Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
When you think ofgallstones, you may think of apainful attack. However, the truth is that more than 80 percent of people with gallstones will never experience a symptom in their lifetime. What’s more, the likelihood of experiencing symptoms diminishes over time, although your chance of developing gallstones increases as you age. Symptoms of gallstones tend to be fairly noticeable and painful.
When symptoms of gallstones do occur, they are often called an “attack” because they occur suddenly. Gallstone attacks often follow fatty meals and they may occur during the night.
Only 1-4% of individuals with gallstones develop symptoms each year.
The typical gallstone attack includes these symptoms:
Other symptoms of gallstones can include:
Asymptomatic Gallstones
Gallstones that cause no symptoms are called “silent stones.“ Silent stones do not interfere with your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas function and do not require treatment.
Even though 10-15% of Americans have gallstones, the vast majority of them will never have symptoms (asymptomatic).
How to Get Rid of Gallstones Without Surgery
Complications can occur as a result of gallstones.In fact, many people have no symptoms that indicate that they have gallstones until they end up with complications. Potential complications include:
What Is Pancreatitis?
If you have any symptoms of gallstones, see your healthcare provider. If untreated, gallstones can become fatal.
If you experience any of these symptoms during or after you have a gallstone attack, you should seek immediate medical attention:
Gallstones Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
These symptoms can mean you’re having serious complications such as blockage of your pancreatic duct, common bile duct, or hepatic duct, or even infection in your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.Getting treatmentas soon as possible is essential to your recovery.
Causes and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Disease
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut Liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg. 2013;19(2):49–55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Johnson CD.ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder.BMJ. 2001;323(7322):1170–1173. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7322.1170Baiu I, Hawn MT.Gallstones and Biliary Colic.JAMA. 2018;320(15):1612. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11868Complications of gallstones. InformedHealth.org.Vitale GC.Early management of acute gallstone pancreatitis.Ann Surg. 2007;245(1):18–19. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000250967.32581.c9Recio-Boiles A, Waheed A, Babiker HM.Cancer, Gallbladder. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gallstones.Additional ReadingMayo Clinic Staff. Gallstones . Mayo Clinic.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gallstones . National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Lee JY, Keane MG, Pereira S. Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstone Disease . Practitioner . June 2015;259(1783):15-9, 2.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut Liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg. 2013;19(2):49–55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Johnson CD.ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder.BMJ. 2001;323(7322):1170–1173. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7322.1170Baiu I, Hawn MT.Gallstones and Biliary Colic.JAMA. 2018;320(15):1612. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11868Complications of gallstones. InformedHealth.org.Vitale GC.Early management of acute gallstone pancreatitis.Ann Surg. 2007;245(1):18–19. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000250967.32581.c9Recio-Boiles A, Waheed A, Babiker HM.Cancer, Gallbladder. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gallstones.Additional ReadingMayo Clinic Staff. Gallstones . Mayo Clinic.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gallstones . National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Lee JY, Keane MG, Pereira S. Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstone Disease . Practitioner . June 2015;259(1783):15-9, 2.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut Liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg. 2013;19(2):49–55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Johnson CD.ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder.BMJ. 2001;323(7322):1170–1173. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7322.1170Baiu I, Hawn MT.Gallstones and Biliary Colic.JAMA. 2018;320(15):1612. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11868Complications of gallstones. InformedHealth.org.Vitale GC.Early management of acute gallstone pancreatitis.Ann Surg. 2007;245(1):18–19. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000250967.32581.c9Recio-Boiles A, Waheed A, Babiker HM.Cancer, Gallbladder. StatPearls Publishing.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gallstones.
Stinton LM, Shaffer EA.Epidemiology of gallbladder disease: cholelithiasis and cancer.Gut Liver. 2012;6(2):172–187. doi:10.5009/gnl.2012.6.2.172
Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg. 2013;19(2):49–55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236
Johnson CD.ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder.BMJ. 2001;323(7322):1170–1173. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7322.1170
Baiu I, Hawn MT.Gallstones and Biliary Colic.JAMA. 2018;320(15):1612. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11868
Complications of gallstones. InformedHealth.org.
Vitale GC.Early management of acute gallstone pancreatitis.Ann Surg. 2007;245(1):18–19. doi:10.1097/01.sla.0000250967.32581.c9
Recio-Boiles A, Waheed A, Babiker HM.Cancer, Gallbladder. StatPearls Publishing.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gallstones.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Gallstones . Mayo Clinic.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gallstones . National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Lee JY, Keane MG, Pereira S. Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstone Disease . Practitioner . June 2015;259(1783):15-9, 2.
Mayo Clinic Staff. Gallstones . Mayo Clinic.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Gallstones . National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
