in the corresponding side and back. If the right kidney becomes infected, an abscess forms, or there are stones, then the resulting pain can be felt in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, as well as in the back. If there was a small stone in the kidney, and it came out of it, and is in the ureter, then the pain comes in waves, it is painful and often radiates to the groin, and in men to the testicle.

Pain in the right side from below during pregnancy

In the right lower quadrant there is an appendix, an ureter that drains urine from the kidneys to the bladder, fallopian tubes. Any pain in the right side from below should make you think about appendicitis. This diagnosis should not be withdrawn until proven otherwise. If you can point to the location of the pain with one finger, if it lasts for more than 12 hours without easing, if the pain is also localized near the navel, then it is most likely that you have appendicitis. In any case, if you suspect you have appendicitis, see your doctor immediately. And if the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will suggest you an operation. Otherwise, the appendix may fester and burst. And then even a banal appendicitis can lead to death.

Pain in the right side from below during pregnancy, pain may occur during ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg stays in the fallopian tube instead of going down into the uterus. Pain in this part of the abdomen can occur with sexually transmitted infections (such as gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia).

Ovarian cysts, especially if they rupture, and ovarian tumors can cause similar chronic pain. Pain that worsens with menstruation suggests endometriosis.

Side pain in late pregnancy.

Pregnant women often notice the appearance of pain, a feeling of heaviness, fullness in the right hypochondrium.

These sensations increase and intensify as the pregnancy progresses. In most of these cases, it turns out that there is dyskinesia of the gallbladder and bile ducts.

Biliary dyskinesia is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance, since it contributes to the development of the inflammatory process, stone formation. And vice versa – dyskinesia can be one of the manifestations of cholelithiasis, chronic cholecystitis, anomalies in the development of the biliary tract.

There are various anatomical, functional and hormonal connections between the biliary system and other digestive organs, they have a significant impact on the activity of this system. So, for example, the intake of food into the stomach not only causes mechanical irritation of the stomach receptors, but often also enhances bile formation and motor activity of the bile ducts.

The motor function of the gallbladder and bile ducts largely depends on the state of the nervous system: for example, dystonia of the autonomic nervous system can disrupt the coordination of contraction of the muscles of the gallbladder and relaxation of the tone of the sphincters and cause a delay in bile secretion. Psychogenic factors can also play an important role in the occurrence of dyskinesia, since it is often a consequence and one of the clinical manifestations of a general neurosis.

Muscle weakness of the biliary tract is sometimes constitutional (associated with body features) in nature, sometimes provoked by an unbalanced diet or may be the result of a hormonal imbalance.

Pregnant women are characterized by hypomotor (that is, associated with a decrease in motor activity) dysfunction of internal organs caused by a general change in hormonal levels.

A woman’s body produces large amounts of progesterone in late pregnancy. The main physiological meaning of the action of progesterone during this period is to relax the uterus, which prevents miscarriage and premature birth. However, other smooth muscle organs, including the gallbladder, also relax “in passing”. Hypomotor dyskinesia is based on weak, insufficient emptying of the gallbladder, leading to its stretching and pain.

The occurrence of dyskinesia can also be associated with purely mechanical causes: the growing uterus presses, “compresses” the organs of the chest cavity, including the liver and gallbladder, as a result, the normal process of bile secretion may be disturbed.

Usually a woman is concerned about dull aching pains in the right hypochondrium (which can spread to the epigastric region), a feeling of heaviness, a feeling of pressure in this area, often accompanied by lack of appetite, nausea, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, belching with air, heartburn, bloating. The pain may increase with the movements of the fetus, depending on its position in the uterus.

Excessive emotions, nervous fatigue, and sometimes errors in the diet increase or provoke pain and a feeling of fullness in the hypochondrium. There may be pain in the region of the heart, palpitations, headache, numbness of the limbs, sweating, sleep disturbances – doctors call these symptoms a picture of a vegetative crisis.

Which doctors to contact if there is pain in the side during pregnancy:

Obstetrician-gynecologist
Gastroenterologist
Surgeon
Infectionist

Right abdominal pain

General information

Abdominal pain may indicate different causes. It can be both a symptom of the disease, and indigestion. The abdomen is filled with many different organs, tissues and structures. Every organ in the abdomen can get sick, becoming a harbinger of pain.

Increased attention should be paid to the sudden onset of sharp pain in the abdomen. This pain may be the first symptom for immediate medical assistance . Many abdominal organs are hollow: stomach, intestines, gallbladder. And if one of them fails, then your life is in danger. If a sharp sudden pain lasts more than 30 minutes, you should urgently call a doctor or go to the hospital for an examination.

