Gallbladder Frequently Asked Questions
25+ years of experience of working with people with gallbladder problems has shown us that avoiding future gallbladder attacks involves a two-pronged approach - namely diet and supplements.
You need to avoid the foods known to be hard on gallbladders as well as any potential food sensitivities which can cause inflammation, not only in the gallbladder walls, but in the ducts and the sphincters as well.
If you follow the foods recommended on our Gallbladder Shopping List, the most common allergens have already been removed. You can take this a step farther by reading about how to uncover your own particular food sensitivities by using the Allergy Diet.
Simultaneously, since your gallbladder is already in trouble, using supplements designed to thin and gently move the bile will work faster than diet alone.
Phos Formula, specifically, works quickly to thin the bile and take pressure off the gallbladder as well as to relieve nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and the discomfort you may be experiencing between your right ribcage and/or the right shoulder blade.
The other products found in the Gallbladder Starter Kit support your body's own digestion (which is under stress right now).
Gallbladder Formula Elite contains bile salts to help you digest your fats as well as specific natural ingredients that are known to reduce inflammation within the entire biliary system.
Know that the severity of gallbladder attacks may vary from moderate pain (below the right ribcage and sometimes extending back into the right shoulder blade) to excruciating pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and/or chills and fever or cold sweats. Nausea and vomiting after a meal on a frequent basis (without pain) could also be considered a form of gallbladder attack. If still unsure, a visit to your doctor or a trip to the ER will confirm it for you.
If you have the Gallbladder Starter Kit already, take 1-2 droppersful of the Phos Formula in 1/4 cup of water and drink in two or three sips. Repeat every 15 minutes.
Whether or not you have Phos Formula, DO NOT EAT. Just drink liquids. Water is best. Beet juice will help as will flax seed tea. Once you are feeling better, i.e. not doubled over in pain, you can take a tablespoon or 2 of the Beet Recipe as directed.
For more information about the Beet Recipe and the Green Soup Recipe, visit our Gallbladder Pain Support page.
Do not attempt solid foods including the Beet Recipe and the Green Soup recipe while your symptoms are acute. But they should be the first things you eat when your pain dissipates.
Once your symptoms are under control (or sooner), get online and order the Gallbladder Starter Kit if you don't have it already. Continue drinking beet juice three to four times a day while waiting for your product to arrive. Beets work to thin the bile and relieve your immediate symptoms.
Once your Gallbladder Starter Kit has arrived, read the instructions on how to take your supplements. Take only the Phos Formula while symptoms are acute. Begin the other supplements after the acute pain has subsided.
Expect to stay on these products for several (5-6) months, and then move on to do a liver cleanse using the Liver Flush Kit.
Read about the relationship between the liver, bile, and gallbladder in our newsletter, so that you understand the root of your problem.
When you are in acute pain, you should not be eating anything! Take 1-2 droppersful of Phos Formula in 1/4 cup of water. Drink only clear liquids, especially water. Add in 1/4 cup of beet juice three to four times a day, and sip flax seed tea.
Once the acute pain has subsided, start by eating the Beet Recipe and Green Soup Recipe. Check out the Gallbladder Pain Support page for these recipes and more information.
After this point, follow the eating suggestions in the Gallbladder Attack Menu, and additional Gallbladder Supplements can also be added into your routine at this time.
Please visit our Gallbladder Diet page for good foods for the gallbladder and foods to avoid, or follow one of our Gallbladder Diet Plans, the stricter menu for pain or the moderate one for maintenance.
If your gallbladder has been removed, you should be replacing bile salts your body is not making with the products in the Gallbladder Removal Kit. You also need help with the bile flow from the liver, and digestive enzymes, and help with that is provided in the kit.
If you have stones, are suffering from attacks, or experiencing other gallbladder-related symptoms, use the Gallbladder Starter Kit since the bile function in your body is impaired, along with your ability to digest fats.
