Most people who have gallstones do not have symptoms. These are called silent gallstones. They do not need treatment.
People who do have symptoms will have pain in the upper abdomen. It starts suddenly, often at night and after a fatty meal.
| The Gallbladder |
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Common Symptoms
- Steady and sharp pain in the upper abdomen that quickly gets worse and lasts 30 minutes to several hours
- Pain in the back between the shoulder blades
- Pain under the right shoulder
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
Other Symptoms
- Bloating
- Problems digesting fatty foods
- Burping
- Gas
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
References
Gallstones. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7313-gallstones. Accessed March 17, 2022.
Gallstones. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/gallstones. Accessed March 17, 2022.
Gallstones. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones. Accessed March 17, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/18/2022