Symptoms: mild discomfort to emergencies

Gallbladder pain can mimic reflux, gastritis, or pancreatitis. The key is pattern and associated warning signs.

Typical biliary colic

Right upper abdominal pain or epigastric pain
Often after a fatty meal, sometimes overnight
May radiate to the back or right shoulder blade
Lasts 30 minutes to several hours, then settles

Acute cholecystitis (inflamed/infected gallbladder)

Severe pain lasting more than 6 hours
Fever, chills
Tenderness in the right upper abdomen
Nausea/vomiting, reduced appetite

Jaundice and bile duct obstruction

If a stone blocks the common bile duct, bile cannot drain properly.

Yellow eyes/skin
Dark urine, pale stools
Itching (pruritus)

Cholangitis is an emergency Fever + jaundice + abdominal pain can indicate infected bile ducts (cholangitis). This can progress rapidly to sepsis and requires urgent hospital care.

Gallstone pancreatitis

Stones can transiently block the pancreatic drainage pathway, triggering pancreatitis.

Severe central/upper abdominal pain often radiating to the back
Persistent vomiting
Markedly elevated lipase/amylase on blood tests

When to seek urgent care Seek urgent assessment if you have persistent severe pain, fever/rigors, jaundice, confusion, fainting, or inability to keep fluids down.