Is pain under my right ribs after eating my gallbladder?

← All patient questions

Short answer: It may be. Pain in the upper right or upper middle belly that starts after a meal, especially a fatty one, and lasts from about half an hour to several hours is a classic sign of gallstones. Other conditions can cause similar pain, so an exam and an ultrasound are the usual next steps.

What a gallbladder attack feels like

Steady pain under the right ribs or in the upper middle belly, often after eating
Pain that spreads to the right shoulder blade or back
Nausea or vomiting
Attacks that come and go, sometimes waking you at night

Why it happens

The gallbladder squeezes bile into the intestine to help digest fat. If a gallstone blocks its outlet, the gallbladder squeezes against the blockage and causes pain. If the blockage lasts, the gallbladder can become inflamed or infected (cholecystitis).

Other possible causes

Ulcers, reflux, liver problems, pancreatitis, kidney stones and even heart problems can cause pain in the same area. An ultrasound is the most common test for gallstones, and blood work checks the liver and pancreas.

Treatment

Once gallstones cause attacks, they tend to keep causing them. Removing the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the standard treatment, usually done with minimally invasive surgery through a few small incisions. Many patients go home the same day.

When to see a surgeon

Repeated pain attacks after meals
An ultrasound showing gallstones or sludge with symptoms
Bloating, nausea or indigestion after fatty foods along with pain

Get urgent care: Go to the ER for severe pain lasting several hours, pain with fever or chills, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Learn more: Gallbladder surgery in Port Charlotte

Talk with Dr. Tufts

Dr. Tufts is a minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon. To have your symptoms evaluated or talk through your options, call (941) 391-5102 to schedule a visit at Charlotte Harbor Surgical, 4245 Kings Hwy, Unit A, Port Charlotte, FL 33980. We see patients from Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, North Port, Englewood, Cape Coral and North Fort Myers and across Southwest Florida.

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Matthew Tufts, MD, FACS, a board-certified minimally invasive and endoscopic general surgeon in Port Charlotte, FL. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Every patient is different. Dr. Tufts will review your history, exam and test results with you and explain the options, benefits and risks that apply to you.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Tufts

Call Charlotte Harbor Surgical in Port Charlotte. Mon–Thu 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 noon.

Call (941) 391-5102 Patient portal