Ultrasound is the best test to diagnose and differentiate gallstones. It is a painless imaging technique in which sonic waves produce an image of the soft tissues in your abdomen. A trained technician can find gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct. This test can detect gallstones in approximately 97% to 98% of individuals. The ultrasound procedure consists of a harmless machine that recreates an image of your gallbladder by reflecting inaudible sound waves against your body. Your ultrasound technician will apply a gel to your abdomen that will help the sound waves to travel through your body and be detected more accurately. This painless procedure is usually completed within 15-30 minutes. You should not eat for 6 or more hours before the test. If your doctor wants still images of the area or the ultrasound did not produce a clear picture, a CT scan may be necessary. The CT scan will generate a cross-sectional image of your gallbladder by using special x-rays that will be interpreted by a computer. You will be asked to lie down in a cylindrical, donut-shaped machine that will scan your body for approximately 30 minutes. The procedure is relatively quick and will not be painful. In some cases, the doctor may prefer to use a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, rather than a CT scanner. This type of imaging involves a similar setup and will use changes in magnetic fluctuations to create an accurate image of your internal organs. This procedure may last up to an hour, and will involve you lying down inside a cylindrical scanning device. There is no advantage of a CT over an ultrasound, except that a CT may distinguish a stone in the common bile duct, the small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestine. If you suspect you may have an abdominal infection, you can get a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). The blood test can establish whether a larger infection in the gallbladder may require surgery. Blood tests can also reveal other complications caused by gallstones in addition to infection, including jaundice and pancreatitis. This blood test is a standard blood test. Your healthcare provider or a technician will utilize a small needle to draw blood from your veins into small vials that will be analyzed by a lab for the doctor's requested information. Leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein are indicators that are associated with acute cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder that could be caused by gallstones. Your doctor may check these levels as well as the standard panel of electrolytes and complete blood count analysis. Your doctor may recommend an ERCP, which is an invasive procedure in which a flexible tube about the thickness of a finger is placed into your mouth and down your digestive tract to examine parts of your stomach and intestine. If the physician finds gallstones during this somewhat invasive procedure, they can be removed. Let your doctor know all your medications, especially if you are taking insulin, aspirin, blood pressure pills, coumadin, heparin. These medications can affect bleeding during certain procedures, and you may be asked to adjust your medication routine. Due to the invasive nature of the procedure, you'll receive medication that may make you drowsy, and it is advised that you have someone who can accompany you or take you home after the procedure. If your doctor is already prescribing tests for possible liver disease or cirrhosis, he can check for gallbladder problems at the same time by determining if any imbalances are present. This test can be requested at the time of a blood test to provide further evidence of suspected gallstones. Your doctor will check your bilirubin levels, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels, and alkaline phosphatase levels. If these levels are elevated, you may have gallstones or another issue with your gallbladder.
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One-sentence summary -- Undergo an abdominal ultrasound. Schedule a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Get a blood test. Undergo an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Rule out gallstones during liver function tests (LFT).

Remember to avoid hyperventilating--taking quick or shallow breaths. This behavior is dangerous because your body will lose oxygen more quickly and you may suffer hypoxic blackout and even death. As you fall below the surface of the water, assume a horizontal position parallel to the pool floor. Keep your head and eyes in a neutral position facing the bottom of the pool and bring your arms up over your head, squeezing them alongside your ears. Keep your torso and arms in a streamlined position, bend your knees, and plant both of your feet on the wall. Press firmly into both of your feet to push you forward and give your body momentum. This kick is considered the most powerful for swimming underwater. Keep your legs and feet together and bend your knees slightly. Kick both legs forward simultaneously, finishing with them slightly in front of the body. Repeat until you reach the other side of the pool, coming up for air if necessary. The power of dolphin kick comes from moving your legs like a whip. Focus on fully extending your legs to get the most power from the kick. This streamlined position is the most efficient for cutting through the water as quickly as possible and will alert you to obstacles ahead of you. When your hands meet the pool wall, use them to push against the wall to bring you to the surface.
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One-sentence summary -- Take several, slow deep breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. Submerge your head and body in a streamlined position. Use your feet to push strongly off the wall. Use dolphin kick to propel you across the water. Keep your hands and arms in front of you as you swim. Emerge from the water.

Take the large bowl or container that you initially soaked your feet in and fill it with cold water. To speed the drying process, slowly dip your feet in the ice cold water after the polish has hardened a bit. Keep them there for several minutes, or as long as you can bear. Doing this will also set the polish and make it more durable. Dip a concealer brush in acetone or nail polish remover. Tap the brush on some paper towel to remove any excess acetone. Use the brush to carefully clean up any edges or polish that got onto the skin. The concealer brush will allow you to effectively clean any edges without messing up the rest of your pedicure. Use your favorite top coat or a quick-drying top coat to cover the nails in one layer. This will finish off the look for your French-pedicured nails. You can also try a top coat that is slightly pink to go for a softer look. Let the top coat dry completely before putting your shoes on! A quick-dry nail spray will help your nail polish dry even faster and allow you to be on your way without worrying about smudging your pedicure. These quick-drying sprays have high levels of solvents that evaporate quickly. Hold the can a few inches away from the surface of the nails and spray over the nails quickly, without getting too much of the product on the nails. You can also use a quick-drying topcoat to ensure that your nails dry quickly, usually within a few minutes. Great brands to try are Sally Hansen and OPI.
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One-sentence summary --
Let the white nail polish dry. Clean up the polish. Coat your nails with clear polish. Spray the nails with a drying spray. Finished.