Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypical SymptomsUnusual SymptomsWhen to See a ProviderNext in Gallbladder Disease GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Disease
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Typical Symptoms
Unusual Symptoms
When to See a Provider
Next in Gallbladder Disease Guide
Althoughpainin the upper right abdomen is the hallmark symptom ofgallbladder disease, other common and uncommon symptoms can occur depending on the underly cause.
With common conditions such asgallstones, you might also experience fever, nausea, vomiting, orjaundice(yellowing of the skin and eyes). With other types of gallbladder disease, you might experience unusual symptoms like chest pain, indigestion, bloating, or diarrhea that you may not readily recognize as agallbladderproblem.
This article describes both the typical and rare symptoms of gallbladder disease, including some of the specific diseases that cause them.
© Verywell, 2018
Gallbladder disease is comprised of a host of conditions affecting the gallbladder.
The most common cause of gallbladder is gallstones, also known ascholelithiasis. Gallstones are extremely common, affecting between 10% to 15% of the U.S. population.
Gallstones are hardened clumps of minerals that are usually passed without incidence. However, on occasion, a gallstone can get stuck in the bile duct, causing four tell-tale signs of cholelithiasis:
Gallbladder Pain
Biliary colic is typically experienced as a sharp, stabbing, burning pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen where the gallbladder is located. The pain will often radiate to your back and right shoulder blade, and your abdomen may feel tender to the touch.
How to Tell Gallbladder and Liver Pain Apart
Low-Grade Fever
The blockage of the bile duct and reduced blood flow to the gallbladder can causeinflammationof the gallbladder (known ascholecystitis). As inflammation builds, one of the common symptoms is fever, generally low-grade.
Nausea and Vomiting
With biliary colic, it is not uncommon to experiencedyspepsia(an upset stomach) andheartburnalong with gallbladder pain. While the gallbladder spasms on their own can make the stomach queasy, the actual blockage of the bile duct can trigger a physiological response known as noxious stimulation.
Noxious stimulation is the body’s response to any stimulus (mechanical, toxic, or infectious) that can damage tissues of the gastrointestinal tract or sensory organs. In order the get rid of the noxious trigger, the body will induce involuntary contractions to causevomiting.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Jaundice
Under normal circumstances, bilirubin is flushed out of the body with stool (poop). However, if a blockage prevents the normal elimination of bilirubin, it can start to accumulate in the bloodstream and seep into tissues, causing jaundice.
Along with jaundice, the build-up of bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) can cause your urine to turn dark. As bilirubin also gives poop its distinctive brown color, the lack of the pigment can cause your stool to turn a pale, clay-like color.
Gallstones may be the most common cause of gallbladder disease, but they are not the only cause. Each type of gallbladder disease can cause a distinct range of symptoms, some of which may not be readily recognized as gallbladder disease.
Gallstones can also cause complications that affect not only the gallbladder but also the small intestine and the adjacentpancreas(which also produce digestive fluids). These complications can cause a worsening of gallbladder symptoms as well as new ones.
Diseases affecting the gallbladder include:
Uncommon signs and symptoms of these conditions include:
Chest Pain
If the cystic duct is blocked rather than the common bile duct, you may have pain in the upper right abdomen as usual. However, some people will experience pain in the upper middle part of the abdomen or even behind thesternum(breastbone).
Pancreatitis can also cause middle abdominal pain, along with severe pain that spreads to the back or chest.
If heartburn accompanies middle chest or abdominal pain, it can easily be mistaken forgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)orpeptic ulcer disease.
High Fever With Chills
Gallstones are typically associated with a low-grade fever, generally between 100.4 F and 102.2 F. However, prolonged obstruction can lead to cholangitis, the infection of which commonly manifests with high-grade fever with chills.
Gangrenous cholecystitis can also cause high fever with chills.
Gas and Bloating
Gas and bloatingare not as common with gallstones but can occur with related conditions such as pancreatitis. With acute pancreatitis, a person may develop swelling in the upper abdomen, causing the contents of the intestines to stop moving. This can lead to gas and bloating as the contents start to ferment.
The same can occur with gallstone ileus and advanced gallbladder cancer. With that said, the inability to pass gas is a sign of complete bowel blockage requiring immediate emergency care.
Itching
Pruritus(itching) can occur with gallbladder disease. This can occur as the buildup of bile salts in the blood irritates receptors in the skin (callednociceptors) that induce itching.
Pruritus is common with primary sclerosing cholangitis as the backflow of bile into the liver can significantly increase bile salt concentrations in the blood. The same can occur when gallbladder cancer spreads (metastasizes) to the liver.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is common with acute pancreatitis, This is because the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that break down food so that it can be absorbed in the intestine. The lack of these enzymes can causemalabsorption. That and the build-up of bile salts can cause the intestines to secrete extra water, leading to pale, runny stools.
Gallstone ileus can also do the same when the blockage of the intestine allows fluid to accumulate behind the obstruction. This can cause intestinal pain with intermittent (and frequently explosive) bouts of watery diarrhea.
Skin Changes
Gangrenous cholecystitis occurs when the prolonged blockage of the bile duct deprives tissues of oxygen, causing them to die and putrify. This can lead to a condition called gas gangrene in which gases build beneath the surface of the skin.
Early symptoms of gas gangrene include:
When IBS and Gallbladder Problems Happen at the Same Time
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you are experiencing any abdominal pain, it’s important to see your healthcare provider for a properdiagnosis. If your healthcare provider diagnoses you with gallstones, they may refer you for a surgical evaluation, especially if you are experiencing recurrent episodes of biliary colic.
If you are experiencing abdominal pain that is severe, persistent, and/or associated with fever, severe nausea, vomiting, and/or jaundice, be sure toseek medical attentionright away at the hospital.
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Summary
Causes and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Disease
1 SourceVerywell 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gallstones.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer.Dayal N, Meseeha. (2017). StatPearls.Biliary colic.Zaliekas J, Munson JL.Complications of gallstones: the Mirizzi syndrome, gallstone ileus, gallstone pancreatitis, complications of “lost” gallstones.Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;88(6):1345-68.
1 Source
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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gallstones.Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer.Dayal N, Meseeha. (2017). StatPearls.Biliary colic.Zaliekas J, Munson JL.Complications of gallstones: the Mirizzi syndrome, gallstone ileus, gallstone pancreatitis, complications of “lost” gallstones.Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;88(6):1345-68.
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.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gallstones.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer.Dayal N, Meseeha. (2017). StatPearls.Biliary colic.Zaliekas J, Munson JL.Complications of gallstones: the Mirizzi syndrome, gallstone ileus, gallstone pancreatitis, complications of “lost” gallstones.Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;88(6):1345-68.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer.
Dayal N, Meseeha. (2017). StatPearls.Biliary colic.
Zaliekas J, Munson JL.Complications of gallstones: the Mirizzi syndrome, gallstone ileus, gallstone pancreatitis, complications of “lost” gallstones.Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;88(6):1345-68.
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