Symptoms
- Pain in the upper right or middle of the abdomen, often after oily or heavy food
- Pain that spreads to the back or the right shoulder
- Nausea, vomiting, bloating and indigestion
- Attacks that last from 30 minutes to a few hours
When to come in straight away
Come to the hospital straight away — it is open 24 hours — for abdominal pain lasting more than a few hours, pain with fever or shivering, yellow eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine or pale stools, or repeated vomiting. These can mean an infected or blocked gallbladder or bile duct.
What are gallbladder stones?
The gallbladder is a small pouch under the liver that stores bile, a digestive juice. Stones form when substances in the bile harden. They are common, more so in women, after pregnancies, with excess weight, diabetes and age. An ultrasound scan confirms them.
Do all gallstones need surgery?
No. Stones found by chance on a scan that cause no symptoms are often just watched. Surgery is usually advised once stones cause pain attacks or complications such as infection, jaundice or pancreatitis, because attacks tend to come back. Medicines and diets do not reliably dissolve gallstones.
How is the gallbladder removed?
In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgeon removes the gallbladder with its stones through a few small cuts using a camera, under general anaesthesia. The operation usually takes about one to two hours. Occasionally it has to be converted to open surgery for safety; the surgeon discusses this beforehand.
Can I live normally without a gallbladder?
Yes. Bile flows directly from the liver to the intestine. Most people eat normally after recovery; a few notice looser stools after fatty meals for a while, which usually settles.
Recovery
Most patients go home within one to two days and return to light daily activity in about a week. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas used during surgery is common for a day or two. Heavy lifting usually waits a few weeks. Recovery is similar for women and men; your surgeon gives you a timeline for your case.
What decides the cost?
Laparoscopic or open surgery, whether there are complications such as infection or a stone in the bile duct, the length of stay and your general health. Disha Hospital gives a written estimate before planned surgery.
Treatment at Disha Hospital
- Ultrasound scan of the abdomen
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal)
- Open gallbladder removal where keyhole is not safe
Questions patients ask
What are the first signs of gallbladder stones?
Pain in the upper right abdomen after a heavy or oily meal, sometimes spreading to the back or right shoulder, with nausea or bloating. Many people have no symptoms at all.
Can gallbladder stones go away without surgery?
Stones rarely disappear on their own, and no medicine or home remedy reliably removes them. Stones without symptoms may simply be watched; stones that cause pain are usually treated by removing the gallbladder.
Is gallbladder removal safe?
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal is one of the most common abdominal operations. Like any surgery it carries risks, which the surgeon explains for your case before you consent.
What should I eat after gallbladder surgery?
Start with light, low-fat meals for the first weeks and return to a normal balanced diet gradually. Most people need no long-term special diet.
Which doctor treats gallbladder stones?
A general or laparoscopic surgeon. At Disha Hospital, gallbladder stones are treated by Dr Sharath B V, General, Laparoscopic & Laser Surgeon.
Full department page: Laparoscopy
General information, not a substitute for an examination. Medical disclaimer. Reviewed by Disha Hospital, updated 2026-10-06.
