Can you live without a gallbladder?

Yes, you can live a normal, healthy life without a gallbladder. Bile flows directly from the liver into the small intestine. Most people adjust within a few weeks.

What triggers a gallstone attack?

Attacks are often triggered by fatty or large meals, which stimulate gallbladder contraction and can push a stone into the bile duct. Pain typically begins 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating.

Can gallstones pass on their own?

Very small stones can sometimes pass through the bile ducts without symptoms. Larger stones can become stuck and cause pancreatitis or infection, requiring medical intervention.

DigestiveICD-10: K80Affects approximately 10–15% of the U.S. adult population

Gallstones

Also known as: Cholelithiasis, Gallbladder Stones

Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that form in the gallbladder. They range from grain-of-sand sized to as large as a golf ball and can cause sudden, intense pain when they block bile ducts. Many people have gallstones without symptoms, but complications may require surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Symptoms

Sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen (biliary colic)

Pain radiating to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades

Nausea and vomiting during pain episodes

Bloating and indigestion, especially after fatty meals

Fever and chills if infection develops (cholecystitis)

Jaundice if a stone blocks the common bile duct

Causes

Excess cholesterol in bile that crystallizes
Excess bilirubin in bile from certain blood conditions
Gallbladder not emptying completely or frequently enough
Imbalance in bile salt composition

Risk Factors

Female sex (estrogen increases cholesterol in bile)
Age over 40
Obesity or rapid weight loss
Pregnancy and use of hormonal contraceptives
Family history of gallstones
Native American or Hispanic ethnicity

Diagnosis

Abdominal ultrasound (primary diagnostic test)
CT scan for complications such as pancreatitis
MRCP for bile duct stones
Blood tests including liver function and bilirubin levels
HIDA scan to assess gallbladder function

Treatment

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (minimally invasive gallbladder removal)
ERCP to remove stones from the common bile duct
Ursodeoxycholic acid to dissolve small cholesterol stones
Open cholecystectomy for complicated cases
Dietary modifications to reduce fatty food intake

Prevention

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid rapid weight loss
Eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet
Exercise regularly
Avoid skipping meals

When to See a Doctor

Abdominal pain is so intense you cannot find a comfortable position
Yellowing of the skin or eyes develops
You develop a high fever with chills and abdominal pain
Pain lasts more than a few hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Conditions

Gastritis

Digestive

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Digestive

Jaundice

Digestive

Pancreatitis

Digestive

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