22 Symptoms of GallBladder Disease:
Bile is an important digestive fluid that is produced by the liver and stored in a concentrated form within the gallbladder. Bile’s main digestive responsibility is to emulsify fats and create fatty acids that can be readily absorbed and used by the body. When the body has metabolic problems that lead to poor bile production and utilization it can cause serious health disturbances and gallbladder disease.
Unfortunately, the mainstream medical system has no solution for sluggish bile production which is also termed “biliary stasis.” They just watch and wait until the gallbladder gets so log jammed with gall stones that it needs to be removed. This process takes years and is completely avoidable.
A review study in the British Medical Journal found that 50% of patients who had a gallbladder surgery didn’t see improvement in their digestive health complaints (1). This article discusses the functions of bile and symptoms of gallbladder disease.
4 Major Functions of Bile:
1) Fatty Acid Metabolism: Bile salts are critical for the emulsification of dietary fats into bioavailable fatty acids. Without adequate bile production and utilization, one will have trouble digesting fats and fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E, K.
2) The Excretion of Waste Products: The liver’s job is to metabolize and deactivate toxins and bile grabs the toxins and helps bring them through the digestive tract and out in the stool. Bile also helps to encourage the peristaltic action of the intestines which drives fecal matter through and out of the body.
3) Kill off Bad Microbes: The small intestine should normally not have a lot of bacteria in it and this is partly due to the presence of bile salts (2). Salts are a natural preserving agent that reduce bacterial fermentation. Poor bile production can lead to increased bacterial fermentation and the development of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Candida or parasitic overgrowth.
4) Blood Sugar Metabolism: Bile is needed to break down fatty acids for good fat metabolism. Poor fat metabolism will cause blood sugar instability (3, 4). Additionally, bile receptors FXR and TGR5 help to regulate lipid (fat) and carbohydrate metabolism as well as the inflammatory response (5, 6). The bile acids then activate these receptors.
22 Symptoms of GallbladderDisease:
These symptoms indicate that your gall bladder may not be functioning well. It dos not necessarily mean you have gallbladder disease but it would be good to look into that.
You may have several of these, rarely will you have all of them. It always advisable to share these symptoms and get functional lab testing with your primary care physician or functional health practitioner.
1) Nausea and Vomiting: Any disruption in the digestive tract can result in a feeling of nausea and vomiting at times. This is a common issue with poor bile motility.
2) Fatty/Greasy Stools: Poor bile release leads to a failure to effectively emulsify fats in the diet and leads to undigested fat being excreted in the stool.
3) Pain Between the Shoulder Blades: The liver and gallbladder themselves do not feel pain, but the nerves that innervate them also go into the muscles in the back. In particular, the area just under the right shoulder blade.
4) Abdominal Pain: When the liver and gallbladder are inflamed, it can cause swelling, distension and pain throughout the abdominal region. Sometimes the whole rib cage will feel sore or just “awkward,” due to the distension.
5) Chronic Gas and Bloating: Poor bile production will lead to poor bowel motility and microbial overgrowth and fermentation. The fermentation process leads to gas production which can cause bloating and cramping.
6) Itchy Skin: This is also called pruritis. When the gallbladder is obstructed it leads to a rise in a compound called autotaxin (ATX) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) which causes the characteristic itching (7).
7) Yellowing of the Skin: Bilirubin is a yellow pigment and when the body is unable to metabolize bilirubin effectively, it ends up seeping into the tissues near the skin. This is a condition called jaundice.
8) Headaches and Migraines: Gall bladder congestion can cause stress on the body and more gut based inflammation. Both of these mechanisms can increase tension in the blood supply around the skull and brain and lead to headaches and migraines.
9) Constipation and Diarrhea: Poor bile motility will slow down the peristaltic action of the intestines resulting in a greater degree of constipation and often times alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation.
10) Light Colored Stools: The bilirubin in bile helps to create the classic browning of the stool. If you are noticing lighter colored stools frequently it may be due to poor bile function.