I have learned from all of you that peoples' reactions to foods are not consistent at all, especially the common recommendation to avoid leafy greens. The worst offenders I hear about from my readers are fatty foods, including eggs and cheese. A few react to greens, while many don't. The greens help to detoxify the liver. So you will have to experiment as everybody is different.
I suggest you use the Gallbladder Starter Kit rather than depending on dietary changes alone. Product supplementation together with a good diet would give you the best results.
After you've been on the products in the Gallbladder Starter Kit for 5-6 months, you can then move on to Liver Flush Kit. But do not attempt a flush until you have thoroughly modified your diet and you have been taking your gallbladder supplements for 5-6 months. And you do not want to attempt a flush at all if you have large stones.
As a disclaimer, you must ask your doctor this question. Based on comments people have made to me, it seems that there are times when removal is necessary, but this is only rarely. When the gallbladder is full of bile stones, and the bile duct is blocked, emergency surgery is often needed. Also, removing the gallbladder is often the only option if it is gangrenous, infected, or ripped. A motility problem that cannot be resolved in other ways is another reason, but I feel that trying other ways first makes sense. However, what I see (and I may be a site of "last resort") is that peoples' symptoms will often continue after they have had their gallbladder removed. This is because the root of the problem in the body has not been treated even though the gallbladder has been taken out. You should be following the same health-promoting diet and lifestyle choices whether or not you have a gallbladder.
As with any surgery, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. Ask both the doctors their reasons for suggesting surgery. Is it absolutely medically necessary? Is the gallbladder infected or torn, or is he suggesting it because you have sludge or stones or have had an attack, and he is trying to avoid you having to experience pain? Surgery has been recommended without any of the above and with no signs of sludge either. It just seems like a good way to avoid getting into pain again. Find out why your gallbladder needs to come out. What exactly is wrong with it?
Blood tests are not the usual or only test performed for the gallbladder. I'm assuming you are referring to a liver function test. The answer to this question is yes. Blood tests, in general, tend to show problems only when they are advanced, with the exception of a blockage. Even if your liver function test was "normal" it is possible that your gallbladder is having problems, and you are suffering the symptoms. Everyone has had the experience of feeling lousy, lethargic, and sickly, yet knowing that a doctor's appointment is pointless. As such, your gallbladder can be problematic without being extreme enough to show up on the blood test. And finding no stones or sludge on a scan also does not mean that you are home free. After all, you are the one with the discomfort and asking the question. Do you believe there is no problem?
Order the Gallbladder Starter Kit with Gallbladder Menu Plans and read our newsletter weekly to educate yourself about your symptoms and options. Include beets in your diet, with at least 2 out of 3 meals in the beginning.
You cannot live without fats. Every cell membrane in your body is made of fat. Fats feed the brain, and many hormones are made with fat. What is important is what kind of fats you are eating. Avoid fried foods, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats, and refined oils. Instead of these, try to use unrefined virgin olive oil or flax oil in your food. Avoid cheese and dairy in general. Unless your gallbladder was defective in some way, the reason you had it removed is more related to your eating habits or the state of your liver. Your diet should be the same whether you have had your gallbladder removed or not. It is very important to maintain a diet that helps your liver digest fats properly, and that helps the liver to do its job of filtering toxins. It is also important to give it the tools it needs in order to do its job, i.e. real nutrients, and to avoid piling up its workload by eating highly processed food, preservatives, bad fats, and other toxic foods. Avoid eating at fast-food restaurants, and ask about oils used even at good restaurants.
Removing the gallbladder does not always address the problem in the body that is causing these symptoms. To break down and digest fats, your body must produce bile, which is done in the liver. Your gallbladder is merely a sac for holding the bile that the liver produces. Whether or not you have had your gallbladder removed, your liver is still producing bile in order to digest fats. However, without the gallbladder, the bile is not as readily secreted in the body, and the liver can become overwhelmed when faced with large amounts of any fats, especially saturated fats, and hydrogenated fats. And for some people, even small amounts of fats can cause discomfort.
