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Warning-sign checks

Chronic cholecystitis: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Severe illness, confusion, fainting, or breathing difficulty warrants emergency help.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the surgical team promptly after gallbladder removal for worsening abdominal pain, fever, repeated vomiting, increasing redness or drainage from an incision, jaundice, or inability to eat or drink.

    Seek urgent care rather than waiting for a routine appointment if upper abdominal pain lasts several hours, is getting worse, or occurs with fever, chills, jaundice, or persistent vomiting.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    For stable, recurring symptoms without warning signs, arrange routine follow-up with a primary care clinician, gastroenterologist, or surgeon.

    Keep track of when pain occurs, how long it lasts, what was eaten beforehand, and whether there was vomiting, fever, jaundice, or a change in stool or urine color.

    If surgery is planned, follow the surgical team’s instructions about medicines, eating and drinking before the procedure, activity, wound care, and returning to work.

    Attend the postoperative appointment even if recovery seems straightforward.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has a symptom that has lasted more than a couple of weeks without improving

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Chronic cholecystitis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.