Gallbladder Stones — A Complete Guide to Symptoms, Causes, Diet & Treatment

Medically reviewed by Dr. Kapil Agrawal

MBBS, MS (Surgery), MRCS (London), MMed (Singapore)

Senior Consultant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi NCR

23+ years of experience | 7,000+ gallbladder surgeries performed

Expert in advanced laparoscopic and robotic gallbladder surgery with evidence-based, patient-first care.

Last updated: 20 April 2026

What Is the Gallbladder and What Does It Do?

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the right side of your abdomen. Its primary job is to store bile — a digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps your body break down fats from the food you eat.

When you eat a meal, especially one that contains fats, your gallbladder contracts and releases bile through a tube called the bile duct into the small intestine. There, bile breaks fats into smaller droplets so your body can absorb them along with essential fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.

Most people never think about their gallbladder until something goes wrong. But when bile composition changes — too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts — the gallbladder can develop hard deposits called gallbladder stones (also called gallstones or cholelithiasis). These stones are one of the most common digestive problems worldwide, and they are particularly prevalent in India.

Types of Gallstones

Understanding the type of gallstone you have helps your surgeon plan the most appropriate treatment. There are three main types:

Cholesterol Gallstones

These are the most common type, accounting for roughly 80% of all gallstones. They are usually yellowish-green in colour and form when bile contains more cholesterol than it can dissolve. Cholesterol gallstones are strongly linked to diet, obesity, and metabolic factors.

Pigment Gallstones

Pigment gallstones are smaller and darker — usually dark brown or black. They form when bile contains too much bilirubin, a substance produced when the body breaks down old red blood cells. People with liver disease, blood disorders like sickle cell anaemia, or frequent bile duct infections are more likely to develop pigment stones.

Mixed Gallstones

As the name suggests, mixed gallstones contain both cholesterol and pigment components. These are common in the Indian population and may be linked to the combination of dietary habits and underlying metabolic conditions.

Symptoms of Gallbladder Stones

Many people carry gallstones for years without any symptoms. These are called silent gallstones, and they usually do not require treatment. However, when a stone shifts and blocks the cystic duct or the bile duct, symptoms can appear suddenly and intensely.

The Classic Symptom: Biliary Colic

The hallmark of gallbladder stone symptoms is a sudden, sharp pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the rib cage. This pain often starts after eating a heavy or oily meal and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Many patients describe it as a gripping or squeezing sensation that radiates to the right shoulder blade or the centre of the back.

Digestive Symptoms

Persistent bloating, excessive gas, heartburn, and a heavy feeling after meals — especially after eating fried or fatty food — are common with gallstones. These symptoms are often mistaken for acidity or indigestion, which delays diagnosis.

Do You Have Gallbladder Stones? Take This 30-Second Self-Check

Tick all the symptoms that apply to you. If two or more are true, it's time to speak with our gallbladder care team.

Pain on right side of upper stomach?

Pain after oily/spicy meals?

Nausea or vomiting?

Bloating or indigestion?

Back or shoulder pain?

Fever with pain?

Pain lasting more than 30–60 minutes?

Need Immediate Support?

👉 Share your symptoms for a personalised review.

Dr. Kapil Agrawal's gallbladder team will study your responses and our team will reach out to you soon.

Share Symptoms on WhatsApp

Prefer email? contact@habiliteclinics.com

How Are Gallstones Diagnosed?

If your doctor suspects gallstones based on your symptoms, they will typically recommend one or more of the following tests:

Abdominal Ultrasound

This is the first and most common test for gallstones in India. It is painless, non-invasive, and highly accurate for detecting stones inside the gallbladder. The ultrasound also reveals important details like gallbladder wall thickening (a sign of chronic inflammation), the number and size of stones, the presence of sludge, and whether the common bile duct (CBD) is dilated.

Blood Tests

A set of blood tests including liver function tests (LFT), complete blood count (CBC), and pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase) help assess whether the stones are causing complications like infection, bile duct obstruction, or pancreatitis.

MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography)

If your doctor suspects that stones have slipped from the gallbladder into the bile duct, an MRCP provides a detailed non-invasive image of the entire biliary system. This test is particularly useful before planning surgery in complex cases.

CT Scan

A CT scan may be ordered in certain situations — particularly to rule out complications like gallbladder perforation, abscess, or to evaluate the pancreas if pancreatitis is suspected.

HIDA Scan (Hepatobiliary Iminodiacetic Acid Scan)

This functional test evaluates how well the gallbladder contracts and empties. It is used when symptoms are present but ultrasound does not show stones — a condition called biliary dyskinesia.

Confused About Your Gallbladder Ultrasound Report? We’ll Explain It Clearly.

Upload your ultrasound report and receive a plain-English explanation of every finding from our medical team.

Upload Your Ultrasound Report for Explanation

PDF / JPG / PNG (max 5 MB). Share your report on WhatsApp and our team will explain every finding in plain English.

👉 Tap below to open chat with our team. Attach your report (📎) and send.

Share Report on WhatsApp

Need help? WhatsApp us at +91 99994 56455

What we decode for you

Every term in your ultrasound can change the treatment plan. Here’s what we interpret and explain in simple language.

Sludge vs. thick bile
Wall thickening = chronic inflammation
Calculi size & number
Impacted stones needing urgent removal
CBD dilation signalling duct blockage
Polyps & when they need removal
Multiple stones & repeated pain
Small polyps that still need monitoring
When stones become risky
When surgery cannot wait

Gallbladder Stone Treatment Options

The right treatment for gallbladder stones depends on whether they are causing symptoms, the size and number of stones, and whether complications have developed. Here is an honest overview of every treatment approach:

1. Watchful Waiting (For Silent Gallstones)

If your gallstones were discovered incidentally — during a routine health check-up or an ultrasound done for another reason — and you have no symptoms, your doctor may recommend observation. This means regular ultrasound monitoring every 6–12 months, maintaining a low-fat diet, and being alert for any new symptoms. However, in India, especially North India where gallbladder cancer rates are among the highest in the world, many surgeons recommend removal even for silent stones in certain patients.

2. Medicines for Gallstones

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is sometimes prescribed to dissolve small cholesterol gallstones. However, this approach has significant limitations: it only works on small cholesterol stones (not pigment or mixed stones), it can take 6 months to 2 years, and gallstones frequently return once the medication is stopped. For these reasons, gallbladder stone treatment without surgery through medication alone is rarely a permanent solution.

3. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gold Standard)

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is the most widely performed and recommended treatment for symptomatic gallstones worldwide. The surgeon makes 3–4 tiny incisions (each about 0.5–1 cm) in the abdomen, inserts a camera and specialised instruments, and removes the entire gallbladder along with the stones. The procedure typically takes 45–60 minutes. Most patients go home within 24 hours and return to desk work within 5–7 days.

4. Single-Port (SILS) Gallbladder Surgery

For patients who want the best possible cosmetic outcome, single-port surgery uses just one incision placed inside the belly button. Once healed, the scar is virtually invisible. Dr. Kapil Agrawal is among the early adopters of this technique in Delhi and has performed it extensively.

5. Robotic Gallbladder Surgery

Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy is the most advanced surgical option available. The robotic system provides a high-definition 3D view and eliminates hand tremor, making it particularly valuable in complex cases — severe inflammation, dense scar tissue, or unusual anatomy. Dr. Kapil Agrawal is one of the few surgeons in India offering robotic gallbladder surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi NCR.

6. ERCP (For Bile Duct Stones)

If stones have slipped from the gallbladder into the common bile duct, an endoscopic procedure called ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) is used to locate and remove them. This is often combined with a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to address both the duct stones and the gallbladder.

Surgery Necessity Checker

Do You Need Gallbladder Surgery? Answer These 5 Questions

This framework is what we use during clinic consultations. Answer honestly to understand whether surgery is the safer path or if monitoring is possible.

Are your stones causing pain?

Has the pain repeated more than twice?

