The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ connected to the liver that is responsible for storing and concentrating bile (digestive juices). The substances in bile can crystallize, forming stones in the gallbladder resulting in gallbladder disease. Although 90 percent of all gallstones cause no symptoms according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the presence of the following symptoms can signal gallbladder problems.
Biliary Pain
The most common symptom of gallbladder problems is pain in the mid- to right-part of the upper abdomen, known as biliary pain. This pain may come and go and during a typical attack the pain may feel like a gnawing pain near the rib cage that radiates to the upper back. Each patient's biliary pain can feel different and some may feel the pain near their breast bone.
Biliary pain attacks will often last only an hour or two. These attacks will usually occur around the same time each day and may be triggered by the ingestion of fatty foods. This type of pain cannot be relieved with over-the-counter pain medications.
Gallbladder Inflammation
Approximately 20 percent of patients who develop symptoms of their gallbladder problems will exhibit signs of gallbladder inflammation, also known as acute cholecystitis according to Penn Medicine. Acute cholecystitis exhibits suddenly and is often felt as severe abdominal pain. The pain may be felt from the upper abdomen to the right shoulder blade and is often so severe it causes nausea.
Acute cholecystitis occurs when a stone from the gallbladder travels into the bile ducts and becomes stuck, causing the inflammation of the gallbladder. Along with nausea, patients may develop a fever and vomit. If the common bile duct becomes inflamed as well, the patient may exhibit signs of jaundice, a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Chronic Cholecystitis
The presence of gallstones and mild inflammation can cause symptoms of chronic cholecystitis. These symptoms include gas, bloating and nausea especially after meals. Chronic diarrhea, which is diarrhea that occurs 4 to 10 times a day for at least 3 months, is also a symptom of chronic cholecystitis.
Choledocholithiasis
When the stones of the gallbladder travel to the bile duct, a condition known as choledocholithiasis, additional symptoms can occur. Choledocholithiasis can cause a decrease in bile that results in darker urine and lighter colored stools. A rapid heartbeat and an abrupt change in blood pressure are also symptoms of choledocholithiasis.
