WHAT CAUSES A GALLBLADDER ATTACK

Yes, you can get help with your gallbladder problem
and there are alternatives to gallbladder surgery. There is hope!

 

GALLBLADDER ATTACKS can be both very painful and frightening. It is easy to understand why so many people opt for gallbladder surgery after experiencing even one gallbladder attack. But there are both natural supplements and natural foods that can manage gallbladder disease to help prevent both surgery and the discomfort of gallbladder colic.

GALLBLADDER ATTACK SYMPTOMS may include one or more of the following:

• chest pain in the right side below the rib cage
• pain in the back right shoulder blade
• nausea or queasiness
• vomiting
• gas
• belching or burping

The gall bladder, which sits just below the rib cage to the right of the stomach, is very tender to touch. It can be so painful that it takes your breath away. You may not be able to walk without bending over. Sometimes the pain radiates through to the back shoulder blade on the right side or in the middle between the shoulder blades. This is pain from the gallbladder referring to the back of the shoulder. This back shoulder blade chest pain is one of the most common yet unknown symptoms of a gallbladder disorder. This can come and go or be constant. It may be sharp, excruciating or dull. It may also occur especially at night.
A gallbladder attack will typically last for one to four hours.

Is this a gallstone attack or what else could it be?

Pain in the right side of the chest or in the upper right quadrant (area) of the body can be due to more than gallbladder problems. The differential diagnosis should be done by examination and questioning by your doctor.
If the pain is severe, tests may be done to rule out stomach, pancreas, liver or gallbladder. If you have come to this site, you have some suspicion yourself that your gallbladder is involved. The questionnaire provided for you is a helpful indicator since additional gallbladder symptoms help to confirm your suspicions. Pain alone is not usually enough. If the pain is located mid-center beneath the rib cage, this can also be gallbladder related. Appendicitis pain can also be referred to the mid-center.


WHAT CAUSES A GALLBLADDER ATTACK

The pain can come from a stone making its way down the biliary duct or bile tube toward the duodenum of the small intestine. It can also be caused by a back up of bile in the gallbladder (with or without stones) that causes it to swell from fullness causing discomfort. Or it can come from an infected gallbladder itself that becomes inflammed known as cholecystitis.

That's what's happening in the moment. But the underlying causes of stone forming or bile thickening or low-functioning gallbladder are important to understand in order to heal the root of the problem. Hypothyroidism is a major conrtibuting cause to gallbladder disease of all kinds. The thyroid is responsible for metabolism and when it is not working optimally, metabolism in general slows down. Your digestion may be slower, the bowels may be slower, gallbladder emptying may be slower, even thinking may be slower. Food allergies are also major contributors to gallbladder disease. They cause a histamine release that can cause excessive fluid in the bile ducts, causing them to back up. It is important to isolate those specific foods by eliminating them and introducing them back in one at a time and watch for reactions, so that you know just what is causing the problem. There is an entire page dedicated to just this allergy sleuthing and one for hypothyroid as well which you will want to peruse at your leisure.
What do I do now?

But for now, step one is to see your doctor for a diagnosis. It's important to know exactly what is going on. Then, if you haven't already done so, fill out the gallbladder symptom questionnaire. It will give you suggestions on what to do at this moment based on your individual symptoms for example, get out of pain and discomfort. If it's weight gain due to gallbladder disease, it may be trying the allergy elimination diet to start. Order what you need to get started, and if you need help, you can always schedule a consultation to get pointed in the right direction. We might order blood tests for you to check your thryoid or to check if insulin resistance is contributing to high cholesterol and/or to gallstone formation. Then read up on your areas of interest on this site, from weight gain to gallbladder removal; it's all here.

I have put together combinations of products for specific problems. But they are not enough without major dietary changes. Read the gallbladder diet page from top to bottom. And if everything you eat causes pain, go to my gallbladder pain relief recipes on the diet page and implement them immediately. The flax seed tea is the simple to make and extremely effective.

