The main symptom of acute cholecystitis is a sudden, sharp pain in the upper right-hand side of your tummy or abdomen (often worse with deep breaths). This pain spreads towards your back or below your right shoulder blade. Pain may initially be “colicky” (it is NOT a true colic) but almost always becomes constant.
The affected part of the tummy is usually very tender, and breathing deeply can make the pain worse. Unlike other types of abdominal pain, the pain of acute cholecystitis is usually persistent and does not go away within a few hours.
Acute Cholecystitis symptoms often occur after a meal, particularly a large or fatty one. Some people may have additional symptoms, such as:
- A high temperature (fever)
- Feeling sick
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- A bulge in the tummy
- Loose, light-colored bowel movements
- Belly bloating
The symptoms of cholecystitis may look like other health problems. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you develop sudden and severe abdominal pain, particularly if it lasts longer than a few hours or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as jaundice and a high temperature.