What to know about gallbladder pain

Your gallbladder might not get much attention — until it starts causing pain. Gallbladder pain usually happens in your upper right belly. It often happens after eating and can be a sign of gallstones or other problems. Understanding the symptoms and causes of gallbladder pain can help you know when it’s time to get care — and what to expect from treatment.

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ tucked under your liver. It plays an important role in digestion, even though it’s not something you usually think about.

Here’s what it does:

• Stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to help break down fat
• Releases bile into your small intestine to help digestion¹

When something goes wrong, like a gallstone blocking the flow of bile, you might start to feel pain or other symptoms.

Gallstones are small, hard deposits that can form in your gallbladder. They’re made of substances like cholesterol or bilirubin, which can build up over time and harden into stones. Some people get just one — others can have many.

You might be more likely to get gallstones if:

• You’re over 40 years old
• You were assigned female at birth
• You have a family history of gallstones
• You’re overweight
• You have certain health conditions like diabetes or liver disease¹

Gallstones don’t always cause problems — but when they do, they can block the normal flow of bile and lead to pain.

While some people never feel their gallstones, others can have serious symptoms. Sometimes a gallstone will partially block your gallbladder, causing pain after a heavy meal.² Gallstones can lead to health issues if they get stuck in the bile ducts or cause inflammation.

Complications can include:

• Gallbladder inflammation (called cholecystitis)
• Infections in the bile ducts
• Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas³

These problems can be serious. It’s important to get medical care if you’re having pain or other symptoms

Gallbladder pain often happens when something blocks the flow of bile — usually a gallstone. This can cause the gallbladder to swell and get irritated or infected. Gallbladder inflammation is called cholecystitis. It can be acute, chronic, calculous or acalculous.² In some cases, gallbladder pain can happen from other causes such as bile duct disease, liver disease, or rarely, gallbladder cancer.^2,4

Common causes that may trigger gallbladder pain include:

• Eating a fatty or heavy meal
• Gallstones blocking a bile duct
• Gallbladder inflammation or infection²

Gallbladder problems can cause a variety of symptoms. Gallbladder pain can feel different from person to person. For some, it’s a dull ache. For others, it’s sharp and crampy. It is usually felt in the upper right part of your belly and may worsen when you breathe deeply.² Pain may be felt in the right shoulder or back.

You also might notice:

• Bloating
• Pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen
• Pain that gets worse after eating, especially fatty foods
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever or chills
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)³

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor.⁴

If you’re having gallbladder pain, treatment depends on what’s causing it. People with gallbladder inflammation or gallstones may often require surgery.^{2, 4} You don't need your gallbladder to live. ²

Treatment options may include:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and pain relief: Gallbladder inflammation is usually treated with supportive care right away in the hospital
• Gallbladder removal surgery: If symptoms keep coming back or complications develop, your doctor may recommend removing the gallbladder. This is called a cholecystectomy and is often done with a minimally invasive procedure.^{1, 4}
• Nonsurgical removal of gallstones: A specialist uses small tools through an endoscope to remove gallstones stuck in your bile ducts
• Medications: If your gallbladder pain is caused by gallstones, your doctor may recommend dissolving them with medication. Some medications may break apart gallstones, but they take time and don’t work for everyone.¹

While there are ways to manage and ease gallbladder pain, most treatments will focus on addressing the cause. Your doctor can help find the cause and recommend the best treatment.⁴

Your primary care provider can run tests and help figure out what’s going on. If needed, they may refer you to a specialist.

You may be referred to:

• A gastroenterologist — a doctor who treats digestive issues
• A surgeon — if gallbladder removal is needed

If you have sharp pain, fever or yellowing of your skin or eyes, get medical care right away. These can be signs of a serious issue.³