What is gallbladder pain?
Gallbladder pain is any pain you feel in your upper right abdomen that may be related to your gallbladder.
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What is the gallbladder?
Your gallbladder is a small pouch that’s connected to other parts of your digestive system. It stores and releases bile, the fluid your liver produces to help break down fats. Your gallbladder is located just below your liver in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Your gallbladder releases bile through a series of bile ducts called the biliary tract. This pipe-like system carries bile from your liver and empties it into your small intestine.
Where is gallbladder pain felt?
The location of gallbladder pain can vary. Your gallbladder is located in your upper right abdomen, so you will most often feel pain in this area. You may also feel upper mid-abdominal pain or chest pain.
You may feel gallbladder referred pain. Referred pain means the pain you feel in one part of your body is caused by pain in another part of your body. Gallbladder pain may spread to your back and right shoulder.
What does gallbladder pain feel like?
Gallbladder pain feels different than any other kind of pain you’ve ever felt in your abdomen. You may feel a sudden, sharp pain in your upper right abdomen. It may feel like someone is cutting you with a knife. The pain is constant and severe.
The pain doesn’t go away or get better when you move. Passing gas or pooping doesn’t help either. Deep breathing can make the pain feel worse. The pain may hurt so bad you can’t sit still, and you may think you’re having a heart attack.
Eating often makes the pain worse since it causes gallbladder contractions.
What are other gallbladder pain symptoms?
In addition to severe pain in your upper right abdominal area, you may experience the following symptoms:
Can gallbladder pain last for weeks?
No. Gallbladder pain may last for a few minutes to a few hours. If it doesn’t go away within a few hours, you may have a serious health condition. You should see your healthcare provider for pain lasting longer than two to three hours, especially if you have other symptoms. Gallbladder pain can be so severe that people normally go to the emergency room.
FAQs
The most common cause of gallbladder pain is gallstones. Your gallbladder is located in your upper right abdomen, so you will most often feel pain in this area. Your healthcare provider will treat most gallbladder issues by removing your gallbladder.
What is the fastest way to relieve gallbladder pain? ›
With gallbladder pain, the goal is to get relief as soon as possible. Applying heat to the area may bring immediate relief. Use a hot towel, heating pad, or hot water bottle on the right side of the abdomen every 15 minutes. After a few intervals, the inflammation should subside.
What is the main cause of 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.
How to stop a gallbladder attack while it is happening? ›
While nothing can be done to completely stop the attack while it is happening, there are ways to relieve some of the pain. If pain persists, seek medical attention. You may need medication or surgery. It is possible to pass a gallstone.
What triggers gallbladder attacks? ›
Anything we eat or drink will cause the gallbladder to squeeze to empty, Premier Physician Network (PPN) physicians say. But fat in the stomach causes the gallbladder to squeeze harder. And foods that are fried and greasy make the gallbladder work even harder. Having a gallstone can cause the attack to be much worse.
How do you settle an inflamed gallbladder? ›
Initial treatment will usually involve:
- fasting (not eating or drinking) to take the strain off your gallbladder.
- receiving fluids through a drip directly into a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration.
- taking medication to relieve your pain.
Healthy Foods for the Gallbladder
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Whole grains (whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oats, bran cereal)
- Lean meat, poultry, and fish.
- Low-fat dairy products.
Here are some conditions that could mimic gallbladder pain:
- Pancreatitis. Your pancreas is in the back of your abdomen, near the duodenum. ...
- Kidney stones. ...
- Stomach ulcers. ...
- Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD (Crohn's disease or colitis). ...
- Gastroenteritis.
Yes, research shows people who drink a lot of soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks also tend to have more gallbladder problems, including gallbladder cancer. Cutting sweet drinks could reduce symptoms as well as lower your risk for these problems.
What does an inflamed gallbladder feel like? ›
Upper abdominal pain, especially in the upper right. It may also spread to your right shoulder blade or back. Gallbladder pain builds quickly to a peak, which may be severe. It may feel sharp, dull or crampy and may be worse when you breathe deeply.
Can drinking water help with gallbladder pain? Water helps maintain your bile fluid, so staying hydrated can help you prevent the formation of gallstones, which can help you avoid gallbladder pain.
How do you know if your gallbladder is about to burst? ›
The Signs to Watch Out For
Because gallbladder ruptures are caused by gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), you should be watching for the following symptoms: Upper right abdominal pain. Abdominal tenderness. Nausea and vomiting.
Should I lay down during a gallbladder attack? ›
When you're experiencing gallbladder pain, you should sleep on your left side. Sleeping or resting on your left side allows your gallbladder to freely contract and expand until the blockage of your bile duct has cleared. The theory is that this can help resolve pain.
What are the first signs of having gallstones? ›
Gallstones may cause no signs or symptoms. If a gallstone lodges in a duct and causes a blockage, the resulting signs and symptoms may include: 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.
When to go to the ER for gallbladder? ›
See your doctor if you have abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. If the pain is so bad that you can't sit still or get comfortable, go straight to your nearest hospital emergency department.
What is the root cause of gallbladder problems? ›
What causes gallstones? Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts. Researchers do not fully understand why these changes in bile occur. Gallstones also may form if the gallbladder does not empty completely or often enough.
Does lying down help gallbladder pain? ›
The added pressure of sleeping on your right side may even make gallbladder pain worse. You may also want to avoid sleeping on your back or stomach. These positions may not feel comfortable until the pain of your blocked bile duct has passed.
What to drink with gallbladder problems? ›
Drink Lots of Water
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.
