What are gallstones?
Bile is made by the liver, and stored in the gallbladder. The gallbladder pushes bile into the intestine through the bile duct. In the intestine, the bile helps digest food. Gallstones start to form when cholesterol, calcium and phosphate crystallize in the bile. These crystals continue to grow to form stones.

What are the symptoms of gallstones?
Most people with gallstones do not have any symptoms. Symptoms develop when a gallstone become stuck in a bile duct. When this happens it can cause right upper abdominal pain that may travel to the back. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, jaundice, brown urine, and clay-colored stools.

How does the doctor treat gallstones?
Gallstones that are causing no symptoms may not require treatment. Treatment for gallstones that are causing recurrent symptoms includes medications to dissolve the gallstones, lithotripsy, and endoscopic procedures to remove them from the bile duct. In some cases, it may be recommended to remove the gallbladder.