EN
ES
UR
HI
Gallbladder Attacks
Gallbladder Attack Symptoms: What It Feels Like and When to Get Help
Recognizing Gallbladder Pain and Telling It Apart From Reflux, Gas, and Heart Trouble
A gallbladder attack is a bout of steady, intense pain in the upper abdomen, usually under the right ribs, that starts after a meal and often wakes people at night. It happens when a gallstone briefly blocks the gallbladder’s outlet. Most attacks fade within a few hours, but pain that lasts longer, or comes with fever or yellow skin, can signal a complication that needs emergency care.
This guide explains what an attack feels like, how it differs from look-alikes, what to do when one starts, and what happens next. It comes from the office of Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist who evaluates gallbladder pain in Katy and Sugar Land for patients across Greater Houston. For the underlying condition, see gallstones: symptoms and treatment; for the operation, see our main gallbladder surgery page.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, general surgeon who evaluates gallbladder attacks in Katy and Sugar Land, TX
- Dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery, 2026 (see listing)
- Highly reviewed: rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Specialized in gallbladder pain evaluation, laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder removal, and liver, bile duct, and pancreatic surgery
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say About Gallbladder Care
Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Real experiences from patients treated in Katy and Sugar Land.
Jump to a section
- At a glance
- What is a gallbladder attack?
- What an attack feels like
- Timing, triggers, and duration
- Simple attack or complication?
- Heart attack and other look-alikes
- What to do during an attack
- How attacks are diagnosed
- After an ER visit
- When surgery is recommended
- Meet your surgeon
- What gallbladder removal involves
- Diet and prevention
- Patient reviews
- Why choose us
- Insurance
- Locations
- FAQs
- Schedule a consultation
At a Glance
Gallbladder Attacks at a Glance
- What it is
- Biliary colic: pain caused when a gallstone temporarily blocks the gallbladder’s outlet, usually as the gallbladder squeezes after a meal.
- Where it hurts
- Upper right abdomen under the ribs, or the upper middle abdomen below the breastbone. Pain may spread to the right shoulder blade or back.
- Timing
- Often 30 minutes to 2 hours after a large or fatty meal, commonly in the evening or overnight.
- How long it lasts
- Usually 30 minutes to a few hours. Pain lasting more than about 5 to 6 hours suggests a complication.
- How it is confirmed
- Abdominal ultrasound and blood tests; a HIDA scan or other imaging in selected cases.
- Usual next step
- A surgical consultation, because one attack is often followed by more. Removing the gallbladder is the standard treatment for recurring attacks.
- Urgent warning signs
- Pain lasting hours, fever or chills, yellow skin or eyes, persistent vomiting, or chest pain or shortness of breath. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
- Where
- Offices in Katy and Sugar Land, TX. Call 713-955-9191.
The Basics
What Is a Gallbladder Attack?
A gallbladder attack is an episode of pain that occurs when a gallstone blocks the narrow outlet of the gallbladder. Doctors call this biliary colic. The pain eases once the stone falls back or moves on and bile can drain again.
The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores bile and squeezes it into the intestine after you eat. When it contracts against a stone lodged in its neck, pressure builds and pain follows. That is why attacks are tied so closely to meals. Learn more about what the gallbladder does.
An attack is a warning sign, not a one-time event. Most people who have one attack will have more, and some go on to develop inflammation of the gallbladder, a blocked bile duct, or pancreatitis.
Attacks Without Gallstones
Some people have identical attacks but no stones on ultrasound. A gallbladder that empties poorly, called biliary dyskinesia, can cause the same pattern of pain. A HIDA scan helps diagnose it.
Who Is More Likely to Have Attacks
Gallstones are more common in women, people over 40, people with obesity, during pregnancy, after rapid weight loss, and in those with a family history of gallstones. Anyone can have them, though, and many people with stones never have an attack. Review the early warning signs of gallbladder disease.
