Gallstones are small stones that form in the gallbladder or the bile ducts, the tubes that carry bile to the small intestine. They usually don't cause symptoms unless they block the opening to the gallbladder. If that happens, you may have pain in the upper right part of your belly.
Most people who have gallstones don't have symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include:
Pain can last 15 minutes to 24 hours. Continuous pain for 1 to 6 hours is common. The pain may begin at night and be severe enough to wake you. Pain often starts after eating food that is high in fat. The pain usually makes it hard to get comfortable. Moving around doesn't make the pain go away.
Gallstones develop when cholesterol and other substances in the bile form crystals that become hard stones in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac located just under the liver. Gallstones can form when too much cholesterol is in the bile or when the gallbladder does not empty properly.
Gallstones form when cholesterol and other substances found in the bile form crystals that become hard stones in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac found just under the liver. Gallstones can also form if your gallbladder doesn't empty as it should. Or they can form if you have too much cholesterol in your bile. Too much cholesterol in your bile isn't caused by eating too much cholesterol or having high cholesterol (in the blood).
Being overweight, having obesity, or losing weight quickly may increase the risk of developing gallstones.
Most doctors believe that even microscopic gallstones in the gallbladder can cause symptoms. These tiny stones can form a type of sediment called biliary sludge. It often can be seen on an ultrasound of the belly.
You can try to reduce your risk of forming gallstones.
If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam.
The most common test is an abdominal ultrasound. A technologist moves a wand across your belly to create pictures on a screen. Blood tests may be done to find out if gallstones are causing other serious problems or if your symptoms are caused by something else.
If you do have symptoms and your first gallstone attack causes pain, your doctor may tell you to take pain medicine and wait to see if the pain goes away. You may never have another attack. Waiting to see what happens usually won't cause problems.
If you have a second attack, you may want to have your gallbladder removed, called Cholecystectomy A second attack means you're more likely to have future attacks. Many people have their gallbladders removed. And the body works fine without a gallbladder.
If you have small gallstones and can't have surgery, you may be able to try medicines that break down gallstones.
Gallstones can cause many different problems, such as: