Gallbladder Stones: A Patient Guide to Symptoms, Surgery and Life After

Medically reviewed by Dr Saurabh Bansal, MBBS, DNB (Surgery), FNB (Minimal Access Surgery), FALS (Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery), trained in robotic surgery (Intuitive), Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery (Taiwan). Delhi Medical Council (DMC) Reg. No. 37887. GI, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon at THE CLINICS, Hauz Khas & Green Park, New Delhi; areas of practice include gallbladder and wider GI surgery, GERD, hiatus hernia, colorectal and hernia surgery. Visiting surgeon at Apollo, Apollo Spectra and National Heart Institute. Last updated: 18 October 2026

In short: Gallstones that cause pain or complications are usually treated by removing the gallbladder with keyhole surgery (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), while stones found by chance that cause no symptoms often do not need surgery straight away. Many people go home the same or next day and return to desk work within one to two weeks. You can digest food and live normally without a gallbladder.

Many people in Delhi first hear about gallstones by accident. An ultrasound for something else shows "cholelithiasis". Others find out after a night of severe pain they assumed was gas or acidity. Either way, the same questions follow: Do I need surgery? Can the stones be dissolved? Can I live normally without a gallbladder? This guide answers them in plain English. For an overview of the treatment we offer, see our gallbladder stone surgery page.

What are gallstones?

The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores and concentrates bile, a digestive fluid made by the liver. After a meal, especially a fatty one, it squeezes bile into the intestine. Gallstones form when substances in bile, mainly cholesterol or bile pigment, harden into solid pieces. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, and there may be one or many. "Sludge" is thickened bile that can behave in a similar way.

Gallstones are more common in women, with age, during or after pregnancy, with excess weight or rapid weight loss, with diabetes, and when they run in the family. They can also occur in slim, young people.

Silent stones vs symptomatic stones

Many people have gallstones that never cause symptoms. These are called silent or asymptomatic stones. In most such cases, surgery is not routinely needed, and your doctor may simply advise you to watch for symptoms. There are exceptions your surgeon may discuss, such as an abnormal-looking gallbladder wall or a sizeable polyp.

Once stones start causing symptoms, they tend to keep doing so, and the risk of complications rises. This is the main reason surgery is advised for symptomatic gallstones.

Symptoms of gallstones

The classic symptom is biliary colic: steady, often severe pain in the upper right or upper middle abdomen. It typically:

• starts after a meal, often in the evening or at night

• lasts from around half an hour to several hours

• spreads to the back or right shoulder blade

• comes with nausea or vomiting

Bloating, burping and indigestion are common, but they are less specific and often have other causes. Gallbladder pain is frequently mistaken for acidity, so recurrent episodes deserve an ultrasound.

Complications to know about

• Acute cholecystitis: an inflamed, infected gallbladder causing persistent pain, fever and tenderness.

• Stones in the bile duct (choledocholithiasis): a stone slips out and blocks the duct, causing jaundice (yellow eyes or skin), dark urine and pale stools.

• Cholangitis: infection of a blocked bile duct, which is serious and needs urgent treatment.

• Gallstone pancreatitis: a stone blocks the pancreatic outflow and inflames the pancreas, causing severe upper abdominal pain, often going through to the back.

• Gallbladder cancer: long-standing gallstones are a recognised risk factor. Gallbladder cancer is seen more often in parts of North India than in many other regions, although the risk for any one person with gallstones remains low.

Seek urgent care for: pain lasting more than a few hours, fever with chills, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or persistent vomiting.

How gallstones are diagnosed

• Abdominal ultrasound is the first and most useful test. It is quick, painless and radiation-free.

• Blood tests (liver function, blood count, and amylase or lipase) look for infection, bile duct blockage or pancreatitis.

• MRCP, a special MRI scan, checks the bile ducts if a duct stone is suspected.

• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or a CT scan may be used in selected cases.

• ERCP is an endoscopic procedure used to remove stones from the bile duct, often before or after gallbladder surgery.

Reading your ultrasound report

Common terms include cholelithiasis or calculi (gallstones), sludge, wall thickening (possible inflammation), contracted gallbladder, polyp, and CBD dilated (a widened bile duct, which may suggest a duct stone). Bring the report and images to your consultation so the surgeon can explain what they mean for you.

When is surgery advised?

Surgery to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is usually recommended when gallstones:

• cause episodes of biliary pain

• have caused cholecystitis, pancreatitis or bile duct stones

• are associated with certain gallbladder changes, such as a larger polyp or a thickened or calcified wall

Removing just the stones is not standard treatment, because new stones tend to form in a gallbladder that has already made them. Surgery timing is planned around your situation. For example, after acute cholecystitis or mild pancreatitis, surgeons often aim to operate during the same admission or soon after, rather than waiting for another attack.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy explained

Laparoscopic (keyhole) cholecystectomy is the standard operation for gallstones.

• Before: you have blood tests, an anaesthesia check and fasting instructions. Tell your surgeon about blood thinners and diabetes medicines.

• During: under general anaesthesia, the surgeon makes three or four small cuts, inflates the abdomen with gas, and uses a camera to identify the gallbladder's duct and artery carefully. These are sealed with clips before the gallbladder is removed through one of the cuts. A straightforward operation often takes around an hour.

