Gallstones often cause sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen or center, just below the breastbone, sometimes radiating to the back or right shoulder.

Common Sensations

This pain, known as biliary colic, feels sharp, cramping, or steady and builds rapidly, lasting minutes to hours—often striking after fatty meals and waking you at night.

Nausea, vomiting, bloating, and sweating frequently accompany it, mimicking food poisoning or heart issues.

Many report it as the worst pain they've endured, like labor or a stabbing knife.

When Painless

Up to 80% of gallstones are "silent" —no symptoms until one blocks a duct.

They might only show via routine scans, discovered incidentally.

Serious Warning Signs

Seek urgent care if pain persists beyond hours or adds:

  • Fever, chills, or jaundice (yellow skin/eyes).
  • Constant pain with rapid heartbeat or confusion—could signal infection, pancreatitis, or blockage.

"Pain in the right upper quadrant, which may shoot to the right side of the back or up to the right shoulder... may be mild or severe, sharp or crampy."

Forum Insights

On Reddit's r/gallbladders, users describe it vividly: "Like a knife twisting," "gas pain on steroids," or "full-body ache with burping bile."

One 2025 post asked, "Can gallstones really make you feel like this?" sparking shares of exhaustion and misdiagnosis as IBS.

Views differ—some manage with low-fat diets; others need surgery post-attack.

Trending Context

As of early 2026, gallstone discussions trend on health forums amid rising obesity links, with Mayo Clinic updates stressing early scans for at-risk groups (women, 40+, rapid weight loss).

Symptom| Typical Feel| Triggers/Duration 13
---|---|---
Abdominal Pain| Sudden, intense upper right/center| Fatty foods; 30 min–hours
Back/Shoulder Pain| Radiating ache| Same; episodic
Nausea/Vomiting| Queasy, retching| With pain attacks
Bloating| Full, gassy| Post-meal, chronic

TL;DR: Gallstones feel like abrupt, severe gut pain (upper right/center) with nausea, often after greasy food—silent until blockage; see a doc for fever/jaundice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.