Symptoms of gallstones

Gallstones are common and often do not cause symptoms. But if a gallstone blocks a bile duct (a small tube that connects the gallbladder to the liver and other organs), they can cause tummy pain.

The pain may:

• feel severe
• be constant
• last longer than 30 minutes, and up to several hours
• be in the middle of your tummy, or just under your ribs on the right side
• make you feel sick or vomit

This tummy pain is called a biliary colic.

How gallstones are diagnosed

If you do not have symptoms, gallstones may be found by chance at a scan or X-ray for another health issue.

If you have symptoms of gallstones, you may have:

• an ultrasound scan
• a blood test