Signs and symptoms

The most common presenting symptom of acute calculous cholecystitis is

 upper right-hand side of your abdomen.
 pain may spread towards your right shoulder
 Pain frequently begins in the epigastric region and then localizes to the right upper
quadrant (RUQ)
 Pain is usually persistent and does not go away within a few hours
Additional symptoms:
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 sweating
 Loss of appetite
 Bulge in the tummy
 malaise

Physical examination may reveal:

 Fever
 Tachycardia
 RUQ tenderness (often guarding or rebound)
 Palpable gallbladder or fullness of the RUQ (30%-40% of patients)
 Jaundice (~15% of patients)

NOTE: After a meal, especially one that is high in fat, symptoms will worsen.