One of the most common symptoms of a gallbladder attack, or other gallbladder problems, is gallbladder nausea. This nauseous feeling is something that, while possibly an indication of something else, may also be caused by some problem in the gallbladder.
Gallbladder – Overview
The gallbladder is a small sac-like organ that is on the underside of the liver on the right side of the abdomen. The function of the gall bladder is simple. It stores bile from the liver before it is secreted into the intestines. This bile is what helps the body metabolize and digest the fats in the food that is eaten.
Major Gallbladder Problem
The biggest problem that might occur with the gallbladder is in the form of gallstones. Within the gallbladder, several different components make up the bile. They are cholesterol, bile salt, and bilirubin. When the gallbladder is not functioning the way that it should, these components are left behind and form small crystallized stones.
These gallstones can create a large problem if they block off the bile ducts to the intestines. This blockage will cause severe pain as well as gallbladder nausea. However, it is not the only reason for the pain. Many times it is the actual problem with the gallbladder that causes the formation of the stones, which will be causing pain and gallbladder nausea.
Gallbladder Disease
There are several different types of gallbladder disease. Some of them carry different symptoms, but they are all associated with gallbladder-induced nausea.
Biliary Colic
For many patients who do have symptoms of a gallbladder attack, this is the most common. This disease causes severe pain in the upper right area of the abdomen. The pain can last for as little as 15 min. or up to several hours at a time. It is a radiating pain that can move its way around to the back and even up to
the right shoulder.
Gallbladder Nausea
Besides the pain or Biliary Colic, there is also an intense feeling of nausea. This nauseous feeling can be associated with vomiting and dizziness. If you have had some sort of abdominal pain associated with chronic nausea then you may be experiencing some sort of gallbladder problem.
What To Do About Gallbladder Nausea
Many people suffer from chronic nausea for many years. This can start in the early twenties and continue for several years. Your doctor will probably order several tests such as a HIDA scan, ultrasound, CT scan, and even endoscopy. These will tell the doctor if you have a gallbladder problem, such as polyps, or if there is something else wrong.
If you find out that your nausea is associated with your gallbladder, the doctor will elect to remove it. This should not cause any alarm as you can function normally without the gallbladder with a few changes in your diet.
Common Gall Bladder Problems
There are a few different problems that can afflict the gallbladder, the first, and most common of which, is gallstones. A gallstone is a small pebble-like deposit that forms inside the ball bladder. A lot of the time you will not even know you have gallstones. They can range in size from a grain of salt to as large as a golf ball. These deposits become a problem when they can either travel into the intestines and block them, or block the bile duct within the gall bladder itself.
Gallstones can be removed in one of two ways. They can pass themselves which will require no further medical follow-up. Another way to get rid of gallstones is to remove the gallbladder. This is mostly in extreme cases and after the gallstones have not passed for several days.
Another problem with the gall bladder is in the form of cancer. There are three different types of gall bladder cancer that can occur within the bile duct. There are different forms of treatment for this gall bladder problem which will require the removal of the gall bladder or even forms of radiation and chemotherapy.
Causes of Gall Bladder Problems
Gall bladder problems get their start within the body because of how we live our lives. They do not occur spontaneously, but rather from the way that we eat and live. Obesity, genetics, and our diet are common factors that might play a role in problems of the gall bladder.
However, just because you have some symptoms associated with gallbladder problems does not mean that you are suffering from a gallbladder attack. It may be something else. The digestive system is all interrelated and one symptom can be common to several different problems, or multiple problems at the same time.
Gallbladder Nausea Frequently Asked Questions
Supplements to Help with Gallbladder Nausea
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Is nausea a symptom of gallstones
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many different disorders and diseases, including gallstones.
The digestive tract is a “long hollow tube” that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus and turns food into nutrients. The nutrients are absorbed through the small intestine and the large intestine, and the leftover matter is expelled as feces.
Why do gallstones cause nausea?
Gallstones are stones that form within the gallbladder, a small organ located under the liver. These stones form when bile consists of too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or calcium salts, and not enough bile salts and lecithin. Gallstones also form when there is an imbalance between the rate bile is made and its fluidity. Because of this composition imbalance, nausea can be experienced, especially after a heavy fatty meal.
Does the gallbladder cause nausea after eating?
A person with gallstones may often eat greasy or fatty foods to avoid nausea. Fatty foods help coat the upper digestive tract and prevent nausea. Patients are also encouraged to eat smaller meals at more frequent intervals to avoid nausea.
How long does nausea last after gallbladder surgery?
About 10% of people who have their gallbladder removed develop nausea. The average length of time for this to occur is about 2 weeks. Sometimes it can be as late as 3-4 weeks, but this is rare.
Nausea after gallbladder surgery can last several days and be quite uncomfortable. Nausea caused by gallbladder problems can also be worsened by eating fatty foods, spicy foods, and certain other types of foods.
To avoid being nauseated, take in small meals until your body gets used to it. It is important to keep track of what you are eating and identify the foods that trigger nausea you. This way, you can avoid this food or take in small portions to lessen being nauseated.
What causes nausea after gallbladder surgery?
Nausea following gallbladder surgery is caused by irritation of the vagus nerve. This is the longest cranial nerve. It begins in the brainstem and exits through holes inside the skull. Hormones are carried along the vagus nerve, including those that affect appetite and nausea.
Nausea after gallbladder surgery is often treated with a medication called scopolamine. This is given by injection in the abdomen or buttocks, or by a patch placed behind the ear for 6-7 days after surgery.
Nausea after gallbladder surgery should go away on its own, but if it doesn’t you can ask your doctor to change the prescription or add another medication. It is common but can last some time. If you have nausea that doesn’t go away after 2 weeks, you should call your doctor.
Nausea following gallbladder surgery is caused by irritation of the vagus nerve, which is the longest cranial nerve. Hormones carried along this nerve affect appetite and nausea. Nausea following gallbladder surgery is usually treated with a medication called scopolamine. This is either injected into the abdomen or given as a behind-the-ear patch. Most cases of nausea after gallbladder surgery will disappear on their own.
Does vomiting relieve gallbladder pain?
One cause of upper right abdominal pain is a gallbladder attack. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine whether a “pain” is a gallbladder attack or something else. Abdominal pain alone is not a diagnosable condition, because there are too many other possibilities. The pain of a gallbladder attack is described as intense, gnawing, sickening pain that leaves one unable to do anything comfortably. The only diagnosis of a gallbladder attack is the resolution of the pain. If you vomit during an attack, it means that toxins are passing into your digestive tract. Vomiting relieves the pain of a gallbladder attack. If you don’t vomit, it probably isn’t a gallbladder attack.
Gallbladder attacks usually occur after a fatty meal and following it with lots of water to promote digestion and elimination. Gallstones become irritated by this process, and the irritation causes inflammation of the gallbladder. If enough toxins are released by the irritated gallstones to make you vomit, it’s an indication that you shouldn’t repeat the process often, if at all.
But is it always true that vomiting relieves biliary colic (gallbladder attack)? There is no unequivocal answer to this question. Some patients with biliary colic do indeed experience relief of symptoms after vomiting. But not all patients with biliary colic respond to vomiting, and the phenomenon of the relief of biliary pain by vomiting is not always seen during cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).