The signs and symptoms of gallstones can develop slowly over time or strike suddenly with severe abdominal pain. Gallstones are one of the most common digestive diseases. Not only do the symptoms vary from patient to patient, but the attacks can occur randomly. Some patients may go days or weeks between attacks. This can make it very hard to determine if you are suffering from gallstones.
What Are Gallstones?
Gallstones form in the gallbladder, a small organ located near the liver. The primary function of the gallbladder is to store bile produced by the liver. When you eat, the bile stored in the gallbladder travels through the bile duct to the small intestine, where the bile aids digestion.
Gallstones are small particles of crystallized bile salt and cholesterol. The stones themselves are small, but they can cause an enormous amount of pain. Gallstones sometimes block the bile duct, preventing bile from leaving the gallbladder. This can lead to abdominal bloating and other symptoms.
Spotting Gallstone Symptoms
When gallstones block the bile duct, they trigger a gallbladder attack. These attacks often occur at night, shortly after overeating or after eating a greasy or fatty meal.
In the early stages, gallbladder attacks may simply feel like indigestion. The pain begins on the right-hand side, just below the ribcage, and may be accompanied by a mild headache, nausea, constipation or diarrhea.
If the bile duct is blocked, severe pain will radiate from the right-hand side of the abdomen. This pain can stretch up to the shoulders and last for 15 hours. Attacks frequently occur at night and are severe enough to wake you from your sleep.
The pain from gallstones does not subside if you move around. A little relief can be found by laying still and simply waiting for the pain to pass.
Additional symptoms include nausea and vomiting, fever, bloating, belching and headache. Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, can occur if the condition is left untreated. You may also develop an intolerance for fatty or greasy foods. Eating anything deep fried or greasy will guarantee pain within hours.
If you suspect that you're suffering from a gallbladder attack, seek prompt medical attention. Left untreated, this condition can cause infections of the liver, pancreas and small intestine.
 | What does gallbladder pain feel like? Although it may start out feeling like indigestion, the pain quickly grows. |
 | Diets for gallbladder problems can minimize the pain of gallstones and possibly prevent new stones from forming. Learn what to eat and what to avoid. |
 | Learn how to recognize gallbladder attack symptoms, and what you should do if you experience them. |
Knowing the foods to avoid for gallstones can help prevent new stones from forming and reduce the chance of gallbladder attacks. |
What's the recovery time after gallbladder surgery? Thanks to laparoscopic surgery techniques, you can expect a short stay in the hospital and a quick return to normal activity. |
