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You finish a heavy meal and a few hours later, a sharp pain starts under your ribs on the right side. You assume it is gas or indigestion, take something for it and carry on.
Then it happens again. This time the pain is stronger, perhaps spreading toward your back or right shoulder. That is often when people realise the problem may be more than ordinary acidity.
Gallstones are common, and some people have them without any symptoms. But once stones begin causing repeated pain or complications, it is worth discussing proper treatment rather than repeatedly managing the attacks at home.
Gallstones are hard particles that develop inside the gallbladder. They can form when substances in bile, particularly cholesterol, become unbalanced and crystallise.
Some people have a single stone, while others develop several. The size can range from tiny grains to stones several centimetres across.
Having gallstones does not automatically mean you need surgery.
The biggest clue is usually symptoms.
Gallstones can cause a type of pain called biliary colic. It commonly occurs in the upper-right or middle part of the abdomen and may appear after a rich or fatty meal.
The pain can last for several minutes to a few hours and may sometimes travel toward the back or shoulder.
Other symptoms can include:
Nausea or vomiting
Bloating after meals
Indigestion
Abdominal discomfort
Repeated episodes of upper abdominal pain
If the pain becomes severe or is accompanied by fever, persistent vomiting, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or significant tenderness, medical attention should be sought promptly.
No.
If gallstones are discovered accidentally during an ultrasound and are not causing symptoms or complications, surgery may not always be necessary.
The situation changes when stones repeatedly cause pain, inflammation or blockage. In these cases, a surgeon may recommend removing the gallbladder rather than simply removing individual stones.
This distinction is important because gallstones can return if the underlying gallbladder remains.
This is a question many patients ask.
Gallstones form inside the gallbladder because of the conditions within it. Simply taking out one stone may not prevent new stones from developing.
For patients who have symptomatic gallstone disease, the standard surgical approach is often cholecystectomy, which means removing the gallbladder.
Your liver continues to produce bile after surgery. The bile simply flows directly into the intestine rather than being stored in the gallbladder.
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive approach commonly used for gallbladder removal.
Instead of making one large abdominal incision, the surgeon generally uses several small openings and a camera to view the surgical area.
The gallbladder is carefully separated and removed through one of the small incisions.
For suitable patients, minimally invasive surgery can mean smaller incisions and a generally easier recovery compared with traditional open surgery.
Many patients are able to return to normal activities relatively quickly, although recovery time varies depending on their health, the complexity of the surgery and whether complications are present.
The important point is that laparoscopic surgery is not simply about having smaller cuts. It still requires careful surgical planning and expertise.
Once a person learns they have gallstones, it is tempting to blame every episode of acidity, bloating or abdominal discomfort on them.
That can be a mistake.
Not every digestive symptom is caused by gallstones. A proper clinical assessment helps determine whether the stones are actually responsible for the symptoms before deciding on surgery.
In other words, having a gallstone and having gallstone disease are not always the same thing.
An abdominal ultrasound is one of the common tests used to identify gallstones.
Your doctor may also ask about the timing of your pain, meals that trigger symptoms, previous attacks and other health concerns. Blood tests may be recommended when there is concern about infection, inflammation or problems involving the liver or bile ducts.
Sometimes additional imaging is required depending on the findings.
Imagine a patient who experiences right-sided abdominal pain every few weeks, usually after eating a heavy meal. Each episode is treated as acidity, but the attacks gradually become more frequent.
An ultrasound eventually shows multiple gallstones. After discussing the symptoms and investigation results with a surgeon, laparoscopic gallbladder removal is recommended.
The important result is not simply that the stones were found. The patient finally addressed the underlying cause of the repeated attacks instead of continuing to treat each episode separately.
Gallbladder and biliary diseases continue to be a significant reason for hospital visits and surgical treatment worldwide. A 2024 clinical review highlighted that gallstone disease remains one of the most common digestive conditions requiring medical and surgical care.
This does not mean every person with gallstones needs an operation. It reinforces the importance of separating incidental gallstones from stones that are actually causing symptoms or complications.
Dr. Ankit Ahuja is a general and laparoscopic surgeon who evaluates patients with gallstones and other abdominal conditions requiring surgical treatment. His approach focuses on understanding the patient's symptoms, reviewing investigations and explaining whether surgery is appropriate. When laparoscopic gallbladder removal is recommended, patients can discuss the procedure, recovery and expected outcomes clearly before making a decision.
Surgery may be recommended when gallstones cause repeated abdominal pain, gallbladder inflammation, infection, blockage or other complications. Silent gallstones may not always require treatment.
In most patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, removing only the stones is not the preferred long-term solution because new stones can develop. Removing the gallbladder addresses the source of stone formation.
Recovery varies from person to person. Many patients return to routine activities within a relatively short period, but your surgeon will provide specific advice based on your operation and overall health.
One episode of stomach discomfort may have many possible causes. But repeated upper-right abdominal pain, particularly after meals, deserves proper evaluation.
If you have known gallstones or are experiencing recurring symptoms, schedule a consultation with a qualified surgeon and discuss your ultrasound and treatment options. Getting the cause clarified can help you decide whether monitoring, medication or surgery makes sense for you.
