Reference no: EM133752488

Question

Maria Alvarez, a 45-year-old Hispanic female who is a new patient, presents today for a medication refill. She relocated to Arizona from Texas 6 months ago due to a job transfer and needs a refill on her blood pressure medication. Early in the visit, Maria mentions that for the past year she has been having episodes of pain in her abdomen under her right rib cage, especially after she eats greasy foods. As of late, the episodes have been happening more frequently, and she feels bloated and nauseated at times. It seems the episodes are triggered with any kind of food now. Not eating seems to ease the pain a little. Maria had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago at a local urgent care and was told she has gallstones and needs to have her gallbladder removed. She brought that report today and would like to know which surgeon you recommend she visit. Maria indicates she is having a flare of pain today in her right upper abdomen and took some Tylenol this morning for it, which helped a little. Her current level of pain is 5/10.