11) Sexual Dysfunction: Sluggish biliary function can cause a decrease in overall sex hormone balance as the liver metabolizes the steroid hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. As a result, the individual may have issues with menstrual function, sexual function and fertility.
12) Bitter Taste in Mouth: This will often happen after meals and is due to bile regurgitation.
13) Fibromyalgia: This condition of chronic pain is often due in part to low hydrochloric acid and a sluggish liver and gallbladder.
14) Hypothyroidism: Individuals with hypothyroidism will typically have a sluggish biliary system. It is hard to say what comes first, but they do feed into each other.
15) Loss of Hunger: A feeling of constant fullness is often a sign of a sluggish digestive system and that includes biliary stasis.
16) Dry Skin and Hair: Poor fatty acid absorption will result in poor fatty acid utilization and fat soluble vitamin deficiencies (A, E, D & K). This can lead to dry, scaly skin and hair thinning and dryness among other problems.
17) Chemical Sensitivities: Individuals who have a greater reaction to chemicals are often plagued by a sluggish liver and biliary system.
18) History of Prescription, Over The Counter or Illegal Drug Use: These can all place undue stress on the liver and cause it to be overburdened, which also leads into biliary stasis.
19) Weight Loss Resistance: If we cannot metabolize fatty acids well than we cannot use the calories they provide which will then cause our blood sugar to be unstable. Blood sugar instability will cause hormonal changes leading to weight loss resistance.
20) Skin Rashes: Sluggish bile leads to leaky gut syndrome. When the gut is insulted it releases substance P which when elevated in the bloodstream can cause rash and eczema reactions in the skin.
21) Constant Runny Nose: This can indicate a need for bile salts.
22) IT Band Pain: The iliotibial (IT) band runs from the lateral side of the hip down to the lateral side of the knee. This band can often be very tight and painful in individuals with gallbladder dysfunction.
Additionally, sluggish bile can lead to microbial overgrowth and infection that results in gallbladder disease. If the gall bladder gets infected, one may notice pain in the right rib cage are and a fever. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions like kidney stones, heart attack and hepatitis. If you are having these symptoms, you have to consider gallbladder disease and rule out the other conditions.
If you want to know what to do to improve your gallbladder, than check out these articles
25 Ways to Improve Gallbladder Health
Bile: What is it and How to Improve Liver and Gallbladder Health
How to Beat Gallstones Naturally
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Sources For This Article Include:
1. Bateson MC. Gallbladder disease. BMJ : British Medical Journal. 1999;318(7200):1745-1748.
2. Hofmann AF, Eckmann L. How bile acids confer gut mucosal protection against bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2006;103(12):4333-4334.
3. Wei J, Qiu de K, Ma X. Bile acids and insulin resistance: implications for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Dig Dis. 2009 May;10(2):85-90. PMID: 19426389
4. Hylemon PB, Zhou H, Pandak WM, Ren S, Gil G, Dent P. Bile acids as regulatory molecules. J Lipid Res. 2009 Aug;50(8):1509-20. PMID: 19346331
5. Fuchs M. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Bile Acid-Activated Farnesoid X Receptor as an Emerging Treatment Target. Journal of Lipids. 2012;2012:934396.
6. Li Y, Jadhav K, Zhang Y. Bile acid receptors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Biochem Pharmacol. 2013 Dec 1;86(11):1517-24. PMID: 23988487
7. Serum autotaxin is increased in pruritus of cholestasis, but not of other origin, and responds to therapeutic interventions Link Here
FAQs
Symptoms of chronic gallbladder disease include complaints of gas, nausea and abdominal discomfort after meals and chronic diarrhea. Stones lodged in the common bile duct can cause symptoms that are similar to those produced by stones that lodge in the gallbladder, but they may also cause: Jaundice.
Can gallbladder symptoms be something else? ›
Gallstone symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other conditions, such as appendicitis, ulcers, pancreatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, all of which should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Gallstone complications can occur if your bile ducts stay blocked.
