Gallstones - Symptoms 

Symptoms of gallstones 

Uncomplicated gallstone disease

The most common symptom of uncomplicated gallstone disease is a type of abdominal pain known as biliary colic.

Biliary colic

Biliary colic is a sudden, intense pain that usually lasts between one and five hours (although sometimes it can last up to eight hours). The pain can be located in:

  • the centre of your abdomen, below your breastbone and above your umbilicus (bellybutton)
  • the upper right of your abdomen, with the pain radiating towards your shoulder blade

You will usually find that the pain of biliary colic is brought on by eating fatty foods. The pain may also wake you up during the night.

Biliary colic is usually an infrequent symptom of gallstone disease. After an episode of pain, it may be several weeks or months before you experience another episode.

In addition to the pain associated with biliary colic, a number of people also experience:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • excessive sweating

Complicated gallstone disease

The three most common complications that can arise from complicated gallstone disease are:

  • inflammation of the gall bladder (acute cholecystitis)
  • inflammation of the bile ducts (acute cholangitis)
  • inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis)

Acute cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis can develop when one of your bile ducts becomes blocked by gallstones. The blockage causes the gallbladder to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.

Symptoms of acute cholecystitis include:

  • pain in your upper abdomen that radiates towards your shoulder blade (unlike biliary colic, the pain usually lasts longer than five hours)
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
  • a rapid heartbeat

An estimated 15% of people with acute cholecystitis will also have symptoms of jaundice.

Acute cholangitis

If the bile ducts become blocked, they are vulnerable to infection by bacteria. Infected bile ducts may become inflamed.

Symptoms of acute cholangitis include:

  • pain in your upper abdomen that radiates towards your shoulder blade
  • a high temperature
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  • chills
  • mental confusion
  • itchy skin
  • a general sense of feeling unwell

Acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis may develop when a gallstone moves out of the gallbladder and blocks the opening (duct) of the pancreas, causing it to become inflamed.

The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is the sudden onset of pain in the centre of your upper abdomen.

The pain of acute pancreatitis often gets steadily worse until it reaches a constant ache. The ache can be severe and may travel from your abdomen and along your back. The pain may feel worse after you have eaten.

Leaning forward or curling up into a ball may help relieve the pain to some extent.

Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis can include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • loss of appetite
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
  • tenderness of the abdomen
  • less commonly, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

When to seek medical advice

The best way to determine whether your symptoms are due to uncomplicated gallstone disease or complicated gallstone disease is to determine whether:

  • you have a high temperature
  • your symptoms of pain last longer than eight hours

If you do not have either of these two symptoms, it is likely that you have uncomplicated gallstone disease and you should make an appointment to visit your GP.

If you have either of the above two symptoms, contact your GP immediately for advice. If this is not possible, phone your local out-of-hours service or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

In some cases, complicated gallstone disease may be an emergency as it can lead to serious complications if it is left untreated. Therefore, it is advisable to get an expert opinion on your symptoms as soon as possible.


  • show glossary terms

Glossary

Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a small organ found just under the liver. It stores bile for digestion.
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling that your body produces as a warning sign that it has been damaged.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It is brought on by liver problems.
Nausea
Nausea is when you feel like you are going to be sick.
Vomiting
Vomiting is when you bring up the contents of your stomach through your mouth.
Stools
Stool (also known as faeces) is the solid waste matter that is passed from the body as a bowel movement.
Fever
A high temperature, also known as a fever, is when someone's body temperature is 38C (100.4F) or above.

Last reviewed: 30/01/2010

Next review due: 30/01/2012

Comments

24 Comments

Our rules

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

Ella May said on 10 May 2012

Hello i have been having sporadic bouts of unbearable pain since november, i spoke to a GP and went to hospital twice unfortunately by the time i got there the episodes would have past and i was actually diagnosed all 3 times with panic attacks which upset me very much because i have had panic attacks in the past and knew there was no possible way they could be to blame for such debilatating pain.

The last attack was 7 days ago, i saw a different GP yesterday and she said she believed i was suffering billary colic and has arranged for me to go for a scan to my utter relief , i think the fear of this never being taken seriously was almost as bad as the fear of the pain.

Anyway the last attack i had happened when i got back from hospital roughly 3 hours after the first one that night it was the worst one yet, it lasted for 6 hours and i thought i was not going to survive it but i could not go back to hospital as they did not believe i was in pain so had to endure it with no pain killers.

