Sorry to hear about your challenges. Let me repeat your question. You want to determine whether you can apply for short-term disability based upon having gallstones at 24 weeks gestation and whether there is something that you can take for pain?

Your condition is called cholelithiasis or as you correctly stated, gallstones. It is probable that you should be eligible for short term disability because gallstones can be extremely painful and debilitating. However, here are some other issues that you might want to consider discussing with your physician.

1. What is the condition of your liver? Did he order a hepatic panel to make certain that your liver enzymes are not elevated (high)?

2. Did he or she consider admitting you to the hospital on a short term basis (perhaps a 23-hour admission) to give you Intravenous hydration (also called an IV) to remedy the pain? Sometimes fluid through an IV along with IV pain meds can lessen the discomfort.

3. Did anyone discuss changing your diet? Fatty foods are not tolerated well during pregnancy. The estrogen effect of pregnancy predisposes the development of gallstones and diet is extremely important. It would be helpful to reduce your fat intake such as red meat, drink skim, 1 or 2% milk and eat low-fat cheese products.

Hopefully, your physician will monitor the gallstones and your baby with monthly ultrasounds to make certain that your baby is growing properly and that the gallstones have not increased or block something called the biliary system of your liver.

I hope you feel better in the future and thanks your question.