If you want to improve your gallbladder health, you need to educate yourself about the workings of the gallbladder and whole biliary system. You need to understand the root of your problem. Treat this site like a book. Read it all.

Even if you don't have a gallbladder, if you're on this page
you still have gallbladder symptoms. If you don't have
gallstones, you could develop them in the future if you
don't make changes now. There is hope. But it's up to you. Educate yourself. Implement the necessary changes.

The gallbladder starter kit can kick start your program and help to reduce the pain or discomfort. It is designed to
improve the health of the bile and your overall digestion.
Good luck and good reading.
Gallbladder symptoms (non-attack)

For non-attack, general symptoms that may be related to the gallbladder please go to gallbladder symptoms or to specific diseases at gallbladder disease

Gallbladder Symptoms

Yes, you can get help with your gallbladder problem and there are alternatives to gallbladder surgery.

There is hope!

What are the symptoms of a gallbladder attack?

Gallbladder attacks can be both very painful and frightening. It is easy to understand why so many people opt for gallbladder surgery after experiencing even one gallbladder attack. But there are both natural supplements and natural foods that can manage gallbladder disease to help prevent both surgery and the discomfort of gallbladder colic.

GALLBLADDER ATTACK SYMPTOMS specifically

Please note that if you are in severe pain and particularly if your attack symptoms are accompanied by fever DO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. The following symptoms are typical of a gallbladder attack.

• Moderate to severe pain under the right side of the rib cage
• Pain may radiate through to the back or to the right shoulder
• Severe upper abdominal pain (biliary colic)
• Nausea
• Queasiness
• Vomiting
• Gas
• Burping or belching
• Attacks are often at night
• Attacks often occur after overeating
• Pain will often but not always follow a meal with fats or grease
• Pain may be worse with deep inhalation
• Attacks can last from 15 minutes to 15 hours

SYMPTOMS OF GALLBLADDER PROBLEMS

Gallbladder disease is more common than you may think. Gallstones affect more than 25 million Americans with 1 million new cases diagnosed annually, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. And there are other things that go wrong with the gallbladder besides just gallstones.
People can go for years with digestive symptoms and never realize that they may be related to a gallbladder problem. That's because they are so inter-woven with other digestive symptoms such as indigestion, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea.

The list provided here may be related to gallbladder but bear in mind that it could also be something else. Gluten intolerance or celiac disease should also be considered depending on the specific symptoms. The first four mentioned below I feel are most indicative of gallbladder issues. It is not necessary to have all or many symptoms to have gallbladder problems but the more you have from this list, the more confirmation you have that the gallbladder is involved.

Please note that it is still advisable to consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Gallbladder attack symptoms are listed above and again with more detailed explanation when you answer the three-minute gall bladder symptom questionnaire. To get a good understanding of what caused your gall bladder problems, study the list of risk factors for gallbladder disease.

GALLBLADDER SYMPTOMS

• Pain or tenderness under the rib cage on the right side
• Pain between shoulder blades
• Stools light or chalky colored
• Fatty stools
• Indigestion after eating, especially fatty or greasy foods
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Bloating
• Gas
• Burping or belching
• Feeling of fullness or food not digesting
• Diarrhea (or alternating from soft to watery)
• Constipation
• Headache over eyes, especially right
• Bitter fluid comes up after eating
• Frequent use of laxatives

SYMPTOMS OF GALLSTONES

Symtpoms of a gallbladder attack are often caused by gallbladder stones. A stone may block the neck of the gallbladder or get stuck in a bile duct inhibiting the flow of bile or possibly causing a backing up of bile. However, short of causing an actual attack, stones may be present for years and never cause any symptoms at all. "Biliary pain can occur in about a third of the gallstone patients" (which leaves two thirds NOT experiencing pain) and "sometimes the gallstone symptoms are difficult to differentiate from that of dyspepsia." (indigestion)3 The gallstones can impair the functioning of the gallbladder, however, which can result in any of the common gallbladder symptoms.

