Gallbladder Stones: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

When gallbladder stones, hard deposits that form in the gallbladder from bile components like cholesterol and bilirubin. Also known as biliary calculi, they can slip into the bile duct and block the flow of digestive juices, leading to sharp pain and serious complications. These stones aren’t rare — about 10 to 15% of adults in the U.S. have them, and many never know until they start hurting.

Not all gallbladder stones cause problems. Some people live with them for years without symptoms. But when they do, the pain is hard to ignore: sudden, intense pressure under the right rib cage, often after eating fatty food, lasting hours. You might also feel nauseous, throw up, or notice your skin or eyes turning yellow — a sign the stone has blocked the bile duct. This isn’t just an upset stomach. It’s your body signaling something’s wrong with how your liver and gallbladder are working together.

What causes these stones? It’s usually a mix of things. Too much cholesterol in bile, not enough bile salts, or a gallbladder that doesn’t empty right. Being overweight, having diabetes, losing weight too fast, or being over 40 raises your risk. Women are more likely to get them, especially after pregnancy or hormone therapy. And if your family has a history of gallstones, you’re more likely to get them too.

Doctors usually spot them with an ultrasound — simple, painless, and accurate. Blood tests can check for signs of infection or liver stress. If the stones aren’t causing trouble, you might not need treatment right away. But if you’re in pain, or the stones are blocking ducts, you’ll need to act. The most common fix is removing the gallbladder. It’s a routine surgery, done laparoscopically, and most people go home the same day. You don’t need your gallbladder to digest food — your liver just sends bile straight to your intestines instead.

Some people try to dissolve stones with pills, but it takes months, doesn’t work for everyone, and the stones often come back. Shockwave therapy? It’s outdated and rarely used now. Lifestyle changes help prevent new stones: eat more fiber, cut back on fried food and sugar, stay active, and avoid rapid weight loss. If you’ve had one stone, you’re at higher risk for more — so managing your diet matters long-term.

What you won’t find in most guides: gallbladder stones can mimic heart attack pain, especially in older adults or women. That’s why it’s easy to get misdiagnosed. If you’re having chest tightness, sweating, or pain that spreads to your shoulder — and you’ve had gallbladder issues before — don’t assume it’s just indigestion. Get checked.

The posts below cover real stories and science behind gallbladder stones, from how they form to what happens after surgery. You’ll find guides on managing pain without surgery, what to eat after your gallbladder is gone, and how to avoid the mistakes people make when they’re first diagnosed. Some posts talk about medications that can trigger stones, others about how other conditions like diabetes or obesity make them worse. This isn’t just theory — it’s what people actually deal with, and what works when the pain hits.