The gallbladder is a reservoir just beneath the liver that stores and releases bile to aid with digestion. If stones form in the gallbladder, they can block the release of the bile and cause pain, bloating, and other serious complications. The gallbladder may also cease to function properly. Typically, a gallbladder "attack" will develop within 30-60 minutes after eating a meal. It may present itself as severe pain in the right upper abdomen under the ribcage radiating around the back and be associated with right shoulder pain, nausea, upset stomach, heartburn, bloating, and vomiting.

If your doctor suspects you may have gallbladder disease, you will undergo testing to determine the specific problem with your gallbladder. These tests may include an ultrasound and a nuclear medicine scan.

How is the gallbladder problem treated?
The most common treatment for gallstones is removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy. This is most often done using a laparoscope and requiring only three to four small abdominal incisions. The procedure is usually done as outpatient surgery and you may go home on the same day as the surgery. Your condition may require an "open" cholecystectomy which would require a long incision in the upper right abdomen and may mean a two to three day stay in the hospital.