I did not have an abdominal MRI because I thought I had gallstones.
I had the scan because indigestion had returned after about two years. Even after another upper endoscopy, blood tests and roughly two weeks of stomach medication, a heavy sensation around the upper middle part of my abdomen remained.
The MRI found something I had not expected: two small gallstones in my gallbladder.
My first thought was whether I would need surgery. But I did not have typical severe pain in the upper-right abdomen, and no clear gallstone complication had been identified at that time.
I did not proceed directly to surgery. Instead, I began paying attention to more specific symptoms and adjusted a few habits that I could realistically maintain.
The same digestive evaluation also identified chronic gastritis and an H. pylori infection. That mattered because I could not honestly say that the gallstones explained all my indigestion—or that one change in my diet was responsible for what happened afterward.
- Recurring indigestion and upper abdominal heaviness led to a broader medical evaluation.
- An abdominal MRI unexpectedly found two small gallstones.
- I did not have typical severe upper-right abdominal pain or an identified complication.
- I did not undergo immediate gallbladder surgery.
- I reduced overeating and late large meals without eliminating all dietary fat.
- I now monitor pain location, duration, recurrence and warning signs such as fever or jaundice.
How Two Small Gallstones Were Found on My MRI
My digestive problems had first led to an upper endoscopy about two years earlier. I took stomach medication for approximately two weeks, felt better and returned to my normal routine.
When the indigestion returned, I decided not to rely only on the earlier results. I underwent another upper endoscopy and blood tests through medical care in South Korea.
I then took stomach medication for about two weeks. The discomfort improved to some extent, but the heavy sensation around my upper middle abdomen did not completely disappear. That was why the evaluation continued to an abdominal MRI.
The MRI showed two small gallstones inside my gallbladder.
I paid approximately 650,000 Korean won for the MRI, and my private indemnity policy did not reimburse the expense at that time. This was my bill and insurance outcome, not a standard price or coverage result across Korea.
MRI is not usually the first test used only to look for gallstones
My gallstones happened to be found on an MRI performed during a broader investigation of persistent digestive discomfort. That does not mean everyone with suspected gallstones needs an MRI.
Abdominal ultrasound is commonly used to look for gallstones and examine the gallbladder. Other imaging may be added depending on the symptoms and earlier findings.
The important detail in my case is that the stones were an incidental finding during a digestive workup, not the result of a classic gallstone attack.
I was being evaluated for recurring indigestion and lingering upper abdominal heaviness. I was not seeking treatment for severe upper-right abdominal pain.
Why I Couldn’t Blame Every Digestive Symptom on Them
After hearing that I had gallstones, I naturally wondered whether they had been causing my indigestion all along.
But bloating, fullness and general indigestion are not specific to gallstones. They can occur with gastritis, reflux, functional dyspepsia, medication effects and other digestive conditions.
My evaluation had also identified chronic gastritis and an H. pylori infection. With several findings appearing during the same workup, it would have been too simple to choose the gallstones and make them responsible for everything I felt.
Gallstones can remain in the gallbladder without causing symptoms. Problems are more likely to occur when a stone obstructs bile flow or leads to inflammation.
A more characteristic episode may involve pain in the upper-right or upper-middle abdomen. The pain may extend toward the right side of the back or shoulder and may occur with nausea or vomiting.
Fever, chills, jaundice or pain that is severe or does not settle may indicate a complication that needs prompt medical evaluation.
- Clear pain in the upper-right or upper-middle abdomen
- Pain extending toward the right back or shoulder
- A similar pain pattern that repeatedly returns
- Abdominal pain accompanied by nausea or vomiting
- Fever, chills, jaundice, dark urine or pale stools
I had not experienced a typical severe episode like this when the stones were found. That is why I continued observing whether a new and more specific pain pattern appeared instead of treating every episode of fullness as a gallstone attack.
The number of stones did not identify the cause
At first, the words “two gallstones” drew my attention to the number. I wondered whether having two made the situation more serious.
The number alone could not tell me whether the stones were causing symptoms or whether I required surgery. Their location, the pain pattern, obstruction, inflammation and the condition of the gallbladder and bile ducts mattered more than simply counting them.
This changed my question from “How many stones do I have?” to “Are they producing a recognizable problem?”
Why I Didn’t Have Surgery Right Away
The word “gallstone” initially made me think that the stones would have to be removed.
What I learned was that finding a stone and deciding to operate are not the same decision.
I did not have typical upper-right abdominal pain, repeated biliary colic, fever, jaundice or another clear complication at the time. With no obvious gallstone-related emergency, I did not proceed directly to surgery.
I continued monitoring my symptoms instead.
This should not be read as a decision that every person with small or silent gallstones should make. Treatment depends on symptoms, gallstone location, the condition of the gallbladder and bile ducts, medical history and complication risk.
Finding gallstones and needing surgery are different decisions
My scan and follow-up took place in Korea. Current U.S. guidance describes a similar distinction: gallstones that cause no symptoms generally do not require treatment, while gallstone attacks or complications may change that decision.
The principle matched how I came to understand my own situation. The MRI finding mattered, but treatment depended on symptoms and complications—not simply on the fact that two stones were present.
When symptomatic gallbladder stones require surgery, the usual operation is cholecystectomy, meaning removal of the gallbladder. It is not generally a procedure that picks out one or two stones while leaving the gallbladder unchanged.
