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Key points
- Gallstones are hard deposits in the gallbladder, symptoms include back pain, right shoulder pain, nausea, and abdominal pain.
- Causes of gallstones include excess cholesterol or bilirubin in bile, improper gallbladder emptying, obesity, rapid weight loss, hormonal changes, diet, genetics, age, gender, and certain medical conditions.
- Gallstones can be treated by surgery to remove the gallbladder, medications to dissolve the stones, or sound wave therapy to break them up, depending on the patient's condition.
- Despite the removal of the gallbladder, the liver continues to produce bile for digestion, enabling normal life without the organ.
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Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form in your gallbladder—a tiny organ located near your liver. This article will walk you through the basics of gallstones, including what they are, the symptoms you might experience, why they form and the various ways they can be treated. Whether you’re just curious or looking for answers, we’re breaking down what causes these rocky formations, when to see a doctor, and what you can expect from treatment.
Gallstone symptoms: What to watch for
When gallstones start causing problems, they can trigger a variety of symptoms that might seem confusing at first. Below are some signs to look out for, as listed by MedlinePlus, that can help you recognize when your body might be trying to tell you something is off with your gallbladder:
- Back pain between shoulder blades
- Pain in the right shoulder
- Nausea or vomiting
- Intense pain in the upper right abdomen
- Sharp pain in the central abdomen (below the breastbone)
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What causes gallstones?
Gallstones don't form overnight — they're like tiny crystals that slowly build up in your gallbladder over time, much like how stalactites form in caves. While these hardened deposits can range from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball, understanding what causes them is crucial for prevention. Several factors can set the stage for gallstone formation, and often, it's a combination of these factors rather than a single cause:
Causes of gallstones
- Excess cholesterol in bile: When bile contains more cholesterol than it can dissolve, the extra cholesterol forms crystals that eventually become stones
- High bilirubin levels in bile: Too much bilirubin (a chemical produced when red blood cells break down) can lead to pigment gallstones
- Improper gallbladder emptying: When the gallbladder doesn't empty completely or often enough, bile becomes concentrated and more likely to form stones
- Obesity or rapid weight loss: Being overweight increases cholesterol in bile; quick weight loss can trigger the liver to secrete extra cholesterol
- Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills can increase cholesterol levels and reduce gallbladder emptying
- Diet: High-fat, high-cholesterol diets and low-fiber diets can increase risk
- Genetics: Family history can increase susceptibility to gallstones
- Age and gender: Risk increases with age, and women are more likely to develop gallstones
- Medical conditions: Diabetes, cirrhosis and certain blood disorders can increase risk
How to treat gallstones?
When gallstones start causing problems, treating them isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, according to MedlinePlus. They explain that your doctor will recommend different treatments based on your symptoms, the size of your stones and your overall health. While some people might never need treatment for their gallstones, others may require immediate medical attention to prevent serious complications.
For most people with painful or problematic gallstones, surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is the most common and effective treatment. This might sound scary, but it's actually one of the most routine surgical procedures performed today. The surgery is usually done laparoscopically, meaning through small incisions, which leads to faster recovery times and less scarring. Surprisingly, you can live normally without a gallbladder — your liver will still produce bile, which will flow directly into your small intestine to help digest fats.
For patients who can't or don't want to have surgery, MedlinePlus notes that there are other options, though they're less common. Medications that dissolve gallstones exist, but they work very slowly (it could take months or years), and the stones might return once treatment stops. Some doctors might recommend sound wave therapy (lithotripsy) to break up stones, but this is rarely used and only works for certain types of stones. The key is to work with your healthcare provider to find the treatment approach that best fits your situation.
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FAQs
What are the symptoms of gallstones?
Symptoms of gallstones can include back pain between the shoulder blades, pain in the right shoulder, nausea or vomiting, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, and sharp pain in the central abdomen below the breastbone.
What factors contribute to the formation of gallstones?
Gallstones can form due to a variety of factors including excess cholesterol in bile, high bilirubin levels in bile, improper gallbladder emptying, obesity or rapid weight loss, hormonal changes, diet, genetics, age and gender, and certain medical conditions like diabetes and cirrhosis.
How are gallstones typically treated?
The most common and effective treatment for painful or problematic gallstones is surgery to remove the gallbladder, also known as a cholecystectomy. This procedure is usually done laparoscopically, which leads to faster recovery times and less scarring. Other less common treatment options include medications that dissolve gallstones and sound wave therapy to break up stones.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
Yes, you can live normally without a gallbladder. After the gallbladder is removed, your liver will still produce bile, which will flow directly into your small intestine to help digest fats.
When should I see a doctor for gallstones?
You should see a doctor for gallstones if you experience symptoms such as back pain between the shoulder blades, pain in the right shoulder, nausea or vomiting, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, and sharp pain in the central abdomen below the breastbone. It's important to seek medical attention to prevent serious complications.
Dr. Linda Halbrook is a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with over 40 years of experience, dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients across Texas. She retired from practice but currently serves on the Clinical Services Committee of CommonGood Medical, a non-profit organization serving the uninsured in Collin County.
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Medically reviewed
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Sources
3 sources
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
- Choledocholithiasis. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000274.htm
- Gallstones. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/gallstones.html
- Gallbladder Disease. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/gallbladderdiseases.html
3 sources
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
- Choledocholithiasis. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000274.htm
- Gallstones. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/gallstones.html
- Gallbladder Disease. (February 5, 2025)
https://medlineplus.gov/gallbladderdiseases.html