The Classic Pattern
What Does a Gallbladder Attack Feel Like?
A gallbladder attack usually feels like a steady, deep pain under the right ribs that builds over minutes and then holds at a plateau. It is often intense enough to stop you in your tracks. Nausea is common, and the pain may spread to the back or right shoulder.
Location
Most attacks are felt in the upper right abdomen, just under the ribs, where the gallbladder sits. Some people feel the pain in the upper middle abdomen, below the breastbone, which is why attacks are often mistaken for heartburn or a stomach problem. Pain frequently spreads to the right shoulder blade or between the shoulder blades. Read about back and shoulder pain from gallstones.
Character
Despite the name “colic,” the pain is usually constant rather than coming in waves, though some people describe cramping. Patients call it a squeezing, a tightness, a fullness, or a deep ache. It does not ease with changing position, passing gas, or having a bowel movement.
Symptoms That Often Come With It
- Nausea, which is very common
- Vomiting that does not relieve the pain
- Sweating or restlessness during the attack
- Bloating and a sense of fullness
- Pain radiating to the right shoulder or back
- Belching or indigestion before the pain builds
- Feeling completely normal between attacks
Pain that follows meals is one of the most recognizable features. Our article on gallbladder pain after eating explains why.
Timing and Triggers
When Do Gallbladder Attacks Happen, and How Long Do They Last?
Gallbladder attacks usually begin 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating and last from 30 minutes to a few hours. They are common in the evening and overnight, and they often wake people from sleep a few hours after dinner.
Common Triggers
Large meals and fatty or fried foods are the classic triggers, because fat is the strongest signal for the gallbladder to contract. An attack can also follow an ordinary meal, or come with no obvious trigger.
Typical Duration
A simple attack builds over minutes, plateaus, and fades over 30 minutes to a few hours as the stone shifts. Soreness under the ribs can linger for a day afterward.
When Duration Is a Warning
Pain lasting more than about 5 to 6 hours, pain that keeps worsening, or pain with fever suggests the gallbladder has become inflamed or a stone is stuck. That needs same-day medical evaluation.
Attacks are unpredictable. Some people have several in a week; others go months between episodes. The interval says little about the risk of the next one, so a quiet stretch is not a reason to skip evaluation.
Know the Difference
Simple Gallbladder Attack or a Serious Complication?
A simple attack goes away on its own within a few hours; a complication does not. When a stone stays stuck, it can inflame the gallbladder, block the bile duct, or trigger pancreatitis. These conditions share some symptoms with an ordinary attack, so the details below matter.
Biliary Colic (Simple Attack)
Steady upper right or upper middle pain after a meal that fades within a few hours. No fever, no yellowing, and you feel normal afterward. Needs a planned evaluation, not usually an ambulance.
Acute Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder from a stone that stays lodged. Pain persists for many hours or longer, the upper right abdomen is tender to touch, and fever, nausea, and vomiting are common. It usually requires hospital care. Learn the symptoms of acute cholecystitis.
Bile Duct Stone and Cholangitis
A stone that slips into the common bile duct can block bile flow, causing jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools. If the blocked duct becomes infected (cholangitis), fever, chills, and upper right pain follow. Cholangitis is an emergency.
Gallstone Pancreatitis
A stone blocking the shared outlet of the bile and pancreatic ducts can inflame the pancreas. Expect severe upper abdominal pain that bores through to the back, with vomiting, often lasting a day or more. It requires hospital treatment.
When to Call 911 or Go to the Emergency Room
Call 911 for chest pain, pressure or shortness of breath, and do not drive yourself. Go to the emergency department for abdominal pain lasting more than 5 to 6 hours, fever, yellow skin or eyes, persistent vomiting, or severe pain boring through to the back.