This was another reason I stopped thinking of the decision as “two small stones, so remove two small stones.” The relevant question was whether the gallbladder and stones were causing enough clinical trouble to justify treatment.
If I develop a characteristic pain pattern or complication in the future, that judgment may change. Not having surgery immediately did not mean deciding that surgery would never be necessary.
What I Changed About Meals and Weight
Once I knew the stones were there, food became the first thing I worried about.
I wondered whether I should completely stop eating fatty food or avoid meat. A plan based on permanently banning individual foods did not feel realistic.
Instead, I looked at my overall eating pattern. The first thing I reduced was eating too much at one time. I became more careful about large late-evening meals and tried not to lie down immediately after eating.
I did not eliminate all high-fat foods. I focused on avoiding excessive portions, particularly when several rich foods appeared in the same meal.
I also tried to include vegetables, whole grains and a source of protein. My purpose was not to find a special food that could dissolve the stones. It was to maintain a pattern that supported body weight and general metabolic health without extreme restriction.
- Reduce overeating, especially during large late-evening meals.
- Adjust portions of high-fat foods instead of declaring all dietary fat forbidden.
- Eat more regularly rather than fasting for a long period and then eating a very large meal.
- Avoid rapid weight-loss plans.
- Continue walking and strength exercise that I can maintain.
What changed after about one month
After following these adjustments for approximately one month, the heavy sensation around my upper middle abdomen felt less noticeable. My weight also decreased by about two kilograms.
Those are genuine parts of my experience, but I cannot attribute them to a specific gallstone diet.
During the same period, I underwent H. pylori eradication treatment and changed more than one part of my eating pattern. The reduction in discomfort could not be separated neatly into a result of diet, infection treatment or another change.
The upper abdominal heaviness decreased and my weight fell by about two kilograms over roughly one month. Because H. pylori treatment and several lifestyle changes occurred at the same time, I cannot say that one dietary change caused those results.
I also chose not to accelerate the weight loss. Obesity is associated with gallstone risk, but rapid weight loss can also increase the likelihood of gallstone formation.
I continued my usual walking and strength exercise. I did not treat exercise as a way to remove gallstones. I viewed it as part of maintaining weight and general metabolic health.
I drink water normally, but I do not expect water to flush gallstones out of the body. Gallstones are not urinary stones, and they do not leave the gallbladder through urine.
What Would Make Me Seek Care Now
The discovery did not lead me to think about surgery every day. What changed most was my threshold for paying attention.
I now observe where abdominal pain occurs, how long it lasts and whether it resembles ordinary fullness or a clearer upper-right abdominal pain.
I also pay attention to whether a similar pain pattern returns and whether fever, chills, repeated vomiting or jaundice appears with it.
- Severe or persistent pain in the upper-right or upper-middle abdomen
- Upper abdominal pain that repeatedly returns
- Fever or chills with abdominal pain
- Repeated vomiting
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Dark urine or unusually pale stools
- A general worsening of my condition
I do not interpret the absence of surgery as proof that the stones are harmless forever. Symptoms can change, and decisions about follow-up imaging or surgery may need to be reconsidered if the clinical situation changes.
At the same time, I no longer treat the words “two gallstones” as a finding that automatically demands immediate action.
- Am I developing a characteristic upper abdominal pain pattern?
- Is the pain recurring or becoming more intense?
- Are fever, vomiting or jaundice appearing with it?
- Has a clinician found inflammation, obstruction or another complication?
The MRI gave me an unexpected finding. Living with that finding required a more measured judgment.
The biggest change was not finding a way to remove the stones myself. It was learning when observation remained reasonable and what would mean it was time to return for medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do two small gallstones automatically require surgery?
No. Treatment decisions depend on symptoms, gallbladder and bile-duct findings, complications, medical history and individual risk. The number and small size of the stones alone do not determine the need for surgery.
Can gallstones cause bloating and indigestion?
They may occur in someone who also has bloating or indigestion, but those symptoms are not specific to gallstones. Gastritis, reflux, functional dyspepsia, medications and other digestive conditions can produce similar discomfort.
Is MRI the usual first test for suspected gallstones?
No. Abdominal ultrasound is commonly used first to identify gallstones and assess the gallbladder. My stones were found incidentally on an MRI performed during a broader digestive evaluation.
Can diet dissolve gallstones?
Ordinary dietary changes do not flush gallstones out of the gallbladder. Meal patterns and weight management may support general health or help some people identify symptom triggers, but they do not replace medical evaluation or indicated treatment.
Why should rapid weight loss be avoided?
Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstone formation. Weight goals should generally be approached gradually and in a way that can be maintained.
Which symptoms may indicate a gallstone complication?
Severe or persistent upper-right abdominal pain, fever, chills, repeated vomiting or jaundice requires medical evaluation. Dark urine or pale stools may also occur when bile flow is obstructed.
The two small gallstones were found during an MRI for recurring indigestion, not because I had experienced a classic gallstone attack.
I did not have typical severe upper-right abdominal pain or an identified complication, so I did not proceed directly to surgery. Instead, I reduced overeating and late large meals, avoided rapid weight-loss plans and watched for a more specific symptom pattern.
The number of stones became less important than the questions that would change the decision: Are they causing recognizable pain? Is the pain recurring? Is there inflammation, obstruction, fever, vomiting or jaundice?