My question is that now 7 days later my rib area my back and my stomach are uncomfortable all the time its like the muscles are torn and it gets worse later in the day, i feel wiped out and tired is this normal and if so what is causing this now that i am not directly having an attack of billary colic?

Best wishes to everyone on this site suffering.

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MRGraham said on 26 April 2012

Hi Weeg
Please remember im not a medical proffessional Ican only talk about my own experiance.
If you have more than 1 stone ie lots of little ones, you can a risk of them travelling down the main Bile duct and causing secondary illness such as pancreaitis. If you have had 1 attack the chances are you will have more however you can reduce the risk of attacks by cutting out fatty or spicey foods and also some people get releif from avoiding dairy products. It helps if you have some understanding of what the gallbladder does and why it does it so you can then think about what you are eating and how it may affect you

It is a trial and error till you work out your triggers so to speak.
Speak to your doctor, they will then refer you on to a surgeon who will go through the options with you. I only had 2 options 1 was put up with the attacks and not have a op, or have the gallbladder taken out and be pain free (im awaiting the op now)

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weeg said on 25 April 2012

Hi, I suffered a bad attack lasting more than 8hrs,,,screaming with pain violently vomiting,,,nhs 24 doc was a waste of time,,i ended up going to hospital that night,,,put on a morphine drip with co-codamol and oxycontin(i take co-codamol & oxyconting for bone pain every day,,,rta). the scan showed gall stones,,,went in on the sat night got out on the monday morning,,the problem is that i am still in pain but it is not as severe as it was but it is very restricting,,,is this the norm? how long will it last? i dont know if it is a result of the constant wrenching on the sat night that has caused this(strained muscles). The pain is the same area,,right side under the rib cage traveling round my back,,,I cant go on like this and im hoping it will pass,,,,they want to arrange surgery but i take panic attacks and will freak on the build up to surgery(already had 8 surgeries to repair broken bones all over my body)...can anyone help me by advising me if they`ve had the same and the pain will pass or not,,,i cant go on with this constant restricting pain,,,,i got 3 kids and 4 dogs to look after and am currently getting help from a friend,,,plz help me if u can,,,Weeg..x

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MRGraham said on 23 April 2012

My case is slightly different, I have been suffering for around 7 months now, My doctors failed to pick up gallstones until i insisted on a scan which found 1 stone around 16mm. I was having attacks every night for about 3-4 months, my attacks would start around 8-10pm and last till 4-6am doubled over in pain, vomiting etc. I had been given a range of diagnoses from 7 different doctors on 10 occasions. I am sure they doctors thought I was mad because everytime i saw them I was fine, although i did explain if they saw me at 3 am then it would be a different matter. I am now on tramadol, Co-codamol to control the pain whilst I am awaiting a removal around the end of may which I am petrified about. Since finding out I had a gallstone I have cut out all far (as much as possible, my daily intake is less than 20g per day) I avoid spicey or rich food and i dont drink. I am struggling with the food thing because there is a few meals I know are "safe" but it means im constantly eating the same thing which gets very boring, however given boring food or a night in pain, I would rather be bored. My pain is only ever in the middle of the abdomen, right below the chest bone. My advice to anyone who found this page, if you experiance any of the symptoms shown see your GP and try to self help by cutting out fatty or protein rich foods and see if that helps your pain and discomfort. You may need to see your GP on several occassions to get them to send you for a scan but you know your own body and you will know if something is not right. As frustrating it is when you think your GP isnt helping you, you need to help them to help you

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MrsLP said on 16 April 2012

I have been getting pains and having "stomach attacks" for a few years now, my pain is right in the middle of my rib cage, however it is not a piercing pain, its really hard to describe, I go very hot and sweaty and the only way I can get rid of it is to lie on something cold, and normally on my right side, and then breath in and out like I'm giving birth!!

I have been to the hospital and they diagnosed me with a hiatus hernia and I have to take Omeprazole, however despite taking these and being on a low fat diet, I am still having attacks.

I had one at the weekend which lasted over 2 hours, I didn't think it was going to end, I also had pain in my back between my shoulder blades and later on a pain in my right arm.

I'm just wondering if this is more gallstones now?

I do have a GP appointment for later in the week.

Thanks for reading my ramblings!