• Conversion: occasionally, because of inflammation, scarring or unclear anatomy, the surgeon switches to an open operation for safety. This is a sound surgical decision, not a failure.

• After: many patients go home the same day or the next morning.

Possible risks include bleeding, wound infection, bile leak, retained stones in the duct and, rarely, injury to the bile duct, along with general anaesthesia risks. Your surgeon should discuss these with you. Learn more about our laparoscopic surgery.

Recovery after gallbladder removal

Recovery varies, but as a general guide:

• First few days: mild wound pain and shoulder-tip pain from the gas are common. Walking from the first day helps.

• Within 1–2 weeks: most people return to desk work and normal daily activities.

• Around 4–6 weeks: heavier lifting and strenuous exercise usually resume, as advised by your surgeon.

Contact your doctor if you have fever, worsening pain, yellowing of the eyes, persistent vomiting, or redness or discharge from a wound.

Diet after gallbladder removal

Your liver still makes bile. It simply flows directly into the intestine instead of being stored, so most people return to a normal diet.

• First few days: light, easily digested meals such as khichdi, dal, curd, fruit, soups and steamed foods.

• Next few weeks: reintroduce foods gradually, and choose smaller, more frequent meals over very heavy ones.

• Go easy on deep-fried and very rich foods at first, and notice what suits you.

• Fibre from vegetables, fruit and whole grains helps regulate bowels.

Some people notice looser stools after fatty meals in the early weeks. This usually settles, but tell your doctor if it persists.

Gallstone myths vs facts

• "Stones can be flushed out with olive oil, lemon or apple juice." There is no good evidence for this. The "stones" people pass after such flushes are often soap-like lumps formed from the oil itself. A flush can also push a stone into the bile duct.

• "Medicines will dissolve my stones." A prescription medicine (ursodeoxycholic acid) can slowly dissolve some small cholesterol stones in a few carefully selected patients. It takes many months, does not work for many stone types, and stones often return after stopping. It is not suitable for most people with symptoms.

• "Herbal or home remedies will clear them." No reliable evidence shows that herbal, homeopathic or home remedies dissolve gallstones.

• "I can't digest food without a gallbladder." Most people digest normally after removal.

• "I'll wait until the pain is unbearable." Delaying can allow complications such as cholecystitis or pancreatitis, which make treatment harder.

Frequently asked questions

Do all gallstones need surgery?

No. Silent stones found by chance usually do not need surgery unless there are specific risk features. Surgery is generally advised once stones cause symptoms or complications.

Can gallstones be removed without removing the gallbladder?

Removing only the stones is not standard treatment, because new stones tend to form again. Stones in the bile duct can be removed endoscopically (ERCP), but the gallbladder is usually removed too.

Is laparoscopic gallbladder surgery safe?

It is one of the most commonly performed abdominal operations and is generally safe. Like any surgery it has risks, including bleeding, infection, bile leak and rarely bile duct injury, which your surgeon will explain.

How long will I be in hospital?

Many patients go home the same day or the next morning after a planned keyhole operation. A longer stay may be needed after an emergency or complicated case.

When can I return to work?

Most people return to desk work within one to two weeks. Physically demanding work may take longer.

Will I need a special diet for life?

No. Most people eat normally within a few weeks. Starting with lighter, smaller meals and easing back into rich foods helps.

Can gallstones come back after surgery?

Once the gallbladder is removed, stones cannot form in it again. Rarely, stones can form or remain in the bile duct, which can be treated if they occur.

Is gallbladder surgery safe during pregnancy?

Gallstone problems in pregnancy are managed carefully, often with a team approach. Surgery can be done when needed, and timing is planned to protect mother and baby.

What affects the cost of gallbladder surgery?

The cost depends on the hospital and room category, whether the operation is planned or done during an emergency admission, any extra procedure such as ERCP for bile duct stones, the length of stay and your insurance cover. You will receive a personalised estimate after consultation; please call the clinic to check your insurance cover; insurance facilities available.

Book a gallbladder consultation in Hauz Khas or Green Park

If you have recurrent upper abdominal pain after meals, or an ultrasound showing gallstones, Dr Saurabh Bansal can review your reports and explain whether surgery is advisable now, and why.

THE CLINICS MISC, Hauz Khas (main clinic): H2, Hauz Khas, opposite Neeli Masjid, New Delhi 110016. Dr Bansal's consultation hours: 9 am to 6 pm

THE CLINICS, Green Park: G32, Ground Floor, Green Park Extension, New Delhi 110016. Dr Bansal's consultation hours: 6 pm to 8 pm

Phone: +91 83683 75734 (main) | +91 92173 81353 | Landline: 011-49407607

Email: drsaurabhatindia@gmail.com | Book online

Other specialist doctors also consult at both clinics, so please call to confirm your appointment time with Dr Bansal.

Severe pain lasting hours, fever, or yellow eyes or skin? Go to the nearest emergency department.

Medical disclaimer: This article is general information, not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Recovery and risks vary between individuals. Please consult a qualified surgeon about your own situation. This article was drafted with AI assistance and medically reviewed by Dr Saurabh Bansal (DMC Reg. No. 37887).