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Can Gallstones Cause Cramps?

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Posted on Wed, 16 Sep 2015
Question: Can gallstones cause cramps? I have been having cramps titht side for two days. I konpw i have galsstones, but are cramps a sign of bile duct blockage?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes the gall stones can block the ducts causing pain

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM. The pain is colicky meaning that it comes and goes due to most frequently a gall stone or sometimes sludge. So yes this could be a sign of bile duct blockage. An ultrasound can accurately tell if your gallbladder is inflamed and if in fact there is a stone blocking the ducts. I hope this answers your question. Good luck and feel free to direct any more questions to me.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (1 hour later)
The cramps are subsiding somewhat and I do not feel sick. No nausea, vomiting or fever. Could this just be episodic? Biliary colic instead of something g more serious like blockage or inflammation? A doctor I saw told me I would be in unbearable pain if gallbladder inflamed or duct.blocked. Do you concur? I don"t want to go to ER if I don't have to, The wait is so long and like I said I do not feel ill and no intense abdominal pain. Just cramps that are now lessening. Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes you are right, this could be episodic.

Detailed Answer:
Like I said, there may not even be a stone, normally if the pain is due to blockage you would not sleep at night, and really if you have pain that resolves on its own, we rather not intervene. I would just watch the pain and know that greasy foods will bring on the flare of the gallbladder. Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (3 minutes later)
Thank you. That is a relief. I know for sure I have gallstones. Ultrasound has shown that in past. But can you tell me what sludge is?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (2 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You are welcome, sludge is bile that has not formed a stone yet.

Detailed Answer:
This sludge is viscous enough to cause intermittent blockage of the bile ducts. So many times an ultrasound is done and does not find a stone but further imaging like CT scan or MRCP will detect sludge in the gall bladder and bile ducts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (40 hours later)
I have still having some recurring cramping pain and flare ups in the gall blader area. It comes and goes. at his has been three days now. On the positive side, no nausea, fever and still have my appetite. Pain is mild, and no problem sleeping at night. Also passing stools normally, and colour is normal. Given these symptoms, is it unlikely I have cholecystitis or blockage of bile duct? I can still go about my daily activities. I know it is not possible to know for sure without ultrasound, but it just seems unlikely that I would still want to eat, for example, if it was something really serious like inflamed gall bladder or bile duct blockage.

One other symptom, I hear sounds coming from gall bladder area sometimes. is that possible to hear, or am I really hearing noise from intestines such as gas?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Yes it is possible that you have colicky symptoms of gall bladder disease

Detailed Answer:
Yes the reason many people ignore/or rather live with gallbladder disease is that it comes and goes and they can go about their daily lives as long as they avoid certain foods. Also the sounds you are hearing are related to your bowels and not your gallbladder. Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (32 minutes later)
When you say colicky symptoms of gall bladder disease, do you mean episodic biliary colic? As opposed to cholecystitis or blockage of bile duct?

I just want to rule out as much as possible something more serious that would require an ER visit and maybe immediate surgery, I am taking a flight in one week so am a little worried about it being something more serious. At the same time, I don't want to spend 6 hours waiting in an ER,only to do an ultrasound that will show what I already know - that I have gallstones. And to do blood test. I hate being poked. Alway bruises my arm for days/weeks.

Am I right that my symptoms, not being sick and still having appetite, would suggest simple biliary colic?

it is odd about the noise - it is clearly coming from gall bladder area, right side beneath rib cage where the pain/cramps are. bowels are located there?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Colicky meaning episodic pain related to gallbladder disease.

Detailed Answer:
The colicky term means that the gallbladder becomes temporarily obstructed and you get the pain. It goes away and then returns again. This is unlike when one has a completely blockage with the stone and the pain does not obviously go away. Yes you are right that with your mild symptoms I would classify this as simple biliary colic. I agree that this sound is strange, your bowels are in your abdomen and the sound does travel from one side to the other, this could be your gall bladder but I cannot say that I have ever encountered this before.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (1 hour later)
The sound is a gurgling noise from time to time. Please see here:

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=0000AAyQKYs
"the noises are your gallbladder and digestive system trying unsuccessfully to break down ingested fats"

Does this statement above make sense to you?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sassen S Kwasa (53 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, indigestion can cause stomach noises, but not gallbladder.

Detailed Answer:
I can appreciate that the stomach is making noise due to indigestion for whatever reason and undigested fats, but for the gallbladder itself that is adhered to the liver to make the noises is far fetched to me, I could be wrong and an expert may have to anatomically provide better evidence and plausible explanation than stated on that excerpt.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Sassen S Kwasa

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 502 Questions

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Can Gallstones Cause Cramps?

Brief Answer: Yes the gall stones can block the ducts causing pain Detailed Answer: Welcome to HCM. The pain is colicky meaning that it comes and goes due to most frequently a gall stone or sometimes sludge. So yes this could be a sign of bile duct blockage. An ultrasound can accurately tell if your gallbladder is inflamed and if in fact there is a stone blocking the ducts. I hope this answers your question. Good luck and feel free to direct any more questions to me.