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pumpkin22 said on 16 April 2012

Last Thursday at 5am I awoke in intense pain, sweating and unable to breathe properly. I thought I was dying and it was far worse than child birth.
The ambulance came (Well 3 of them) and as my pain had lessoned they said it was probably gall stones and said to visit my GP. She agreed and actioned some blood tests that same day. She also referred me for a scan which I got the letter through on Saturday and my appointment is this Thursday. I have had another attack since then and don't know how much more I can take. I have a very high pain thresh hold but this is something different.
I was amazed at the speed with which my GP has moved and although I don't really want surgery, I just want this sorted.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this page as it helps others like me to understand what is going on.
I am sleeping propped up in bed now and lay a hot wheat bag across my tummy before I go to bed. Not sure if it will work long term but so far have not had another bad attack, just constant belly ache

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Eagleluver said on 09 April 2012

I have recently been diagnosed with gallstones. I was originally seeing the doc about being hungry all the time and I was told that I may have an ulcer. I had some pain in my upper stomach and couldn't get in to the doc right away so went the emergency. they did an exam on me and then ordered an emergency ct scan. I went in the next day. I saw my doc a few days ago and this is when I was told that I have gallstones. I was shocked to find out the results of my scan. I go in on Tuesday to have a scope of my stomach to check for ulcer. doc said that the hunger symptoms sound like an ulcer and are not caused by the gallstones. I will get more info when I see the specialist on Tuesday. I was given a med called Tecta which has subsided the hunger feeling and growly stomach to some extent. feel a bit better except for the bloated feeling and acid. constant burping but no real bad pain. pale stools and very smelly. I have in the past have had pain between shoulder blades, but never in my wildest dreams imagined it was due to gallstones.
someone above said they are having headaches and I to get some headaches. not sure if this is associated with the problem but I do get them and in the front of head only and does not go any further.
will post again after I see the doc and get some results.
take care all

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Breverton said on 04 April 2012

Thank you for your reassurance dewruss. It has made me feel a lot better about the surgery. I have decided to go ahead with it. Have had 2 painful attacks in the last week and am fed up with feeling nauseous all the time, with constant back pain and worrying that anything I eat will have me doubled over in pain. It's getting so that I don't want to travel anywhere too far in case I have an attack! I also think that the risks of keeping the gallbladder (stones moving to places they shouldn't, possible rupture and constant discomfort) are much greater than the risks associated with the surgery. After discussion with a consultant, I've come to the conclusion that it's not working properly anyway so get rid of it. Even though I am still terrified at the thought of having surgery, I can't wait to get my life back. Will post afterwards on how it went for others who may be in a similar situation.

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bud2 said on 31 March 2012

Hi all. tried to post before.
juju09

I have similar symptoms to you and awaiting a scan on gallbladder. Pain around lower back, upper abdomen and
between shoulder blades. Also loose orange stools. On same meds. Hope you get result soon and feel better.

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bud2 said on 31 March 2012

Hello all,
juju09
I am having similar symptoms and going for scan to see if its gallstones. I have constant burping and loose orange stools. Pain in abdomen which goes right round upper and lower back. I actually thought I had strained my back by lifting something. I`m on the same medication too, although no hallucinations ,lol. Good job we can laugh, although it`s not funny lol. Hope you get your results soon and feel better.

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juju09 said on 30 March 2012

i have had severe pain under my rib cage for months now, by the evening my lower back, and neck and shoulders are very painful...also my stomach swells so i look about 9 months pregnant...my stools are loose and smelly....been back to doctors about half a dozen times, nobody seemed to take me serious...got so fed up that i was in so much pain that i recently went to my local hospital....i am now on ozmerapole and cocodamol, had blood tests yesterday and waiting for a scan...trouble is cocodamol giving me hallucinations lol...feel like somebody taking notice at last...might be a few weeks until i have a bad flare up like this recent one which lasted a week...anybody got any advice on what they think my problems are...sure it is gallstones but would like some advice...thanks

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lesleyjoan said on 08 March 2012

i have been told that i have gallstones i have had a scan wating to see spec. in constant pain under my ribs shoulder and chest &now as the day goes on my tummy is swelling up very uncomfry it is 5 weeks since i had my scan shoud i go back to the doctors as not heard from the specalist yet ?

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dewruss said on 29 February 2012

I can sympathise with Breverton as I suffered with gallstones for 18 years and all my doctor gave me was Gaviscon and told me to take diclifenic. It all came to a head one evening when I was so bad with dreadful pain starting in my back between my shoulder blades and working round to the front and side and non-stop vomiting, my husband sent for the doctor and a locum came and diagnosed it straight away said he would arrange an urgent scan which he did and in no time at all I was in hospital waiting for keyhole surgery. I would like to tell your readers that there is nothing at all to worry about with the surgery, I was only in for 2 days with no after effects and that was in 1996. I understand that they send you out the next day now do dont worry, just get it done. I must add that after 15 years I am now getting a bit of a problem again but the doctor says it is normal and I must keep off any fatty food.!

