Gallbladder Pain

What is gallbladder pain?

Gallbladder pain is any pain you feel in your upper right abdomen that may be related to your gallbladder.

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:

• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice).
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever and chills.
• Light-brown pee or light-colored poop.

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.

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What can mimic gallbladder pain?

Gallbladder pain is most often felt in the abdominal area, where several other organs are located. Other conditions that may cause abdominal pain include:

• Appendicitis: You’ll usually feel pain from appendicitis in the lower right portion of your abdomen. Gallbladder pain is typically felt in the upper to mid-abdominal area.
• Kidney stones: Kidney stones can also cause sharp pains in your abdomen and back, but you may also notice issues with your pee. It may be pink, red or brown, foul-smelling or cloudy.
• 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.
• Ulcers: Ulcers may cause abdominal pain, but you may also feel a burning in your stomach along with bloating, a feeling of fullness, burping and heartburn.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): With IBD, you may feel similar abdominal pain, but it can also cause diarrhea, blood in your poop and weight loss.
• Gastroenteritis: You may think you have a problem with your gallbladder, but with gastroenteritis (stomach flu), you experience other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramping.

How can you tell the difference between gallbladder and liver pain?

When you feel pain in your abdomen, it can be hard to figure out what’s causing it. Liver pain can take many forms. Depending on the cause, you may feel pain in your upper right abdomen, mid-abdomen, shoulders or back.

But your liver doesn’t have any pain receptors. So if you feel pain in your liver area, it’s likely due to damage or inflammation of the surrounding tissues. If you are experiencing any severe pain, it’s best to check in with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.