What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Question: What are the symptoms of gallstones?

Answer: Not everyone will suffer pain when they have gallstones. Most (80%) of patients with gallstones will have no symptoms. Twenty percent of individuals with gallstones will have symptoms, most commonly severe abdominal pain. This can be called a "gallbladder attack" or biliary colic. These attacks can occur at any time.

Symptoms of gallstones can include:

• Pain in the upper abdomen that rapidly worsens and can last from a few minutes to several hours
• Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
• Pain under the right shoulder
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Abdominal bloating
• Intolerance to fatty foods
• Gas
• Indigestion
• Heartburn

Patients with a history of biliary colic are at risk of developing an infection of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or bile ducts.

A patient with gallstones who develops any of the following symptoms should see a doctor right away:

• Chills
• Fever
• Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes)
• Clay-colored stools

_Sources:

"Common Gastrointestinal Problems - Gallstones." American College of Gastroenterology. 13 Jul 2009

_{"Gallstones." American College of Gastroenterology. 13 Jul 2009}

_{"Gallstones." NIH Publication No. 07–2897 July 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 13 Jul 2009}