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Breverton said on 04 February 2012

I've recently been diagnosed with gallstones - apparently my gallbladder is full of them and, like others on this page, my GP (someone who only saw me twice for five minutes a time and is very cavalier about the removal of an organ) seems very keen to have my gallbladder taken out. I'm not that keen, particularly as my symptoms aren't really that painful - it's mostly just a discomfort - a bloaty feeling in my chest that very occasionally develops into a cramp around my upper chest which lasts for a few minutes and makes feel bad but eventually passes.

I don't have a loss of appetite - if anything, I'm even more rabid for food than ever. I get occasional stomach aches and some grumbling every now and then. I also get very occasional "head rushes" - again, not severe - just enough to notice. These aren't listed here as symptoms of gallbladder problems. Has anyone else suffering gallstones ever experienced stomach aches, head rushes or an increase in appetite?

I guess what I want to know is if these are problems associated with a dicky gallbladder or if I should be exploring other options with my GP.

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KarenMS said on 05 December 2011

I had my gall bladder removed 10 weeks ago and have recently returned to work. Tonight after going out for a meal I immediately became unwell after finishing the meal (gammon, egg and few chips) The pain was unbearable and exactly the same pain I had before my op! How can this be when I have had the stones removed? I was sweating, unable to drive, or stand or do anything the pain was so bad. When I began vomiting the pain subsided and I was able to get home. I am wondering whether I had better return to my GP tomorrow to make sure there isn't a stone still lodged somewhere!

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Walkfar said on 29 November 2011

I had pain, light stools and dark urine and when I went to walk in I was admitted with jaundice caused by gallstone blockage.

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User590456 said on 07 September 2011

My Gallstones give me pain and a large amount of gas which I end up belching out to relieve the pain.

Things that help me are:

1) Belching, posture and pushing the shoulder blade into the body or lying on that side/ then swapping sides if sleeping.
2) Take peppermint tea, you can get this in tablet form too if you don't like the taste.
3) I got prescribed Mebeverine tablets to stop the gut from spasming - this reduced the gas generated and reduced the pain. The consultant described this as the gut creating a foam which allowed bacteria the best conditions to create gas. (This helped me the most).
4) Avoid too much fat, but do eat fatty fish like mackeral. If you don't you will be sick anyway.
5) Cucumber juice is supposed to help, I eat more.
6) Onion helps me either in a hot meal or on a sandwich but not too much in raw form. I eat a lot of fried onion (works for me).
7) I avoid sugars, like sweets, chocolate, too much bread. I guess these simple sugars feed the bacteria causing more gas to be generated - which means more pain.
8) Eat moderately, never eat to being full,, but eat often enough to keep your system working most of the time. Again helps me. For example I'll eat something around 8-9pm when I begin to belch again.
9) Your whole system is disturbed and unlikely to be absorbing all the vitamins and minerals it needs so take a multivitamin tablet or three. I'm just about to start this policy because I realised the number of foods I no longer eat because they give me a problem like bananas - yet I need potassium.
10) I avoid citrus fruits as they give me problems.

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Ryan Curtis said on 02 September 2011

I've had symptoms of biliary cholic for about 6 months (although i didn't know that that was what it was). Then 6 weeks or so ago i had a massive cholocystitis attack that lasted 4 days. GP sent me for an ultrasound and sure enough 1xgallstone. I've a follow up meet with the GP on tuesday but .. my job ends on Friday and my accommodation ends with it. So I'll be technically homeless and unemployed ... I think I'll ask abuot the medication route first .. couple of months on those .. while I'm getting my life sorted out.

Think I'm having a 'mild' biliary attack now (hence why i was on this site). Had a very small amount of tuna in sunflower oil (my diet sheet says i'm allowed it once a week) - but i drained 95% of the oil anyway ... been virutally fat free for 6 weeks and lost 17kg! So I've got the pain, but luckily no raging fever like last time ... Will add sunflower oil to my never list.

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scarl said on 05 August 2011

Hi Everyone, i was diagnosed with gallstones 18 months ago now after having an attack, and a scan showed gallstones. However during this time i have only had the odd attack and painkillers took it away and i have eaten, pretty normally, over indulged at xmas, the odd curry here and there but i am a follower of weightwatchers and so 90% of the time i eat healthily.
This past couple of weeks i have had terrible attacks which occured after everything i ate, i am going for a mrcp scan next week to see if a stone is stuck in a bile duct, i also did a stool test at my gps request and have tested poss for H PYLORI bacteria, could this infection be the cause of my pain? most docs i have seen are keen to remove my gallblader :(. I am scared as i have never had an op. any help is most appreciated.
Thanks

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SammySammy said on 03 August 2011

Hi pain9353,

Thanks for your reply.
No, I didn't have an ultrasound. I'm still waiting for the hospital to send the letter. When I saw my doctor last week, I explained to her that I can't continue like this much longer. This was when we found out that the hospital had written to them, saying they need my address and name so that they can send my appointment. It was all on the letter which my GP's assistant sent to them but they couldn't read it.

I was shocked when my GP told me that no one had replied to the hospital's enquiry. I could have had my ultrasound already! My GP said she will send it again, which was last week. She told me that she will ask them if they can give me an appointment as quick as possible. Now I'm waiting again. The good thing is that she gave me strong antibiotics and different painkillers. (diclofenac, and codeine for emergencies) They seem to work, my last attack only kept me up for 3 hours instead of a whole night. I could still feel it but at least it was bearable.

Your advice on food is very helpful, I was wondering why I kept feeling bad after all I had was a sandwich. Now I know... it had beef on it. Coffee is giving me problems, too.

I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with gastritis now, and I hope that all this will be over soon and you can enjoy life again. :-) I'll keep your advice on NSAIDS in mind.

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pain9353 said on 28 July 2011

Hi Sammy sammy,

ONe word of advice stay well clear of fatty food - takeaways, pastry, certain meant like ham,beef etc they can trigger attacks.
If i were you i would go get some stronger tablets tell doctor the ones your taking are not working!!!
I started a new job when my problems occured and i too worried about my losing my job but thankfully i have an understanding boss.
ALso have you had an ultrasound? and becareful if you take too many NSAIDS (ibuprofen/aspirin) as you will end up with what i Have which is gastritis and a little bleed. but dont worry you will be fine!

I hope that heklps

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SammySammy said on 27 July 2011

Hi tina,

I hope you are feeling better. Did you have your scan yet?

Hello pain9353,

I wish you all the best for your operation and hope that you will return to your normal lifestyle very soon.



I'm having problems for a couple of months and 5 weeks ago, my doctor finally told me that she will request a scan. So far, I didn't hear anything.

2 weeks ago, I had to call the NHS direct because I couldn't stand the pain anymore. They booked me in to see a doctor and he said it might be an inflammation. He gave me two different antibiotics and codein as a painkiller. He also said that if I get any more problems I should come back straight away. I had to go home from work twice since then and today I had the worst attack ever. (My manager knows what's wrong but I'm worried about losing my job over this.)

So I called the NHS direct and explained what happened. I was advised to take 2 tablets of paracetamol and 2 tablets of ibuprofen three times a day and continue with 60 mg of codein four times a day, even though I explained to the nurse that neither paracetamol nor ibuprofen had helped me in the past. I also told him that even codein doesn't seem to work anymore. I'm really scared and I don't even want to think about the next attack because they are driving me out of my mind. I'm also worried about what all these pain killers do to my body.

Does anyone have any suggestions, please?

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pain9353 said on 22 July 2011

Hello tIna

I to have problems with gallbladder and after going to and fro from my doctors and seeing my consultant im finally having my gallbaldder out. With regards to the pain i take Buscopan, diclofenac and diclofenac suppositries, mmm Trammadol, co-deine, omeprazole for gastritis. What medication has the doctor given you?
Also keep on at them about your ultrasound i was meant to wait a while but i had a severe attack and was in hospital on morphine and the following week i had my ultrasound which shows a polyp but consultant thinks it is representing a small stone!
My operation is now due end of August beginning of september and my god i cant wait to return to my normal lifestyle.

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tinawaynebrown said on 01 July 2011

I have had symptoms of gallstones for about 6 week, my Doctor has requested an urgent scan which was requested 3 weeks ago and i still havn,t heard anything. I am in constant pain which gradually gets worse throughout the day, i have constant pain under my ribs, right shoulder and my back, i also have loose pale stools which smells like baby poo which is extremely rare for me as i have always been constipated, i feel i am not being taken serious and at times i cry with the pain i am constantly tired as the pain keeps me awake at night, i do have painkillers which help a little but i always end up with a headache, Has anyone got any suggestions please.

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