The University of Maryland Medical Center describes the gallbladder as a small sac under the liver in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. Bile is held in the gallbladder and secreted through the biliary tube into the bowel during digestion to break up fat. When bile hardens in the gallbladder, stones form, ranging in size from pebbles to golf balls. Symptoms can be vague and indistinguishable to severe and life-threatening.
Intermittent Pain
Biliary colic, or intermittent pain, is the most common symptom of gallbladder problems. Gallstones, or cholesterol stones, form when the bile contains too much bilirubin, cholesterol or not enough bile salts. The symptoms manifest as a gnawing ache or pain in the upper right side just under the rib cage and occasionally under the breast bone. The pain may radiate to the upper back. Nausea and vomiting may accompany it. Over-the-counter remedies do not alleviate symptoms, nor does passing gas or belching. Large, fatty meals are usually a precursor to the symptoms and the episodes may be a week to a year apart. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse warns that symptoms can seem like other problems, such as a heart attack, so an accurate diagnosis is paramount.
Chronic Gallbladder Disease
Also known as chronic cholecystitis, chronic gallbladder disease is an inflammation of the gallbladder accompanied by the presence of gallstones. The University of Maryland Medical Center affirms that vague complaints of gas, nausea and stomach discomfort are difficult to distinguish from those who do not have gallbladder disease but have the same symptoms. Chronic diarrhea lasting upwards of three months, with four to ten movements per day is indicative.
Gallbladder Inflammation
When the gallbladder duct becomes blocked with stones, acute cholecystitis, gallbladder inflammation, develops. Symptoms mimic biliary colic but are more severe and persistent. The University of Connecticut Health Center states that discomfort can last for hours and drawing a breath can be painful. The pain usually radiates to the back and fever and chills may be present. If left untreated, infection may set in, with gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder.
Blocked Common Bile Duct
The bile duct carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestines. Stones can block the passage, causing symptoms similar to cholecystitis in addition to jaundice, dark urine, drop in blood pressure, light-colored stools, rapid heartbeat, nausea and vomiting. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that choledocholithiasis is serious and requires immediate attention.
