The gallbladder happens to be a small organ in the upper right abdomen that sits below the liver. This pouch-like organ stores bile to aid in one’s digestion. Sometimes, gallstones form within the gallbladder when certain substances in the bile, such as cholesterol, harden. Although some of these gallstones resolve on their own, there are times when they can cause intense pain or an infection when they block the bile duct. Common symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, jaundice – or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, chills, loss of appetite and confusion. Around 25 million people in the United States have gallstones, but not all of them require major treatment. Although there are also nonsurgical treatments for gallstones, some patients require surgery to remove them.
