About 90% of
gallstones cause no symptoms. There is a very small (2%) chance of
developing pain during the first 10 years after gallstones form.
After 10 years, the chance for developing symptoms declines. On
average, symptoms take about 8 years to develop. The reason for the
decline in symptoms after 10 years is not known, although some
doctors suggest that "younger," smaller stones may be more likely to
cause symptoms than larger, older ones. Acalculous gallbladder
disease will often cause symptoms similar to those of gallbladder
stones.
Biliary Pain or Colic
The mildest and most common symptom of gallbladder disease is
intermittent pain called biliary colic, which occurs either in the
mid- or the right portion of the upper abdomen.
Symptoms may be
fairly nonspecific. A typical attack has several features:
• The primary
symptom is typically a steady gripping or gnawing pain in the upper
right abdomen near the rib cage, which can be severe and can radiate
to the upper back. Some patients with biliary colic experience the
pain behind the breast bone.
• Nausea or
vomiting may occur.
• Changing
position, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, and passing gas do
not relieve the symptoms.
• Biliary colic
typically disappears after 1 to several hours. If it persists beyond
this point, acute cholecystitis or more serious conditions may be
present.
• The episodes
typically occur at the same time of day, but less frequently than
once a week. Large or fatty meals can trigger the pain, but it
usually occurs several hours after eating and often awakens the
patient during the night.
• The condition
commonly returns, but attacks can be years apart.Digestive
complaints such as belching, feeling unusually full after meals,
bloating, heartburn (burning feeling behind the breast bone), or
regurgitation (acid back-up in the food pipe) are not likely to be
caused by gallbladder disease. Conditions that may cause these
symptoms include peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or
indigestion of unknown cause.
Canada, Ottawa,
Ontario
Czech Rep, Prague
Brazil, Brasilia
Azerbaijan, Baku
Bhutan, Thimphu
Portugal, Lisbon
Bolivia, Sucre
Bulgaria, Sofia
Barbados, Bridgetown
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA