Overview Of Gallbladder Attack Symptoms

A gallbladder attack is the result of gallstones blocking the bile duct! This blockage stops bile from flowing from the duct. It causes the gallbladder to spasm! Gallbladder attacks happen to one-third of patients with gallstones. Patients must visit the emergency room right away for a gallbladder attack. Doctors often use abdominal ultrasounds, CT scans, and abdominal x-rays at this time. Finally, blood tests will check on the patient's liver function!

Pain and nausea medication at the hospital is quite helpful. It keeps the patient comfortable during tests! Medications to dissolve gallstones helps. Ursodeoxycholic acid helps on small ones. Of course, patients need to achieve gallbladder pain relief during their treatment. Gallbladder removal surgery is great for patients who have repeated gallbladder attacks. However, patients need to understand their symptoms first!

Severe And Persistent Abdominal Pain

One of the first signs of a gallbladder attack is severe and persistent abdominal pain. Most of the time, it starts in the upper right abdomen! However, many patients feel this pain in the center of their abdomen. The pain changes as the attack progresses. It often moves to the space between the patient's shoulder blades or their right shoulder.

Many individuals describe this pain as sharp and stabbing. It will begin suddenly and often last for a few hours. Many patients find it hard to sit because of the pain! Pain from a gallbladder attack does not normally worsen with movement. Patients will receive pain medication at the hospital. They will often need to continue taking pain relief medication at home for a few days!

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Fever And Chills

Many patients will deal with a low-grade fever when they experience a gallbladder attack. This means that their body temperature will be between 100.4 and 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit! When fever and chills appear together, it often means patients also have a bacterial infection in their gallbladder. A high fever indicates that an individual is also experiencing gallbladder inflammation. This is a common complication of a gallbladder attack!

Doctors will monitor the patient's vital signs at the hospital during a gallbladder attack. This is essential for treatment! Patients must let their nurse and doctor know if they deal with any shaking or chills. Doctors often prescribe fever reducers for the patient's temperature. Natural remedies include applying a cool compress to the forehead or removing some clothing layers.

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Nausea and Vomiting

During a gallbladder attack, the patient's body cannot break down fats. It is because their bile duct is blocked! Thus, a common symptom pair is nausea and vomiting. They are particularly prevalent during the early stages. The pain that patients experience often makes these symptoms worse! Patients must go to the emergency room for these symptoms. They have to tell the doctor when the symptoms began. This helps them determine how long the symptoms have lasted.

Patients must also tell the doctor how many times they vomited. It is helpful to know if patients have been able to keep liquids down or not. Many patients with these gallbladder attack symptoms receive an injection of anti-nausea medication. Pain medication is common as well, since lowering pain also reduces nausea and vomiting!

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Abdominal Tenderness

Abdominal tenderness is a serious gallbladder attack symptom! It often means that patients are also dealing with gallbladder inflammation. Cholecystitis happens when gallstones are stuck at the neck of the patient's gallbladder. Most doctors conduct an abdominal exam when assessing this symptom! First, they will lightly press around the patient's abdomen. This allows them to pinpoint what areas are painful and swelling. They will then use firm pressure to reassess the patient's abdomen. In most cases, abdominal tenderness due to gallbladder inflammation occurs in the upper right or middle abdomen. Patients must talk about other aspects of their pain, such as if it is dull or sharp. They must also tell their doctor when they experience any tenderness in their right shoulder or upper back.

Doctors often order additional tests to check this symptom! Examples include an abdominal ultrasound or specialized magnetic resonance imaging scan. Specifically, patients often need magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to confirm gallbladder inflammation. They need hepatobiliary nuclear imaging to confirm the presence of a blocked cystic duct. This happens in acute cases of gallbladder inflammation! One treatment is fasting so that the gallbladder has time to rest. Patients also need to follow a low-fat diet! Some patients need antibiotics or have surgery to remove their gallbladder. Another option is draining bile from the gallbladder!

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Dark Urine

Dark urine often occurs during a gallbladder attack. It is a late-stage symptom! Specifically, this symptom appears when patients have not received treatment for hours. Dark urine is also a sign of acute gallbladder inflammation. A patient's urine will appear dark brown, like the color of tea, or bright yellow. The discoloration is a sign that gallstones are blocking the patient's bile duct and the pigment is forming in the gallbladder!

Treatment for a gallbladder attack and inflammation relieve this symptom quite quickly. However, patients need to be in the hospital. This is because successful treatment requires intravenous antibiotics! Doctors recommend surgery to prevent future gallbladder attacks and complications. Recovery will continue in the patient's home.