What is gallstones?

Gallstones are stones that form in the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small sac located just under the liver. It stores bile released by the liver. Bile helps you digest fats.

Gallstones form when cholesterol and other substances found in bile make stones. They can also form if the gallbladder doesn't empty as it should.

Gallstones can also form in the common bile duct or cystic duct. These tubes carry bile from the gallbladder and the liver to the small intestine.

Sometimes a thick material called "sludge" forms instead of stones. This can cause the same problems as gallstones.

If stones or sludge block a duct, treatment is usually needed.

Most people who have gallstones don't have symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include:

• Pain in the pit of your stomach or in the upper right part of your belly. It may spread to your right upper back or shoulder blade area.
• Pain that may come and go or be steady. It may get worse when you eat.
• Fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting if a gallstone is blocking a bile duct and causing an infection.
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes.

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.

If you have symptoms, your doctor will do a physical exam. The doctor will ask you questions about when the pain in your belly started, where it is, and if it comes and goes or is always there. If your doctor thinks you have gallstones, your doctor may order imaging tests or blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.

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 don't have symptoms, you probably don't need treatment.

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. 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.

• Rest until you feel better.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Avoid foods that cause symptoms, especially fatty foods. These can make the gallbladder tighten and cause pain.