Gallstones: symptoms
Silent gallstones
About 70 per cent of people who have gallstones do not have any discernible symptoms and are often unaware of their presence. The gallstones are often only discovered during evaluation of other problems. For this reason, they are sometimes called ‘silent’ gallstones. If you have silent gallstones you should avoid fatty meals, but it is not likely that you will require surgical intervention unless you develop symptoms or pain. It is important that you weigh up the risk, expense and discomfort of having your gallbladder removed (doctors call this cholecystectomy) against the fact that the stones may never cause any clinical illness.
Symptomatic gallstones
Symptoms of gallstones generally appear when the stone has become lodged in one of the ducts that carry the bile to and from the gallbladder. The most common symptom is a recurrent attack of pain in the upper abdomen or the back, known as biliary colic. These attacks often happen after a fatty meal.
Symptomatic gallstones may result in:
- steady, severe pain in the upper right section of your abdomen that may be felt right through to your back between the shoulder blades. The pain increases quickly and may last from 15 minutes to several hours before subsiding;
- nausea and vomiting;
- indigestion, flatulence or general discomfort in the abdomen; or
- intolerance to fatty foods.
Gallstones requiring immediate attention
Serious symptoms requiring immediate attention include:
- fever, sweating and chills; and
- jaundice — a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
Fever may be an indication of infection or inflammation of the gallbladder (a condition known as cholecystitis) or of the pancreas (pancreatitis). The pancreas is a nearby digestive gland that produces insulin and digestive enzymes.
Jaundice, on the other hand, occurs when the main bile duct becomes blocked, leading to the build up of a substance called bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Several other conditions can cause symptoms similar to gallstones, so it is important that you seek advice from your doctor to rule out other causes such as indigestion or peptic ulcer disease. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and may refer you to a specialist.
Last Reviewed: 29 August 2005
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