Stomach cramping. Abdominal tenderness. Nausea. Fever.
The signs and symptoms of a gallbladder attack can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening complications.
Bile is a digestive fluid produced in your liver. It is collected and stored in the gallbladder. When the gallbladder becomes inflamed due to gallstones and infections, it can display symptoms that can be typically seen after a large or fatty meal. These symptoms, if left untreated, can lead to a gallbladder infection and sepsis..
The signs of a gallbladder problem may not occur all at once. However, if you notice these symptoms in you or a loved one, consider seeking medical attention.
- Pain. Pain in the mid or upper-right portion of the abdomen can generally be associated with the gallbladder. This pain may come and go and can range from mild to severe. It is common to have pain in the chest and upper back as well.
- Nausea. A common occurrence with gallbladder issues is nausea and vomiting.
- Fever. Although a fever may simply be a virus, when combined with other gallbladder symptoms, this may signal an infection of the gallbladder.
- Bowel movements. If there is a change in bowel movements including diarrhea or light-colored or chalky stools, this may be a problem with bile ducts. The same can be said of urine. When suffering from gallbladder problems, patients may find their urine to be darker than normal.
“Issues with abdominal pain and nausea can often be form a person’s gallbladder,” said General Surgeon Dr. Christopher Maki shared. “98 percent of the time we remove the gallbladder laparoscopically through several small incisions and symptoms go away.”