Telling Them Apart
Gallbladder Attack vs. Heart Attack, Reflux, and Other Look-Alikes
Several common problems cause pain in the same area as a gallbladder attack. These features usually help distinguish them, but none is foolproof, and a heart problem must never be ruled out at home.
vs. Heart Attack
A heart attack can feel like indigestion or upper abdominal pressure, especially in women, older adults, and people with diabetes. Chest pressure, shortness of breath, cold sweat, lightheadedness, or pain in the arm, neck, or jaw point toward the heart. If there is any doubt, call 911.
vs. Acid Reflux or Heartburn
Reflux burns behind the breastbone, rises toward the throat, is worse lying flat, and improves with antacids. A gallbladder attack is a steady ache or squeeze, often under the right ribs, that antacids do not touch. Compare gallbladder problems and acid reflux.
vs. Gas or Bloating
Gas pain moves around the abdomen, comes in waves, and eases with belching or passing gas. Gallbladder pain stays in one place, is constant during the attack, and is not relieved by passing gas.
vs. Stomach Ulcer or Gastritis
Ulcer pain is a gnawing or burning in the upper middle abdomen that may improve or worsen with food and often responds to acid-reducing medication. Gallbladder pain follows meals, radiates to the back or shoulder, and is unaffected by acid medication.
vs. Muscle or Rib Pain
Musculoskeletal pain is reproduced by pressing on the spot, twisting, or breathing deeply, and it is unrelated to meals. Gallbladder pain is deep, linked to eating, and often comes with nausea.
vs. Appendicitis
Appendicitis pain often starts near the navel and moves to the lower right abdomen, worsening steadily over hours. Gallbladder pain sits higher, under the right ribs. Both need prompt medical care when pain persists. Read about causes of right-side pain.
In the Moment
What to Do During a Gallbladder Attack
During a typical attack, stop eating, rest, and watch the clock and your symptoms. Most attacks settle on their own; your job is to notice quickly if this one is different.
- Stop eating. Food, especially fat, keeps the gallbladder contracting. Small sips of water are fine if you are not vomiting.
- Rest in whatever position is most comfortable. Movement and position changes rarely relieve gallbladder pain.
- Use acetaminophen if needed and if it is safe for you. Follow the label and any instructions from your own doctor.
- Note the time the pain starts and stops, where it is, and what you last ate.
- Seek emergency care if the pain lasts more than a few hours, keeps worsening, or any warning sign appears, including chest pain or shortness of breath.
- Arrange a consultation once the attack settles rather than waiting for the next one.
What Not to Do
- Do not drive yourself to the hospital if the pain is severe or you have chest symptoms
- Do not keep eating or drinking alcohol to “settle” the stomach
- Do not assume repeated antacids will work if the first dose did not
- Do not rely on gallbladder “flushes” or cleanses; they do not clear a blocked gallbladder
Keep a Simple Attack Log
Write down the date, time, duration, location of the pain, what you ate, and any fever, vomiting, or yellowing. This pattern is very helpful at your consultation and often makes the diagnosis clearer.
Diagnosis
How Gallbladder Attacks Are Diagnosed
A gallbladder attack is diagnosed by matching your symptom pattern with an abdominal ultrasound and blood tests. A history that fits the classic pattern is strongly suggestive. Testing confirms the cause and checks for complications.
Abdominal Ultrasound
The standard first test. It shows gallstones, thickening of the gallbladder wall, and fluid around the gallbladder, and it measures the bile duct. It is quick, painless, and uses no radiation.
Blood Tests
Liver enzymes and bilirubin rise if a stone is blocking the duct, white blood cell count rises with infection, and lipase rises with pancreatitis. Normal results with a typical history still fit uncomplicated gallstones.
HIDA Scan
A nuclear medicine scan used when symptoms are typical but ultrasound shows no stones, or when the diagnosis is unclear. It shows how well the gallbladder fills and empties.
Other Imaging When Needed
CT can reveal complications but may miss stones. MRI can show stones in the bile ducts. ERCP, an endoscopic procedure, is used selectively, often to remove a stone stuck in the common bile duct.
