Belly Pain
The gallbladder is a sac-like storage compartment filled with bile produced by the liver. The gallbladder releases bile via the cystic duct, a process which starts digestion of food (mainly fats). In most cases, the gallbladder is ignored unless the flow of bile is interrupted (slows down or gets blocked) which results in a lot of pain.
The most evident symptom of gallstones is pain which starts under the ribs, in the upper right side of the stomach. This type of belly pain radiates outwards and moves slowly to the upper back or center of the stomach. Gallstone-related belly pain lasts for approximately 15 minutes although there are patients who have recorded consistent or lingering pain that lasts for hours. In severe cases, the belly pain can wake you up from your sleep.