What blood test will show gallbladder problems? ›
Liver function tests (LFTs): Although these tests are not done specifically for gallstone disease, a simple blood test looking at the enzyme levels in the liver can show inflammation in the gallbladder caused by gallstones.
What foods irritate the gallbladder? ›
Foods to Avoid With Gallbladder Problems
- Fried foods.
- Highly processed foods (doughnuts, pie, cookies)
- Whole-milk dairy products (cheese, ice cream, butter)
- Fatty red meat.
Certain drugs can slow or stop the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder and gut, which may damage the liver.
...
Many drugs can cause cholestasis, including:
- Ampicillin and other penicillin-based antibiotics.
- Anabolic steroids.
- Chlorpromazine.
- Cimetidine.
- Erythromycin estolate.
- Estradiol.
- Gold salts.
- Imipramine.
Vitamin C, magnesium, and folate. Vitamin C, magnesium, and folate may help prevent gallbladder disease. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good sources of these nutrients.
How soon after eating does gallbladder pain start? ›
The feeling, which usually occurs in the center of the stomach, can begin anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. During that time, the pain may travel from the stomach to the upper abdomen and, at times, may radiate through the back and into the shoulder blade.
How long can you wait to have your gallbladder removed? ›
Let us say this again: the risk of any complications developing is small. However, delaying necessary gallbladder removal surgery by more than 6 days makes it more likely that surgical complications could develop.
What pain is similar to gallbladder pain? ›
Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis causes pain similar to a gallbladder attack. But pancreatitis is almost always accompanied by nausea, vomiting and weight loss. You may also experience a fast heart rate (tachycardia) and foul-smelling poop.
Can gallbladder problems cause weight gain? ›
Constipation and weight gain can also be symptoms of gallbladder problems, though these are not usually as relatable to fat intake. Also called acalculous cholecystopathy, biliary dyskinesia is a disease or condition of the gallbladder that occurs without the presence of gallstones.
Narrowed bile ducts from scar tissue can keep the bile from flowing out of your liver and gallbladder into the small intestine. That can make you hurt on the right side of your abdomen where the organs are. You also might be itchy or tired, have a lack appetite, and have jaundice, night sweats, or a fever.
How do doctors check your gallbladder? ›
Abdominal ultrasound.
This test is the one most commonly used to look for signs of gallstones. Abdominal ultrasound involves moving a device (transducer) back and forth across your stomach area. The transducer sends signals to a computer, which creates images that show the structures in your abdomen.
What are the first signs of having gallstones? ›
Symptoms
- Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen.
- Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain in the center of your abdomen, just below your breastbone.
- Back pain between your shoulder blades.
- Pain in your right shoulder.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Urine tests may also be performed to help diagnose problems with the gallbladder by looking for abnormal levels of chemicals like amylase, which is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of carbohydrates, and lipase, another enzyme that helps break down fats.
What fruits are good for gallbladder? ›
Research suggests the following foods may support gallbladder health: whole fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, like kiwi and broccoli. citrus fruits, like orange and grapefruit.
What foods help cleanse the gallbladder? ›
That protects your heart and helps keep gallstones away. Fiber gets your digestive system moving and flushes bile from your body. Aim to eat more high-fiber foods like whole-grain bread and pasta and brown or wild rice. Other whole grains include oatmeal, popcorn, barley, and bulgur.
What drinks are good for gallbladder problems? ›
To ease gallbladder pain and improve gallbladder health, you can try drinking peppermint tea. Some think that drinking this tea regularly can reduce the amount of gallbladder pain attacks you may experience. You can buy peppermint tea online.
What painkiller is best for gallstones? ›
NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first-line therapy to manage the pain of acute biliary colic or complications of gallstones. Prescription NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ketorolac, flurbiprofen, celecoxib, and tenoxicam are commonly administered either orally or intravenously.
Who is most likely to have gallbladder problems? ›
Women are twice as likely to develop gallstones than men. Age. People over 60 are more likely to develop gallstones than younger people. Cholesterol-lowering drugs.
