The definitive test for gallstones is an ultrasound of the gallbladder. In some cases, symptoms similar to gallstone disease can occur in patients without any ultrasound evidence of gallstones. Abnormalities in the coordinated function of the gallbladder and the sphincter muscle at the end of the bile duct (biliary dyskinesia) can also cause upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating after meals, in some patients. The diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia is generally made using a special nuclear medicine scan of the gallbladder and bile ducts.

Finally, there are multiple other GI diseases that can also cause the symptoms that you have described. If your doctor's evaluation for possible gallbladder disease turns out to be negative, then it may be advisable to seek a referral to a GI doctor for further evaluation.

Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

http://doctorwascher.com