Individuals suffering from trouble with their gallbladders may have one of several types of gallbladder disease that cause benign or malignant growths, infection or inflammation of the gallbladder or bile ducts, a blockage in the gallbladder, or gallstones, according to MedlinePlus. The symptoms of gallbladder problems may come and go and be easily confused with other illnesses, so it important to see a doctor for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Pain
The most common symptom of gallbladder disease is mid- to upper-abdominal pain that occurs on the right side of the body just above the stomach, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Known as "biliary colic," this pain often occurs during episodes that last no more than several hours at a time. Usually, biliary colic pain is steady and gnawing, felt primarily in the area located just below the breastbone; however, particularly among those with gallstones or cholecystitis, which is an inflammation of the gallbladder, pain may radiate to the upper back or across the shoulders, according to MayoClinic.com. Individuals suffering from cholecystitis may find that symptoms of abdominal or back pain worsen after high-fat or large meals. Some may find that the abdomen is also very tender to the touch.
Flu-like Symptoms
Some gallbladder problems can cause systemic symptoms that resemble those of the seasonal flu. For example, both cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis--a condition in which stones form in the bile duct that leads from the liver to the gallbladder to the small intestine--can all cause a fever, sweating, chills, nausea and vomiting. Cholecystitis, sclerosing cholangitis--an inflammation of the gallbladder and infection of the bile duct--and gallbladder cancer are also associated with a loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, these flu-like symptoms are signs of a potentially serious infection and require prompt medical attention.
Jaundice
Jaundice, an abnormal yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, occurs when there are abnormally high levels of bilirubin, a red blood cell byproduct, in the bloodstream. It is a sign that the liver, which sits just on top of the gallbladder, is overtaxed or failing to function properly. According to MayoClinic.com, individuals with gallbladder cancer may experience symptoms of jaundice if their tumors are large enough to put pressure on the liver or block the bile duct, which carries bile--a digestive fluid--from the liver to the gallbladder. Other gallbladder diseases that impede the flow of bile, including acute cholecystitis and cholangitis, can also cause jaundice, according to MedlinePlus.
Urinary and Bowel Irregularities
Acute cholecystitis can lead to production of abnormally light, clay-colored stool. Chronic cases of cholecystitis, on the other hand, can lead to diarrhea that persists every day for more than three months. Choledocholithiasis can cause abnormally dark urine and/or light-colored stool, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