What age is common for gallbladder problems? ›
Gallstones can appear in a person of any age, but the average age when they became a problem used to be when a person reached his or her forties, fifties or sixties. Now, patients with symptomatic gallstones tend to be in their thirties or forties.
What is the fastest way to relieve gallbladder pain? For gallbladder pain relief, you can try applying a warm compress to the affected area. You may be able to drink peppermint tea to soothe the pain or take a magnesium supplement to help empty your gallbladder.
What do gallbladder attacks feel like? ›
A gallbladder attack usually causes a sudden gnawing pain that gets worse. You may feel it in the upper right or center of your belly, in your back between your shoulder blades, or in your right shoulder. You might also vomit or have nausea. Pain usually lasts 20 minutes to an hour.
When should you go to the ER for gallbladder pain? ›
The most common gallstone symptom is severe abdominal pain in the upper right area of the stomach, which can spread to the shoulder or upper back. You may also vomit and feel nauseous. Seek emergency medical care if these symptoms last more than two hours or you have a fever.
How long can a gallbladder attack last? ›
Abdominal pain (biliary colic)
Gallstones can cause sudden, severe abdominal pain that usually lasts 1 to 5 hours, although it can sometimes last just a few minutes. The pain can be felt: in the centre of your abdomen (tummy)
What pills can i take for gallbladder pain? ›
NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the first-line therapy to manage the pain of acute biliary colic or complications of gallstones. Prescription NSAIDs such as diclofenac, ketorolac, flurbiprofen, celecoxib, and tenoxicam are commonly administered either orally or intravenously.
How long after eating does gallbladder hurt? ›
The feeling, which usually occurs in the center of the stomach, can begin anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. During that time, the pain may travel from the stomach to the upper abdomen and, at times, may radiate through the back and into the shoulder blade.
Do antacids help gallbladder pain? ›
Antacids cannot treat more serious problems, such as appendicitis, a stomach ulcer, gallstones, or bowel problems.
Can stress cause gallbladder problems? ›
From an emotional perspective, eating in a hurry, when stressed or angry, may also lead to ~ spasms of the bile duct and consequently to liver-gallbladder and digestive issues.
What triggers gallbladder pain? ›
When gallstones get stuck while traveling through the duct (tube) to the stomach, they block the outflow of bile, which causes the gallbladder to spasm. This usually leads to sharp pain, like being cut by a knife, under the rib cage in the upper right side or center of the abdomen.
What else feels like gallbladder pain? ›
What are the symptoms of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction? The main symptom of SOD is severe stomach pain that comes and goes. The symptoms can feel similar to a gallbladder attack. You may have pain in your upper belly that seems to move, or spread, into your right shoulder.
It usually only takes one bad gallbladder attack before people decide to have their gallbladder removed.
What tests are done before gallbladder surgery? ›
Before the Procedure
Blood tests (complete blood count, electrolytes, and kidney tests) Chest x-ray or electrocardiogram (ECG), for some people. Several x-rays of the gallbladder. Ultrasound of the gallbladder.
How do you know if your gallbladder has burst? ›
Symptoms of gallbladder rupture
nausea and vomiting. sharp pain in right upper quadrant of your abdomen. jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. fever.
Can drinking water help with gallstones? ›
Water helps the organ empty and keeps bile from building up. This protects against gallstones and other problems. Sipping more also can help you slim down. Research shows people who drink more water eat fewer calories and less sugar.
What will the hospital do for a gallbladder attack? ›
When a gallbladder attack occurs, it can land you in the emergency room. Because there is no medication to treat gallstones, surgical removal of the gallbladder may be your only treatment option. Laparoscopic surgery is the most common surgery used to remove a gallbladder.
How do you test for gallbladder infection? ›
Abdominal ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) can be used to create pictures of your gallbladder and bile ducts. These pictures may show signs of cholecystitis or stones in the bile ducts and gallbladder.
