Your body gives you clues when something needs attention, sometimes a gentle whisper, sometimes a lot louder. If you have been having abdominal discomfort and wondering whether gallstones might be behind it, learning more is the practical first step.
Gallstones are small stones that can form in the gallbladder. Many people carry them without ever knowing, others feel pain or develop a complication that needs treatment. This guide explains both.
- Welcome and history5 min
- Ultrasound of your abdomen15 min
- Findings explained5 min
View as table
| Part of the visit | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Welcome and history | about 5 minutes |
| Ultrasound of your abdomen | about 15 minutes |
| Findings explained | about 5 minutes |
01What gallstones are
Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder when substances in your bile become concentrated and crystallise, usually cholesterol. They range from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball.
The gallbladder is a small storage sac tucked beneath the liver, on the right side of your abdomen. Its job is to store bile, a fluid your body makes to help digest fat. When you eat, the gallbladder contracts to release that bile into the digestive tract.
Most gallstones cause no trouble at all. The scan simply tells us whether they are there, and whether they explain your symptoms.
Dr Tahir Hussain, consultant radiologist
02Symptoms to watch for
A gallstone can occasionally move out of the gallbladder and lodge in a bile duct, causing a blockage. If that happens, you may notice:
- Pain in the right upper part of your abdomen
- Pain that spreads to your upper back
- Pain that tends to follow eating, especially a heavy meal
- Nausea and vomiting
- A fever, if there is an associated infection
- Jaundice: a yellowing of the skin: occasionally
The pain often follows meals because the gallbladder is trying to empty itself against a blockage. It usually eases once the duct clears. If it lasts more than a few hours, or you develop a fever, get checked promptly, complications such as infection can develop.
03Are you at risk?
Gallstones become more likely as you get older, particularly after 40. Other factors that raise the risk:
- Being overweight
- Being female: around twice as likely as men
- High cholesterol levels
- A family history of gallstones
- Rapid weight loss, for example after surgery
- A diet low in fibre
- Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or Crohn’s disease
- Certain medication, including HRT or the contraceptive pill
04How ultrasound helps
An ultrasound scan is a quick, reliable way to see whether gallstones are present, and it can also pick up complications such as a blockage or infection. It can focus on the gallbladder alone or cover the whole abdomen, depending on your symptoms. Blood tests are sometimes used alongside it, to check for signs of inflammation, infection, or how well your liver is working.
05If treatment is needed
If gallstones are not causing symptoms, your doctor will usually suggest simply leaving them alone. If they are, there are a few routes:
- Surgery, removing the gallbladder is the usual recommendation once symptoms start. It is not an essential organ; afterwards, bile flows directly from the liver into the intestine to continue helping digestion.
- ERCP, where surgery is not suitable, a tube-based procedure can remove stones from the bile duct, though it does not stop new stones forming.
- Medication, over-the-counter options such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help manage symptoms; check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
- Diet, since cholesterol plays a role in forming gallstones, cutting back on high-saturated-fat foods is generally advised.
06What happens next
If you have been having upper abdominal pain, particularly after meals, a liver and gallbladder ultrasound gives you a clear answer, whether stones are present, and whether they explain what you have been feeling. If treatment is the right next step, that is arranged from the same visit.
