I recently experienced my first attack and I am very scared. The Dr told me that he cannot diagnose it for sure because it has not been re-occouring. More than 20 million Americans have gallstones and approximately 1 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Gallstones compose a solid formation of cholesterol and bile salts. The excess cholesterol crystallizes and then forms stones which are stored in the gallbladder or the cystic duct.
Gallstones can also form due to low levels of bile acids and bile lecithin.
When I was diagnosed with gallstones at 26, I was told that the typical gallstone patient was fair, fat, and forty. Today gallstones are being seen in younger patients, perhaps due to the large amount of fast foods being consumed. My daughter went through 5 years of vomiting beginning at age 15, leading me to almost believe that she was bulimic, before she was diagnosed with gallstones at age 20. Steady, severe pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours. Pain in the back between the shoulder blades.