Gallbladder stone disease, or cholelithiasis, is a disease in which stones formed from bile or other substances are produced in the gallbladder or bile ducts. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that 90 percent of gallstones are asymptomatic. There is only a 2 percent chance that gallbladder changes will produce severe symptoms that require treatment. When the symptoms do appear, they can cause severe distress to the patient and should be treated as early as possible.
Abdominal Pain
The National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) lists abdominal pain as the most common symptom experienced during a gallbladder stone attack. The stone can get lodged in the ducts that exit the gallbladder and cause a pressure build up. The increased pressure leads to the pain and many other gallbladder stone symptoms. The pain is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen or directly beneath the breastbone and usually occurs after eating a fatty meal or at night. Any pain that lasts more than 5 hours should prompt the patient to seek medical advice.
Back Pain
As described in MayoClinic.com, the pain generated by gallbladder stones can be located at the patient's back usually between the shoulder blades. This pain is similar to the gnawing sensation that is experienced in the abdomen and can be severe. If the pain persists for more than 5 hours then the patient should go to an emergency care facility.
Right Shoulder Pain
Sometimes the pain produced by a gallbladder stone can be referred to other areas. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that the referred pain from gallbladder disease is most often located near the patient's right shoulder. The pain can be mild or intense and often occurs after eating a fatty meal. The pain can last a few minutes or for a couple of hours, but any pain that lingers for more than 5 hours may indicate a medical emergency.
Nausea and Vomiting
Patients may experience episodes of nausea and vomiting during a gallbladder stone attack. The episodes usually coincide with the start of the pain. The nausea and vomiting can be very distressing to the patient and is usually sign that the gallbladder stone has blocked the biliary ducts. Blockage this severe needs medical attention.
Fever
The NDDIC warns patients that if they experience even a slight fever during or immediately after a gallbladder stone attack they should immediately go to the emergency room. This may be a sign of acute inflammation of the gallbladder, which is a life-threatening condition that may need surgery.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowing of a patient's skin or sclera (white part of the eye) due to the build up of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment that is found in bile. Excess bile can be caused when a gallstone blocks the ducts that branch from the gallbladder. The NDDIC lists this symptom as an indicator that the patient should seek medical assistance.
Clay-colored Stools
Patients may notice that their stools are lighter than usual and may even be gray or clay-colored. This lack of pigmentation means that bile is not being added to the bowel contents. This condition usually occurs when there is an obstruction that prevents bile from leaving the gallbladder and entering the intestines. Gallstone can cause this obstruction. This symptom may denote an emergency situation.
