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Symptoms of Gallstones

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Symptoms

Talking to Your Doctor

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About 80% of people who have gallstones have no symptoms. These cases are called silent gallstones, which cause no problems and usually do not require treatment.

For those people who do have symptoms, gallstones often cause pain in the upper abdomen. The attack begins suddenly, often after a fatty meal and often during the night.

The Gallbladder

Typical Symptoms of an Attack

Steady and sharp pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
Pain under the right shoulder
Nausea and/or vomiting
Diarrhea

Other Symptoms

Abdominal bloating
Inability to tolerate fatty foods
Belching
Gas
Indigestion
Worsening of heartburn

Contact your doctor right away if you have the above symptoms and any of the following:

Sweating
Chills
Low-grade fever
Yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes
Clay-colored stools
Dark urine

References:

Gallstones. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/gallstones. Accessed September 1, 2017.

Gallstones. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114033/Gallstones . Updated July 22, 2016. Accessed September 1, 2017.

Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digesrive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones. Updated November 2013. Accessed September 1, 2017.

Portincasa P, Di Ciaula A, de Bari O, Garruti G, Palmieri VO, Wang DQ. Management of gallstones and its related complications. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;10(1):93-112.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
Last Updated: 9/17/2014

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