6 Signs and Symptoms of Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened build-ups of calcium and cholesterol, ranging in size from grains of sand to golf balls, which form in your gallbladder. Most people do not have gallstone symptoms. Still, gallstones may cause unusual gallbladder symptoms if they block bile flow to your small intestine, such as gallbladder pain after eating, nausea, and vomiting.

Problems with the gallbladder are common, affecting about 10% to 15% of people in the United States. Read on to learn about the signs and symptoms of gallstones and when to see a healthcare provider.

1. Abdominal Pain

Biliary colic, or gallstone pain, is one of the main gallstone symptoms. Gallstones cause your gallbladder to spasm if they get stuck traveling to your duodenum (the upper small intestine).

You may feel a sharp pain in the upper right side of your abdomen. Gallstone pain may last 30 minutes or longer and not respond to over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.  

Your gallbladder activates when you eat fatty foods. As a result, gallbladder attacks often occur after eating, typically in the evening or at night. You may have symptomatic gallstones if you consistently get pain after eating.

2. Nausea and Vomiting

Another common gallstone symptom is intense nausea, which may lead to vomiting. Nausea also often arises after eating and may be a sign of more severe complications, such as appendicitis and infection. Nausea and vomiting can last for several hours before resolving.

3. Fever

A low-grade fever may accompany a gallstone attack, indicating an infection or inflammation of your gallbladder. You may have chills or sweats. A fever may indicate significant issues and severe conditions, especially if you have other gallstone symptoms.

4. Jaundice

Jaundice may indicate a severe health concern, regardless of whether gallstones cause it. With jaundice, spikes in bilirubin—a yellowish substance in bile made when your body breaks down old red blood cells—cause the eyes and skin to turn yellow. Bile build-up in your gallbladder and lever raise bilirubin levels in your blood if gallstones get stuck.

In addition to gallstones, jaundice may be a sign of other liver problems, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver, and hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.

5. Sudden Weight Loss

Gallstones cannot cause sudden weight loss directly but may accompany it. Obesity raises the risk of gallstone formation, and rapid weight loss can further increase that risk.

Your liver produces bile with a high cholesterol content if you do not eat for a long time or have sudden weight loss. As a result, sudden weight loss may spur gallstone development.

People who recently had weight loss surgery procedures, such as gastric bypass, have a higher risk of gallstones than others. People who adopt very restrictive, low-calorie weight-loss diets may develop gallstones. Consult a healthcare provider about how to lose weight while preventing gallstones.

6. Silent Gallstones

Research has found that more than 80% of people with gallstones do not have symptoms. Some people only learn they have gallstones once they see a healthcare provider.

Tests that help diagnose gallstone include:

• Blood tests
• Cholescintigraphy, an imaging approach that involves injecting small amounts of radioactive material into the blood
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a type of imaging that helps locate where gallstones are blocking bile ducts
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound
• X-ray
  

When To See a Healthcare Provider

Only about 1% of those who have symptoms end up with complications. Still, silent gallstones can later become symptomatic. Consult a healthcare provider about treatment options if you have gallstones to prevent an attack.

Consult a healthcare provider if you have gallstone symptoms, which may indicate infection and inflammation of your gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have the following:

• Fever or chills
• Gallbladder pain that does not respond to OTC pain relievers and lasts several hours
• Jaundice
• Light-colored stools
• Nausea and vomiting
• Very dark, brown-colored urine

A Quick Review

Gallstones rarely become a severe health concern but may cause bouts of persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Gallstone attack symptoms may cause fever and jaundice and require immediate medical attention.

Consult a healthcare provider if you have gallstone symptoms. They can help you develop a treatment plan to avoid a gallstone attack and complications, such as infections and inflammation.