Do I have gallstones?

[eddie75]

I'm a male, 24 years old, have pain on the lower right side of my rib cage.  The pain doesn't seem to be abdominal because when you touch the ribs, the ribs themselves feel sore.  The upper right abdominal quadrant below the rib cage seems to be okay also.

Where would be the location of pain if I had gallstones?  Would it beneath my ribs, on the ribs, under the ribs?  Is it possible to have gallstones at my age?  I am overweight by 30 pounds but I do have normal good cholesterol levels.

This seems more like a skeletal thing but I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks!

[toBethany]

Yes, you could have gall stones.  

Only from my PERSONAL past experience, do I HIGHLY recommend you finding out for sure if you have stones or not.  I did not know that I had stones, passed one, then I developed PANCREATITIS!!! Trust me on this, you DON'T want it, and you would not even wish it on your worst enemy!  

Have it checked. If you have them, get the bladder removed, even if they are small or large, one or hundreds....  with you being overweight, there is more of a chance that you do have have stones.  The surgery is done these days laproscopically, which means there are 2 very small incisions and little pain afterwards.  Typically, after that type of surgery, you are allowed to go home in the afternoon.  Recovery is quick.

Best of all to you,
Bethany

[Ron3]

Hi Eddie,

If your ribs are sore it can be due to trauma, surgery, excessive coughing, vomiting, arthritis of the cartilage connecting the
ribs.  
Do a search on "costochondritis"

Good luck..
Ron

[Moosie]

I have the exact same problem! I have pain in the upper right quadrant, but it seems that the only place it hurts when touched is the rib - maybe the second or third from the bottom of the ribcage. I feel pain after eating and sometimes the pain radiates to the back. I have had no injury at all to this side. I've been having this pain for about 3 weeks now. Often that 'rib' pain is very very tender.... any ideas? I did have an ultrasound two weeks ago and it was negative. Is the ultrasound always conclusive?