Gall bladder symptoms can look and feel the same with or without stones. Therefore, all of the symptoms on listed on this page can accompany gallstones.

SILENT GALLSTONES

70-80% of people with gallstones never know they have them. These are called "silent gallstones". However, the remaining 20-30% still results in 500,000-700,000 gallbladder removals every year. And since the diet of the general American population is not improving, those numbers are rising.

The risk of silent gallstones causing a gallbladder attack is about 1% per year.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine compared the mortality rate from emergency surgery performed for obstructing gallstones with the mortality rate from routine, scheduled gallbladder surgery and concluded that the latter gallbladder surgery is actually more dangerous. They advised that "silent" gallstones should not be subjected to surgery but left alone.

And another study reports:

"We conclude that innocent gallstones are not a myth, and that in some populations the majority of silent gallstones are inconsequential. We believe that routine prophylactic operation for silent gallstone disease, at least in white American men, is neither necessary nor advisable."2.

So now that you know you have gallbladder problems....

Gallstones l Gallbladder Disease

The gallbladder, a small, pear-shaped organ under the liver, collects and stores bile. Bile is a thick, greenish-yellow, bitter fluid made by the liver. Bile is made up of bile salts, electrolytes, bilirubin, cholesterol and other fats. The salts help stimulate the large intestine to secrete water and other slats, which helps move the contents of the digestive tract out of the body. Bilirubin is a waste product consisting of the remains of worn-out red blood cells. The breakdown products of drugs and wastes processed by the liver are also released in bile.

Bile helps the small intestine digest fats and remove waste products. It passes from the liver's bile duct into the duodenum, as needed. It does this through the common bile duct where the liver, gallbladder and pancreatic ducts join.

About half the bile secreted between meals flows into the small intestine. The other half is diverted from the common bile duct through the cystic duct, into the gallbladder where it is stored. Once there, nearly 90% of the water in the bile is absorbed by the bloodstream. What is left is a concentrated solution of bile salts, biliary lipids and sodium.

Gallstones are like tiny rocks that form in the gallbladder. They are made of cholesterol or bile particles that clump into a solid mass. A stone can grow as liver bile passes through the gallbladder. Most gallstones are small enough to pass out of the body through the intestines without our noticing. However, some do get caught in the narrow outlet of the gallbladder or in the intestines. This can lead to pain, a buildup of bile, pancreatitis and/or infection. Gallstones are common, especially in women, the elderly and overweight individuals.

Symptoms

Most gallstones don't cause symptoms for a long time. If they remain in the gallbladder, they may never cause symptoms. However, sometimes large stones can break down the wall of the gallbladder and get into the intestines causing a blockage. This is known as gallstone ileus.

Usually, the stones pass from the gallbladder into the bile ducts. They may remain there without blocking the flow of bile or causing symptoms, or they may pass on into the small intestine without being noticed.

However, if the gallstones cause a blockage in a bile duct, a person will have pain. The pain tends to come and go (this is sometimes called colic). Usually, the pain builds up to a certain level and then gradually falls. It can be sharp and intermittent for several hours.

Where the pain is felt can vary. Usually it is in the upper right part of the abdomen, which may be tender to touch. The pain may be felt in the right shoulder blade. A person may feel nauseated and throw up. If the blocked bile duct becomes infected, a person may develop a fever, chills and a yellowish cast to his or her skin.

Gallstones can block the cystic duct, causing the gallbladder to become inflamed (acute cholecystitis). Stones may block the pancreatic duct causing inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).

Symptoms such as indigestion, an inability to tolerate fatty foods, belching, bloating, a feeling of fullness and nausea are some times believed to be gallstones. However, these symptoms are also common to indigestion or peptic ulcer disease. If a person feels pain in the right upper part of the abdomen after eating fatty food, this may be a sign of gallstones.

