Cholelithiasis Quiz
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Stomachache
Upper right abdominal pain
Pain in the upper back
Cannot take a deep breath because of stomach pain
Pain in the middle of the upper stomach
I have a stomachache after eating a greasy meal
Abdominal pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Cholelithiasis?
Gallbladder stones or pieces of solid material that form in the gallbladder. Many people have gallbladder stones without any symptoms for their entire lives. Severe cases may require surgery.
Typical Symptoms of Cholelithiasis
- Stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area
- History of gallstones or gallbladder inflamamtion
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Stomach or abdominal pain that prevents deep breathing
- Pain in the upper abdomen
- Stomach or abdominal pain that worsens after meals
- Stomach or abdominal pain after eating oily foods
Diagnostic Questions for Cholelithiasis
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have stomach or abdominal pain in a specific area?
- Have you had gallstones or inflammation in your gallbladder before?
- Do you have any stomach or abdominal pain?
- Do you feel pain in your upper right abdomen?
- Are you experiencing stomach or abdominal pain that prevents you from taking deep breaths?
Treatment of Cholelithiasis
This condition does not always need treatment unless it causes problems. If symptoms are present, surgery to remove the gallbladder can be done. If your doctor thinks surgery is risky and the symptoms are mild, a medication may be prescribed.
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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With a free 3-min Cholelithiasis quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- I have lower abdominal pain
- I have left lower abdominal pain
- Pain in the lower right stomach
- Upper left abdominal pain
- Have periodic abdominal pain
- Have pelvic pain
- Sharp abdominal pain
- Stomach pain with diarrhea
- Localized abdominal pain
- Flank pain
See full list
Symptoms Related to Cholelithiasis
Diseases Related to Cholelithiasis
FAQs
Q.
Gallstone Pain? Why Your Body is Struggling & Ursodiol Medical Steps
A.
Gallstone pain occurs when a stone blocks bile flow, building pressure that triggers steady right upper abdominal pain that can radiate; ursodiol can slowly dissolve small, non calcified cholesterol stones in people with a functioning gallbladder, but treatment takes months to years, may not work for everyone, and stones can return. There are several factors to consider. See below for urgent red flags, when surgery is the better option, dosing and monitoring while on ursodiol, side effects, lifestyle steps, and tools to help decide next steps with your clinician.
References:
* Portincasa P, Di Ciaula A, Wang DQH. Gallstones: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management. Curr Pharm Des. 2020;26(15):1801-1805. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200219102431. PMID: 32078699.
* Abraham S, Marasović B. Medical management of gallstone disease. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2022 May 1;38(3):209-214. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000832. PMID: 35439446.
* Portincasa P, Di Ciaula A, Wang DQH. Pathophysiology and Management of Biliary Pain. Pain Res Manag. 2019 Jul 29;2019:2061036. doi: 10.1155/2019/2061036. PMID: 31462947; PMCID: PMC6690412.
* European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gallstones. J Hepatol. 2016 Jul;65(1):146-171. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.02.003. Epub 2016 Feb 23. PMID: 27085237.
* Salek J, Pejchova M. Current medical management of gallstones. Vnitr Lek. 2018 Autumn;64(7):711-715. PMID: 30193498.
Q.
Sharp Side Pain? Why Cholelithiasis Occurs & Medical Next Steps
A.
Sharp right-sided pain under the ribs is often from gallstones that develop when bile components are imbalanced, bilirubin is elevated, or the gallbladder empties poorly. Attacks often follow fatty meals and can cause nausea with pain radiating to the back or right shoulder; risks include female sex, age over 40, obesity, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, diabetes, family history, and estrogen therapy. See below for next steps, including when to monitor, try lower fat meals, get an ultrasound and blood tests, consider surgery if episodes recur, and seek urgent care for fever, jaundice, persistent severe pain, dark urine, pale stools, or vomiting.
References:
* Krawczyk M, Lammert F. Gallstone disease. Lancet. 2023 Mar 18;401(10380):993-1006. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01691-1. PMID: 36934898.
* Fan Z, Song R, Tian H, Wu S, Han F, Guo S, Zhang C, Wei C, Luo X, Song W, Song C. Recent advances in gallstone disease: From mechanism to therapy. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Jan 26;14:1107923. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1107923. PMID: 36776856; PMCID: PMC9912061.
* Portincasa P, Moschetta A, Palasciano G. Gallstone disease: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2020 Feb-Mar;44-45:101671. doi: 10.1016/j.bpg.2020.101671. Epub 2020 May 9. PMID: 32448773.
* Lammert F, Gurusamy K, Ko CW, Miquel JF, Méndez-Sánchez N, Portincasa P, van Erpecum KJ, van Laarhoven CJHM, Wang DQH. Gallstone disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019 Aug 1;5(1):57. doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0115-0. PMID: 31371755.
* European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of gallstones. J Hepatol. 2016 Oct;65(4):817-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Mar 21. PMID: 27042982.
Q.
Gallbladder Health for Women 30-45: Signs & Your Next Steps
A.
Women 30 to 45 are at higher risk for gallstones; key signs include right upper abdominal pain after fatty meals that may radiate to the shoulder or back, plus nausea, bloating, and indigestion, and you should seek urgent care for fever, persistent severe pain, jaundice, dark urine, or pale stools. Next steps usually include a medical evaluation with ultrasound, diet and lifestyle adjustments, and considering laparoscopic removal if attacks recur. There are several factors to consider, including hormones, pregnancy, rapid weight changes, diet, and family history, so see below for complete details that can shape the safest plan for you.
References:
* Portincasa P, Di Ciaula A, Wang DQH. Gallstone disease: Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. Ann Transl Med. 2023 Mar 30;11(6):365. doi: 10.21037/atm-2022-49. PMID: 37199141; PMCID: PMC10188688.
* Wang DQH, Portincasa P. Hormones, Genetics, and Gallbladder Motility. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2021 May 1;55(5):371-379. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001509. PMID: 33502220; PMCID: PMC8047953.
* Shabanzadeh DM, Sørensen LT. Symptoms and complications of gallstone disease: a prospective population-based study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jan;52(1):153-159. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2016.1228519. PMID: 27606338.
* Portincasa P, Moschetta A, Palasciano G. Gallstone disease. Lancet. 2016 Sep 17;388(10052):1109-1121. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30501-9. PMID: 27599159.
* Anand G, Ma C, Chang M, Vuppalanchi R, Woreta TA, Li D, Lim JK, Singh S, Agrawal D. American Gastroenterological Association Clinical Practice Guideline on the Medical Management of Gallstones. Gastroenterology. 2024 Feb;166(2):331-344. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.10.026. Epub 2023 Nov 2. PMID: 37924765.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Gore JM. Cholelithiasis. JAAPA. 2013 Dec;26(12):54-5. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000438244.25450.34. PMID: 24270037.
https://journals.lww.com/jaapa/Citation/2013/12000/Cholelithiasis.12.aspxStokes CS, Lammert F. Transporters in cholelithiasis. Biol Chem. 2012 Jan;393(1-2):3-10. doi: 10.1515/BC-2011-226. PMID: 22628294.
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/BC-2011-226/htmlAmerican College of Gastroenterology
https://gi.org/topics/gallstones-in-women/