Once gallbladder disease is confirmed, a surgeon assesses whether removal is advisable, how soon, and by which approach. See when gallstones need treatment.
Next Steps
What Happens After an ER Visit for a Gallbladder Attack?
If the emergency room confirmed a simple attack and sent you home, the next step is a surgical follow-up, ideally before another attack. In the ER, you typically receive blood tests, an ultrasound, and medicine for pain and nausea, often with IV fluids.
If the ER finds cholecystitis, a bile duct stone, or pancreatitis, you are usually admitted to the hospital, and gallbladder removal is often planned during that stay or soon after. If you are sent home, return to the ER for fever, yellow skin or eyes, or pain lasting several hours. See what to do after the ER finds gallstones.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
- Ultrasound, CT, or HIDA scan reports and images
- Recent blood test results
- Your attack log: dates, food, duration, and location
- Your medication list, including blood thinners
- Discharge notes from any ER visits
- Your questions about surgery, recovery, and diet
Treatment Decisions
When Do Gallbladder Attacks Lead to Surgery?
Surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended once gallstones cause attacks, because further attacks and complications are likely. Repeated gallbladder attacks are the most common reason patients are referred for gallbladder removal.
Planning removal after an attack, as a scheduled same-day procedure, is a far smaller undertaking than an emergency operation on an inflamed or infected gallbladder. Not every patient needs surgery immediately, and Dr. Shakir will tell you if watching is reasonable in your case. Read more about whether gallstones always need surgery.
Situations That Usually Point to Surgery
- One or more typical attacks with gallstones on ultrasound
- A past episode of acute cholecystitis
- A stone in the bile duct, once the duct is cleared
- Gallstone pancreatitis, once the pancreas has settled
- Typical attacks with a poorly emptying gallbladder on HIDA scan, in selected cases
Why Diet Alone Is Not a Long-Term Fix
Eating smaller, lower-fat meals may make attacks less frequent while you arrange evaluation. It does not dissolve stones or remove the risk of a complication. Medicines that dissolve gallstones work only for some stones, take months to years, and stones can return.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your Gallbladder Surgeon
Murtaza Shakir, MD
Board-Certified General Surgeon & Surgical Oncologist
Gallbladder attack evaluation at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas is led by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, who is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology. Patients with unexplained upper abdominal pain, including those who have been to the emergency room more than once without a clear answer, are a regular part of his practice.
Board certification
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
Medical degree
Aga Khan University
Residency
General Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Fellowship
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Surgical practice includes
Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery (2026). Learn more about our general surgery services.
If You Need Surgery
What Gallbladder Removal Involves
If surgery is recommended, it is almost always laparoscopic or robotic, performed through several small incisions, and most patients go home the same day. Most people return to normal activity within one to two weeks. Open surgery is reserved for situations where a minimally invasive approach is not safe.
After removal, the liver keeps making bile, which flows directly into the intestine, and attacks from the gallbladder stop. For details, see our gallbladder removal recovery guide and the main gallbladder surgery page. To compare approaches, read robotic vs. laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
Prevention
Can Diet Help Prevent Gallbladder Attacks?
A healthy eating plan and a healthy weight can lower the risk of developing gallstones, but no diet reliably stops attacks once stones are causing symptoms. Mainstream guidance from the National Institutes of Health is simple and practical.
- Eat more high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, and whole grains
- Eat fewer refined carbohydrates and less sugar
- Choose healthier fats, such as olive oil and fish oil, and limit fried foods and rich desserts
- Stay physically active to reach and maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid losing weight too quickly; very low-calorie diets raise gallstone risk
Talk with your doctor before making major changes to your diet, especially if you are planning significant weight loss.
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Surgical Associates of Southern Texas for Gallbladder Pain?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology and evaluates gallbladder pain at offices in Katy and Sugar Land.
