Can your gallbladder have spasms

It is…. The gallbladder is a small organ tucked under the liver on the right side of the abdomen. Though small, it can cause serious problems when cholesterol…. Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder that usually occurs due to a gallstone getting stuck in the opening. It can be acute or chronic…. How do I recognize gallbladder inflammation? Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.

Symptoms Complications Causes The gallbladder is a pear-shaped digestive organ located on the right side of the abdomen. Share on Pinterest Gallbladder inflammation can occur as a result of gallstones. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

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Juliet, TN Gallbladder Attack Symptoms Typically, a gallbladder attack looks like a sharp pain in the upper right or upper middle section of your abdomen. Cholecystitis koh-luh-si-stai-tuhs Redness, swelling, or inflammation of the gallbladder due to blockage of the bile duct from excess bile production or gallstones. Symptoms include: Severe pain that starts suddenly, in the upper right of your abdomen Pain that radiates to the back or below your right shoulder blade Bloating Nausea Vomiting Chills Fever Sweating Abdominal cramping Jaundice yellowing skin Cholecystitis can also cause a yellowing of the whites of the eyes.

Acute Cholecystitis The most obvious sign of acute cholecystitis is the sudden onset of intense pain near the upper right of the abdomen, or under the right shoulder blade which radiates outward.

Choledocholithiasis In contrast to the previous condition, this type of vein disease occurs when a gallstone gets stuck in the bile duct. Symptoms include: Pain in the upper right abdomen Fever Yellowing eyes Yellowing skin Appetite loss Nausea and vomiting Light, grey, or clay-colored stools Dark-colored or tea-colored urine.

Fever If you notice sudden fevers after a gallbladder attack, you should seek help immediately. Jaundice With your gallbladder backed up, the excess bile can work its way into your bloodstream. Loss of Appetite The bile produced by the gallbladder breaks down fats during digestion. Diarrhea, Discolored Stools, and Urine Frequent bowel movements, light-colored stools, and dark-colored urine can all be signs of gallbladder problems.

The liver continually makes bile, which is stored in the gallbladder until you eat. When you consume food, the stomach releases a hormone that causes the muscles around the gallbladder to contract and release the bile. Bile helps break down fat during digestion. Some of those substances, such as cholesterol, can pack together and form gallstones ranging in size from that of a grain of sand to a golf ball.

When gallstones get stuck while traveling through the duct tube to the stomach, they block the outflow of bile, which causes the gallbladder to spasm. This usually leads to sharp pain, like being cut by a knife, under the rib cage in the upper right side or center of the abdomen. The pain can be so severe that it takes your breath away. You might mistake it for a heart attack, says Efron. Pancreatitis is a severe swelling and irritation of the pancreas.

It may cause stomach pain around the belly button and pain in the left side under the ribs. Symptoms that go along with the belly pain include:. Your healthcare provider may think you have SOD if you have recurrent pancreatitis or bouts of stomach pain after your gallbladder was taken out. Your provider may also consider SOD if you have severe belly pain after recovering from a gastric bypass surgery. So it is very important to do testing to find out if you truly have the condition.

These tests may include:. Blood tests. These are done to check for higher-than-normal liver or pancreatic enzymes. This imaging test may be done to look at the bile duct, liver, or pancreas. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography MRCP. This is an imaging study of the bile and pancreatic ducts. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP.

This test looks directly inside the duct system while getting X-ray images, taking visual pictures, and measuring pressure. Endoscopic Ultrasound EUS. This internal ultrasound is done during an upper GI gastrointestinal exam.

It uses a thin tube endoscope that is put into the mouth, down into the stomach, and into the first part of the small intestine. This test gives very detailed images. It is able to look for causes of pain such as chronic pancreatitis.

Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid HIDA scan. This is a special type of scan that looks at the drainage out of the biliary system. Treatment of SOD depends on the type you have. It also depends on how bad your symptoms are. Your healthcare provider may advise:.