Are stones larger than 10 mm?

Is the gallbladder wall thick on ultrasound?

Is there sludge or infection noted?

Interpreting your answers:

If you answered “Yes” to two or more questions, surgery prevents repeated attacks and complications. If all answers are “No”, continue a strict diet and repeat ultrasound in 6 months.

Need confirmation?

👉 Send your report for confirmation.

We will review your ultrasound, blood reports, and symptom history, then tell you if surgery is the safest route or if you can wait.

Share Reports on WhatsApp

Prefer email? contact@habiliteclinics.com

Ask the Surgeon

Have A Question About Gallbladder Problems?

Ask Dr. Kapil Agrawal directly. Share your concern, and his team will get back to you with a personalised response.

Gallbladder Diet — What to Eat and What to Avoid

Diet plays an important role both in managing gallstone symptoms before surgery and in recovering smoothly after gallbladder removal. Here is a practical, India-specific dietary guide:

Foods to Avoid With Gallstones

Fried foods (puris, pakoras, samosas, fried snacks), butter and cream-heavy gravies, full-fat dairy (paneer in cream, malai), red meat and processed meats, refined flour (maida) products like naan and pastries, sugary desserts, and aerated drinks. These foods force the gallbladder to work harder, increasing the risk of a painful attack.

Foods That Are Safe and Helpful

Steamed or lightly sauteed vegetables, dal and moong khichdi, chapati made from whole wheat, fruits (especially papaya, apple, and pear), low-fat curd, grilled or roasted chicken and fish, oats and brown rice, and plenty of water and lemon water. Eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large meals also reduces the load on the gallbladder.

Foods to Avoid

Oily
Fried
Butter / cream
Red meat
Heavy dairy

Foods to Eat

Fruits
Vegetables
Khichdi
Dal
Low-fat milk
Lemon water

For Personalised Diet Plan, Contact Us

📩 Enter Your WhatsApp Number

Receive the complete diet chart and weekly reminders from our clinical nutrition team.

Related Gallbladder Conditions

Beyond gallstones, there are other gallbladder conditions that may require expert evaluation and treatment.

CBD Stones

Expert Common Bile Duct stone treatment for bile duct blockages with advanced diagnosis, minimally invasive procedures, and faster recovery.

Learn more about CBD Stone Treatment→

Gallbladder Polyps

Advanced treatment for gallbladder polyps with expert evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and minimally invasive surgical options if needed.

Learn more about Gallbladder Polyps Treatment→

Diet After Gallbladder Surgery

After gallbladder surgery, your body takes a few weeks to adjust to digesting fats without a gallbladder. In the first 3 days, stick to clear liquids and easily digestible foods. From day 4 onwards, gradually introduce soft foods like dal, khichdi, steamed idli, and bananas. Most patients return to a completely normal diet within 4–6 weeks.

Complete post-surgery diet plan: Diet After Gallbladder Stone Surgery

FAQs about Gallbladder Health

Expand each question to learn the answers Dr. Kapil Agrawal shares with his patients.

Gallbladder stones (gallstones) form when bile contains too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or not enough bile salts to keep these substances dissolved. Factors include high-fat diets, rapid weight loss, obesity, genetics, and certain medical conditions.

Surgery (cholecystectomy) is the only definitive cure for symptomatic gallstones. Medicines may temporarily manage pain or acidity but do not remove stones. Non-surgical options are limited to select cases and often have high recurrence rates.

There are no proven natural remedies that reliably dissolve gallstones. Some medications can dissolve small cholesterol stones, but they work slowly and stones frequently recur. Medical evaluation is essential before trying any therapy.

Silent stones can sometimes be monitored, but once they cause pain, infection, or pancreatitis, leaving them untreated can be dangerous. Untreated symptomatic stones may lead to recurrent attacks or emergencies.

Limit fried foods, high-fat dairy, red meat, processed snacks, and sugary desserts. Choose smaller meals, lean proteins, fibre-rich foods, and stay hydrated to reduce gallbladder stress.

Success stories