Causes and Risk Factors

High levels of estrogen, usually from multiple pregnancies or birth control pills (or both), are thought to be one cause of gallstones in women. Other factors that put a person at higher risk of developing gallstones are:

• Being overweight
• Age. About 20% of American older than 65 have gallstones, but most never experience problems
• A Western diet
• Genetics
• Being a Native American or Hispanic
• Having sickle cell anemia
• Crash dieting

Diagnosis

Patients having a gallstone attack report pain in the upper abdomen, usually on the right side, along with belching, gas, nausea and/or loss of appetite. In more serious cases, the patient may show signs of jaundice and have a fever.

Regular X-rays won't help the doctor find gallstones, but several other procedures can, including:

• Ultrasound and CT scans. If a stone is blocking the flow of liver bile, an ultrasound or CT scan can reveal swollen bile ducts. Blood tests might then be ordered to see if there is damage to the liver or pancreas.
• Endoscopic ultrasound. This procedure uses sound waves to produced a detailed image that can show developing gallstones and changes in the pancreatic or biliary duct system.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This minimally invasive technique can find and remove blockages in the gall bladder and bile ducts
• Cholecochoscopy. This is an ERCP procedure that uses a second scope to get better views of and access to the biliary ducts.

Screening and Prevention

There is no way to screen for the disease. But since obesity is so closely linked, maintaining a normal weight is an important, especially for women. Avoiding high-fat meals and "yo-yo" weight-loss diets are also good ideas. If your background places you at high risk, avoid taking birth control pills or estrogen.

Treatment

Gallstones are treated only when they cause a great deal of discomfort. In those cases, removing gallbladder is recommended. This may be done using:

• Traditional surgery (open cholecystectomy)
• Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows patients to recover more quickly and with less pain
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a minimally invasive technique that can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
• Intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL), which is used to break up gallstones that are large or difficult to remove through the bile duct.
• Drugs, which dissolve gall stones slowly over six or more months. This is used with people who can't tolerate surgery. Unfortunately, it's not always effective and new stones can form when the patient stops taking the medicine.

Overall, gallbladder surgery has proven to be highly effective. Most people don't miss the organ since, like the appendix, it's no longer essential. In rare cases, there may be diarrhea and abdominal pain afterward. This is easily addressed with time, healing and sometimes diet.

Additional Resource at Cedars-Sinai

• Pancreatic and Biliary Disease Center

Bad Gall Bladder Symptoms

The gallbladder is responsible for storing bile, a substance responsible for breaking down the fat in foods. Produced in the liver, bile is secreted through the common bile duct into the small intestine. Several conditions can affect the gallbladder and cause symptoms. Stones may form in the gallbladder or common bile duct, or the gallbladder may become inflamed from gallbladder disease. A person with a bad gallbladder may experience a variety of symptoms.

Discomfort or Pain

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that lies next to the liver. A person with gallbladder trouble may experience pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that this pain may range from mild to severe and tends to get worse before it gets better. Pain may occur intermittently and may be more prominent after eating fatty foods. A person may feel gallbladder-related pain as a sharp, stabbing pain. The pain may radiate to the upper back between the shoulder blades or beneath the breastbone. Depending on the condition affecting the gallbladder, pain may last from hours to days, according to the UMMC.

Digestive Symptoms

Gallbladder dysfunction may cause a range of digestive symptoms. A person may experience belching, intestinal gas and bloating. These symptoms may occur after meals. Chronic diarrhea, or that which occurs more than four times a day for at least three months, may also occur.

Emergency Symptoms

Some conditions of the gallbladder are serious and can result in gallbladder rupture or infection. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases advises that some symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.

A yellow tint to the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice, may indicate complete blockage of the common bile duct which can result in organ rupture. Sudden fever or chills and a rapid heartbeat may also occur. A person with a serious gallbladder condition may also develop nausea and vomiting or clay-colored stools. Abdominal pain or discomfort that lasts longer than five hours may also indicate a serious gallbladder problem and warrants medical treatment, according to the NIDDK.