How long does a gallbladder attack last, and when is it urgent?
A gallbladder attack usually lasts thirty minutes to a few hours, then settles. It is a steady building pain under the right ribs or in the upper middle belly, often after a fatty meal, and it comes in episodes with normal days in between.
It typically comes in episodes, fine between attacks.
Pain with fever, yellowing of the eyes, or attacks lasting beyond a few hours needs same-day care. Recurrent classic attacks with stones on ultrasound usually earn a surgical conversation, because attacks tend to keep returning.
Source: NHS, gallstones
See a doctor promptly if
- Gallbladder-type pain lasting more than five hours, or pain with fever and chills
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or pale stools alongside the pain
- Severe upper belly pain with repeated vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down
- Pain boring straight through to the middle of the back, with a very unwell feeling
- Any doubt between gallbladder pain and heart pain, especially with sweating, breathlessness or arm or jaw pain
- Confusion, drowsiness, a fast heartbeat, or shaking chills with upper belly pain
Try the symptom diary10 seconds a day, free, nothing to installWhether this is the third time this year or the first changes what a doctor does next, and a dated list settles it in seconds.
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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