Pain in the right side of the abdomen

Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen . The following organs are located in this area:

Disease or injury to these organs gives you pain in the upper abdomen. The intensity and severity of the pain will depend on what is happening. Pain in the right hypochondrium may be due to inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). The infectious agents that most often attack the liver are viruses. Hence the so-called viral hepatitis .

Hepatitis

There are three main types: viral hepatitis A, B, C. People usually get viral hepatitis A after they swallow food or water contaminated with sewage. Hepatitis B is especially common among homosexuals, drug addicts and those who were in close contact with them.

Hepatitis C is almost always transmitted through contaminated blood transfusions, medical needles and products containing blood. It is especially common among drug addicts.

Various chemicals and drugs can also damage the liver due to their toxicity. This is the so-called toxic hepatitis. The most dangerous nucleus for the liver is alcohol.

Regular alcohol abuse develops alcoholic hepatitis . The liver can also suffer from heart failure, when the heart muscle does not pump the blood that comes to the heart well. Part stagnates in the lungs, resulting in respiratory failure, and part stagnates in the liver, stretching it and causing pain.

Pain in the upper right abdomen (right upper quadrant (or right hypochondrium)) may be related to the gallbladder. It should be noted that bile plays an important role in the body. Bile, which is produced in the liver, helps digest food. Excess bile is stored in the gallbladder. And if you have eaten a lot of fatty foods, then you need a lot of bile to absorb fats. Therefore the gallbladder injects its contents into the intestines. Infection, poor liver function, or gallstones are often responsible for pain in the right upper abdomen.

Pancreatitis

There is also another important organ in the abdomen: the pancreas. The pancreas is a glandular organ deep in the abdominal cavity that secretes digestive enzymes, juices and insulin. The pancreas is extended from right to left. The “head” of the gland is in the upper right quadrant, the “body” crosses the midline of the abdomen, and the “tail” is located in the upper left quadrant.

Most common cause pancreatic pain is an inflammation (pancreatitis) to which alcoholics and people suffering from gallbladder disease are particularly predisposed. The attack of acute pancreatitis has a number of features. First, the attack is extremely painful, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and profuse sweating. The pain radiates straight to the back. Increases in the supine position.

The diagnosis usually requires confirmation by laboratory tests, to determine the content of certain enzymes secreted by the damaged gland. Sometimes pain in the right upper quadrant causes renal pathology. One kidney on each side of the body, kidney disorders usually cause pain in the corresponding side and back.

If the right kidney becomes infected, develops an abscess, or stones, the resulting pain may be felt in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, as well as in the back.

Pain in the lower right abdomen . In the lower right quadrant are the appendix (a small piece of tissue that extends from the large intestine), the intestines, which can be affected by various diseases, and the ureter, which drains urine from the kidneys to the bladder, fallopian tubes in women.

Any pain in the right lower abdomen should make you think about appendicitis . This diagnosis should not be withdrawn until proven otherwise. If you can point to the location of the pain with one finger, if it lasts for more than 12 hours without easing, if the pain is also localized near the navel, then it is most likely that you have appendicitis.

In any case, if you suspect that you have appendicitis, contact your doctor immediately. And if the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will suggest you an operation. Otherwise, the appendix may fester and burst. And then even appendicitis can be fatal.

Intestinal infection

Pain in the lower right quadrant may be caused by intestinal infection (ulcerative colitis, ileitis, Crohn’s disease, or diarrhea caused by parasites such as amoeba or worms), shingles, and compression of the nerves that radiate from spine and terminate in this area. A kidney stone on its way down to the bladder through the ureter can also cause excruciating pain in this quadrant.

Women may experience pain in this area at ectopic pregnancy . An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg stays in the fallopian tube instead of going down into the uterus. Pain in this part of the abdomen may occur with infections obtained sexually :

gonorrhea;
trichomoniasis;
chlamydia.

Gallbladder pain worse when lying down. Best Sleeping Positions for Gallbladder Pain Relief: Expert Tips

Understanding Gallbladder Pain and Its Causes

Common Symptoms of Gallbladder Issues

The Impact of Sleep Positions on Gallbladder Pain

Optimal Sleeping Position for Gallbladder Pain Relief

Positions to Avoid During a Gallbladder Attack

Additional Home Remedies for Gallbladder Pain Relief

Recognizing When to Seek Medical Attention

The Role of Diet in Managing Gallbladder Health

Understanding Gallbladder Surgery: When Is It Necessary?

Preventive Measures for Gallbladder Health

The Connection Between Gallbladder Health and Overall Wellness

Holistic Approaches to Gallbladder Care

Best Sleeping Position for Gallbladder Pain

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