- A clear diagnosis before any discussion of surgery
- Answers for patients after repeat ER visits
- Experience with bile duct stones, cholecystitis and pancreatitis
- Laparoscopic and robotic removal, usually same-day
- Consultations, test review and follow-up in Katy and Sugar Land
Insurance Coverage
Insurance for Gallbladder Pain Evaluation
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts many major insurance plans for gallbladder attack evaluation and surgery, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Our office can confirm whether your specific plan participates and whether a referral or prior authorization is needed before your visit.
Coverage, network participation, authorization requirements, and your share of the cost vary by plan. You can also review the insurance accepted for surgical care at our practice.
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are only some of the plans we accept. Plan-specific details are on our Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield pages. If your plan is not listed, contact our office and our team will help verify it.
Insurance participation and benefits vary by individual plan. Verification does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurer to verify benefits before treatment.
Our Locations
Two Convenient Fort Bend County Offices
Learn more about our Katy and Sugar Land practices, or view all locations.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Serves: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cinco Ranch and West Houston
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Serves: Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston
Approximate Drive Times
From West Houston (Energy Corridor): about 15 minutes to Katy, or 25 to 30 minutes to Sugar Land.
From North Houston: about 40 to 50 minutes to either office, depending on traffic.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Gallbladder Attacks
What does a gallbladder attack feel like?
A steady, intense ache or squeezing in the upper right or upper middle abdomen, often spreading to the right shoulder blade or back. It usually starts after a meal, comes with nausea, builds over minutes, and holds for 30 minutes to a few hours.
How long does a gallbladder attack last?
Typically 30 minutes to a few hours. Pain lasting more than about 5 to 6 hours, or pain with fever, suggests inflammation of the gallbladder and needs prompt medical evaluation.
Where is gallbladder pain felt?
Most often in the upper right abdomen just under the ribs, sometimes in the upper middle abdomen below the breastbone. It can spread to the right shoulder blade or between the shoulder blades.
Can I have a gallbladder attack in the middle of the night?
Yes. Night-time attacks are common, often a few hours after an evening meal, and they frequently wake people from sleep.
How can I tell gallbladder pain from acid reflux?
Reflux burns behind the breastbone, rises toward the throat, is worse lying down, and improves with antacids. Gallbladder pain is a steady ache, often under the right ribs, that radiates to the back or shoulder and does not respond to antacids.
Can a gallbladder attack feel like a heart attack?
Yes, the two can overlap, and a heart attack can feel like indigestion or upper abdominal pressure. Chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, or pain in the arm, neck, or jaw need a 911 call, not a wait-and-see approach.
When should I go to the ER for gallbladder pain?
Go if pain lasts more than about 5 to 6 hours or keeps worsening, or if it comes with fever, chills, jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, persistent vomiting, or severe pain boring through to the back. Call 911 for chest pain or shortness of breath.
What should I do during a gallbladder attack?
Stop eating, rest, and use acetaminophen if needed and safe for you. Note when the pain starts and stops. If it lasts more than a few hours or any warning sign appears, seek emergency care, and arrange a consultation once it settles.
Will gallbladder attacks go away on their own?
Each attack usually settles within hours, but the stones remain. Most people who have one attack will have more, and some develop complications such as cholecystitis or pancreatitis.
Does a gallbladder attack mean I need surgery?
A typical first attack usually leads to a surgical consultation, because further attacks and complications are likely. Whether and when to operate is an individual decision made with your surgeon.
Sources and references
- Symptoms & Causes of Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Diagnosis of Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Gallstones, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Acute cholecystitis, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Reviewed by the Review Team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For abdominal pain lasting several hours, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, chest pain, or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.
Schedule a Gallbladder Pain Consultation
Had episodes of upper abdominal pain after meals, or ER visits for pain that was never fully explained? Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Murtaza Shakir to learn whether your pain fits a gallbladder attack, which tests you need and whether removal is advisable. Offices in Katy and Sugar Land serve Richmond, Fulshear and Greater Houston.
Contact us now