When the digestive fluid bile hardens into solid balls inside the gallbladder, you have gallstones. They can be quite small or very large, and they can form singularly or in groups. The gallbladder helps digestion by storing bile that originally is produced in your liver and then putting it out into the small intestines. While gallstones may never cause a problem in some people, others may require surgery to remove their gallbladders to alleviate the pain.
Eating
Attacks of pain from gallstones typically occur shortly after you eat, reports the National Institutes of Health. If gallstones block the bile ducts, you may experience intense pain in the top right area of your abdominal region. This is where the gallbladder is located. This pain can begin suddenly and intensify rapidly. It can be quite severe, making it difficult for you to find a position that is comfortable and making it hard for you to remain in one place for long. If you have this kind of pain, get immediate medical aid.
Other Pain
Pain from gallstones, which can remain with you for a few minutes to several hours, also can occur in other places. It can occur beneath the breastbone at the abdominal region's center, according to the Mayo Clinic. This pain, too, can start suddenly and intensify rapidly. You also may experience pain in your back, typically in the area between the left and right shoulder blades. Pain also can occur in the shoulder of your right side.
Jaundice
Gallstones also may cause jaundice, a condition associated with the malfunction of your liver. The signs of jaundice include your skin turning to a yellowish color and the white part of the eyes also turning this color. This, too, is an emergency situation, so get help immediately.
Fever
The existence of gallstones in your gallbladder also can cause another serious symptom in which you develop a fever that is quite high, typically 103 degrees Fahrenheit or 39.4 degrees Celsius is considered dangerous, the Mayo Clinic states, that is accompanied by chills. While this can occur from other medical problems, it can be a sign of gallstones, so get to the emergency room.
