In jaundice bile cannot flow into the gut and spills into the blood, causing a yellow skin and eye colour. Digestion is also impaired causing bloating, the stools turn a putty colour, and due to the overspill into blood, some, urine becomes dark. Bile infection can occur in this situation causing 'rigors' or severe shivering attacks. The Doctor will suspect gallstones from listening to your history, examining you, and perhaps also blood and urine tests. It uses sound waves and is totally safe and painless.
Sound waves bounce off gallstones and the reflections show on a video screen.
Depending on the complications which gallstones cause, it may be necessary to look for gallstones in the bile duct as well as the gallbladder. This can be done in a variety of ways. The simplest way is to inject dye into the bile duct during a gallbladder operation, 'intra-operative cholangiography', but it is not necessary to have an operation to do this. Bile duct gallstones can be removed through the telescope, but not those in the gallbladder. The operation is 'cholecystectomy' and is safe for most patients.