Brief Answer:
You need more evaluation before labelling it as a gall stone problem.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX ! Good morning. I am Dr Shareef , a general surgeon answering your query.

I hope your treating doctor must have done an ultrasound of abdomen (where the gall stone might have been picked up) before performing the surgery for a hiatal hernia. Yes, the pain just below the ribs on the right side might be due to gall stone, but it should have increased by eating specially with any kind of fatty food. Relief with food points more towards a problem like excessive acid production in the stomach and duodenum resulting possibly in a peptic ulcer kind of pathology either in the esophagus or in the stomach and duodenum which could also be a result of the pre existing hiatal hernia (stomach going up).

If I were your doctor in this situation, I would advise you for an ultrasound of abdomen and an endoscopic evaluation of your upper GI tract by a gastro enterologist before embarking on the diagnosis of gall stone as a cause of your pain getting relieved with food. You can plan it out with your treating doctor as it possibly not an emergency if you got relief with food. I would also advise you to go for a proton pump inhibitor, a probiotic, and a prokinetic agent on consultation with your doctor for a symptomatic relief.


I hope this information would help you in discussing with your family physician/treating doctor in further management of your problem. Please do not hesitate to ask in case of any further doubts.

Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. I wish you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.

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