Gallstones Gallstones are solid lumps of cholesterol or other matter that form inside the gallbladder or bile ducts. As many as 10 or more stones may form, and can be as small as a grain of sand, to as large as one inch in diameter. More women than men are affected by gallstones. Gallstones can be extremely painful and symptoms are often brought on by eating a fried, fatty meal. In more serious cases, when gallstones block the entry to the gallbladder, liver damage can result.
Most gallstones go unnoticed, and can be left alone as long as no symptoms occur.
When symptoms appear, the condition will usually continue to worsen until it is treated. If ignored, gallstones can cause severe complications and rarely death. Symptoms of gallstones should be reported when visiting your doctor. Surgery is the only permanent solution to gallstones, since the other procedures carry up to a 50-50 chance the stones will return. People who suffer from gallstones are more likely to develop cancer of the gallbladder later in life.