cholecystitis This is when the gallbladder (a pear-shaped digestive organ located on the right side of the abdomen, just below the liver) becomes inflamed and irritated. This condition is often a complication of gallstones and occurs when bile (digestive fluid) cannot drain properly from the gallbladder into the intestines. The buildup of bile can cause inflammation and cause symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating.
This condition is often chronic (long-term) and often progresses slowly. However, symptoms of acute (short-term) cholecystitis can develop quickly and may be a sign of a medical emergency. That means it's important to recognize the symptoms of this condition so you know when to seek treatment from a health care provider.
The main symptom of cholecystitis is abdominal pain. Although each person experiences pain differently, common characteristics include:
- Located in the upper right abdomen
- sharp or harsh
- It lasts from 30 minutes to several hours.
- It spreads to the middle of the back or below the right shoulder blade.
- It becomes duller, but lasts for a few weeks.
- Occurs at night or after eating
- Gets worse with deep breathing
- It occurs after eating fatty, greasy, or spicy foods.
It is worth noting that symptoms of chronic cholecystitis can come and go. Sometimes you may experience dull, persistent pain for several weeks, and other times you may experience no symptoms at all. However, acute cholecystitis causes sudden, sharper, more severe pain.
For some people, the pain can radiate into their chest and be so severe that it feels like they are having a heart attack.
Cholecystitis also affects your ability to digest food. Bile helps the body break down fat, so eating greasy or fatty foods can cause more bile to build up, causing inflammation. The following symptoms may appear along with abdominal pain:
- Bloating, especially after eating
- nausea and vomiting
- Trim (Trim)
- Flatulence (farting)
- clay-colored stools
- dark colored urine
- Food intolerance, especially to fatty, greasy, or spicy foods
- loss of appetite
There are several other symptoms that may accompany pain and digestive problems due to cholecystitis. These include:
- abdominal swelling
- Fever
- headache
- sweat
- Chills and shaking
- fatigue
- Muscle weakness, pain, and stiffness
- jaundice
People over 65 years of age are less likely to experience pain and fever from this condition. This can make it difficult for health care providers to detect the condition early and provide treatment options. Unfortunately, older adults are also at higher risk of developing this condition, so it's important to seek medical attention if you or a loved one experiences symptoms you don't normally experience.
If left untreated, cholecystitis can lead to serious and sometimes fatal complications. It is worth noting that these complications are rare. However, complications include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), a hole in the gallbladder, peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the abdomen), and trouble digesting food.
Symptoms of these complications include:
- fast heart rate
- Fever, chills, sweating
- headache
- dry cough
- stomach pain after eating
- decreased appetite, unintentional weight loss
- fatty or greasy stools
- abdominal swelling
- low blood pressure
- increased thirst
- Decreased urination, blood in the urine
- difficulty concentrating
Acute cholecystitis requires immediate treatment and can be a medical emergency. If you experience any of the characteristic signs of a cholecystitis attack, get help right away.
- sudden, sharp abdominal pain
- cramps that last more than a few hours
- bloating
- nausea and vomiting
- persistent fever
- loss of consciousness or fainting
If you develop symptoms or signs of infection despite receiving treatment, contact your health care provider.
Cholecystitis occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed and causes severe pain in the upper right abdomen. In addition to pain, this condition causes digestive symptoms such as bloating, nausea, and gas. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, so it is important to seek medical attention when symptoms appear.