Daily Health Care

Symptoms

A person with biliary colic usually complains of pain or a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen. This pain can occur in the center of the upper abdomen just below the breastbone or in the upper right abdomen near the gallbladder and liver. In some people, lower abdominal pain spreads to the right shoulder blade. Many also have nausea and vomiting.

Because symptoms of biliary colic usually are triggered by the demand of bile from the digestive system, these symptoms are especially common after eating fatty foods. Symptoms may also occur when a person who has been dieting and abruptly breaks it eats large amounts of food.

Diagnosis

After describing your symptoms, your doctor will perform a physical exam and pay particular attention to the upper right of your abdomen (the area where the liver and gallbladder). Ultrasound, the same painless procedure used to generate images of babies in the womb, can be used to create images of the abdomen, and look for gallstones. They may also have blood work done, especially if you have a fever or if the pain persists.

Duration

Most gallstones disappear after 1 to 5 hours. After the pain disappears, the abdomen may continue to hurt slightly for about 24 hours.

Possibility Related Posts:

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