Pale Stools

Hello there,

In the past year I was diagnosed with gallstones. I've never had any symptoms associated with typical gallstone attacks and so I was content just to let the situation rest, without considering surgery (I'm not a fan of having unnecessary surgery if I can help it). However, over the past two days I've had two bowel movements where the stools are very pale in colour, almost white. Since I know this can be a symptom of the bile duct being blocked by a gallstone, I have some idea of why this is happening.

My question is, if my bile duct is blocked by a gall stone, why do I not have any pain? I have no pain after eating and no abdominal or back pain that would tell me this is going on. Is it possible to have a bile duct blocked without any pain?

Thanks for your time and advice.

[Sassoon]

Does anyone have a suggestion?

[tetleytea]

I know that it is most definitely possible to have a biliary duct blocked with no pain.   But after a little while, you should start seeing several symptoms of cholestasis.   The really bad pain occurs when the gall stones are in your gall bladder, and then your gall bladder starts contracting.   I thought I had gall stones myself for a long time; turns out I was wrong.

[Sassoon]

Thank you for your response. It's good to hear other people's experiences.