Ailments and Situations - Gallstones - Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms and Signs:

Symptoms of gallstones include sudden, intense pain typically in the upper right abdomen or near the shoulder blades, fever, nausea, and vomiting. This series of symptoms is often referred to as a gallbladder or gallstone attack and can last from 30 to 240 minutes -- as long as it takes the stone to drop back into the gallbladder. Once the attack has passed, soreness may be present for one day or two.

It is also quite possible for a person with a gallstone to experience no symptoms if the stone does not move from the gallbladder (referred to as a "silent" gallstone).

Blood tests (showing abnormal liver function) and an x-ray using a radiopaque contrast substance (revealing the outline of the stone) can also determine the presence of gallstones.

 

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