Indigestion
The symptoms of gallstones are as varied as their causes but often include indigestion. That’s because inflammation from gallstones can block the digestive tract. This creates pressure in the digestive system, which causes abdominal pain and discomfort from bloating around the belly button down to the groin area.
Indigestion is usually caused by an inability of the digestive system to break down fats from foods into forms that the body can absorb. The stomach produces enzymes that act on these fats and proteins to break them down into simple forms so that the small intestine can absorb them. These enzymes are activated by chemicals released in the stomach in response to food digestion. If these chemicals are not produced in sufficient amounts, indigestion results. As a result of poor digestion, it becomes harder to break down fats and proteins into simple forms so the body can absorb them.
