Medical history (history of illness) is an important component in the diagnosis of cholelithiasis (gallstones).
Family history
- Are there any gallbladder diseases in your family that are common?
Social history
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Have you noticed any pain in the upper abdomen?
- Is the pain localized on the right side?
- Is the pain colicky or permanent?
- When does the pain occur?
- How long has this pain been present?
- Have the symptoms been present for more than 24 hours* ?
- Do you still have accompanying symptoms such as loss of appetite or nausea/vomiting?
- Do you often have a bloated abdomen?
- Do you have a fever (> 38 °C, rectal)* ?
- Have you noticed any discoloration of the skin (jaundice)* ?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Are you overweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Have you lost a lot of weight recently?
- Have you been fasting?
- Do you have severe weight fluctuations?
- Do you eat too high in calories, too high in fat, too low in fiber and do you consume too much refined carbohydrates (industrially produced sugars)?
- Have you noticed changes in the stool (color, quantity, composition)?
- Do you get enough exercise every day?
Self anamnesis incl. medication anamnesis
- Pre-existing conditions (diseases of the gall bladder, liver, diabetes mellitus (diabetes)).
- Operations
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
Medication history
- Ciclosporin (cyclosporin A) – drug that suppresses the immune response by inhibiting the enzyme calcineurin.
- Ceftriaxone (antibiotic).
- Colestyramine (anion exchange resin) – active substance from the group of lipid-lowering agents, which is mainly used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Clofibrate (lipid-lowering agent) – lowers VLDL synthesis in the liver.
- Octreotide – synthetic analog of the peptide hormone somatostatin, which is a drug.
- Estrogens – e.g. birth control pills, hormone preparations, etc. with estrogen.
