Symptoms of Gallstones

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Gallstones cause symptoms in fewer than 20% of the people who have them. However, their presence may lead to the gall bladder becoming inflamed (cholecystitis), causing pain below the ribs on the right side. The pain may also be felt in the back and the right shoulder and there may be fever, nausea and vomiting.

Gallstones may also block the bile duct, leading to obstructive jaundice. This causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, darkening of the urine and pale clay coloured stools.

The passage of a gallstone down the bile duct into the duodenum is very painful, and is known as biliary colic. The pain is felt in the upper part of the abdomen, in the centre or a little to the right, and usually occurs about an hour after a meal, especially if the fat content has been high.