What are gallstones?

About 60% of people with gallstones never get sick from them. They might never know they have gallstones. However, a gallstone can leave your gallbladder and go into the passageway from your gallbladder to your intestine. It can get stuck in that passageway. If the stone completely blocks the passageway, you will have severe pain in the right upper part of your belly. You may also feel pain in your upper back. The pain usually starts suddenly and lasts for as long as 3 hours. This is known as an "attack."

Complete or partial blockage can also cause your gallbladder to get irritated and inflamed. If this happens, you will usually have pain for more than 3 hours. You may also get a fever. Your skin may turn a yellowish color, known as jaundice (say "john-diss").

Who gets gallstones?

You're more likely to get gallstones if:

You are a woman You have diabetes Your mother had gallstones You are pregnant or taking birth control pills You have high blood triglycerides (a type of fat) You are overweight