One of the side effects of gallbladder removal can be the dumping of bile that can send someone running to the bathroom immediately after eating. This happens because the gallbladder is no longer present to serve as a reservoir and regulate the release of bile. More common is a decrease in the secretion of bile. If the bile produced by the liver becomes thick and sluggish, painful symptoms and bile stones can occur. The easiest way to avoid this is to take an external supplement of bile salts to help your body with the digestion of fats.
Doing a series of mini gallbladder flushes can also give relief. Supplemental bile salts, available in the After Gallbladder Removal Kit should be taken frequently along with some herbs to help stimulate your own digestive juices (also in the kit). Alternating the dosage of bile salts will help mimic the body’s way of secreting bile. For example, take one with breakfast, two at lunch, three at dinner, four with breakfast the next day, and so on in rotation.
It sounds like you may have a stone stuck in a bile duct. You need to call your gastroenterologist or surgeon and have it checked out.
Current thought believes gallbladder health to be hereditary, yet it is equally important to acknowledge the impact of inherited dietary and lifestyle habits on the health and functioning of the gallbladder.
We have a Gallbladder Pregnancy Kit specifically for pregnancy that includes Choline (not only supportive for gallbladders but also often recommended for fetal brain development), and which leaves out our Gallbladder Formula Elite, to err on the safe side. You can also take 2-3 Beet Root Capsules per meal, drink beet juice, and use the beet recipe.
Anything that recurs monthly during that time is connected. And you would likely be prone to more gallbladder problems during pregnancy since the high cholesterol/hormones during pregnancy often cause symptoms, if not stone formation. My suggestion would be to see it as a true gallbladder problem and to treat it accordingly, i.e. change your diet to exclude fatty foods and especially during that time of the month; eat specific foods such as beets and use products like Bile Salts Booster to thin the bile and prevent sludge and stones from forming. Study our list of 30 or more Causes of Gallbladder Disease to know how to take care of your gallbladder better.
The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ located beneath the liver in the upper right side of the abdomen. Its main function is to store and concentrate bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. Bile helps break down fats in the food we eat. When you eat a meal—especially one that’s high in fat—the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine through the bile ducts to aid in digestion.
Although small, the gallbladder plays an important role in efficient fat digestion. However, it’s not essential for survival. People can live without a gallbladder, though they do need to adjust their diet and lifestyle after its removal.
The gallbladder is located in the upper right side of the abdomen, just beneath the liver. It sits under the right rib cage, slightly to the right of the midline of the body. More specifically, it rests in a shallow indentation on the underside of the liver.
Doctors often assess gallbladder health by pressing gently in this area—called Murphy’s sign—to check for tenderness.
Gallbladder pain is typically felt in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the rib cage. This area is known as the right upper quadrant. The pain can be sharp, cramping, or dull and aching, and it often comes on suddenly, especially after eating too much and/or eating a fatty or greasy meal.
Common areas where gallbladder pain is felt:
- Upper right abdomen (most common)
- Center of the upper abdomen (just below the breastbone)
- Right shoulder blade or upper back (pain can radiate)
- Right shoulder (less commonly)
This type of pain is known as biliary colic when caused by gallstones temporarily blocking the bile duct. The pain may last from 15 minutes to several hours, and is often accompanied by nausea, bloating, or vomiting.
If the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by fever, chills, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), it could be a sign of gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) or a more serious complication. In such cases, immediate medical attention is recommended.
The location of gallbladder pain can seem different from where the gallbladder actually sits because of how the nervous system processes pain—a phenomenon known as referred pain.
The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, beneath the liver. However, it shares nerve pathways (especially the phrenic nerve) with other parts of the body, including the right shoulder and upper back. When the gallbladder becomes inflamed or irritated, the brain can misinterpret the source of the pain and “refer” it to areas served by the same nerve roots.
If gallstones or infection cause inflammation, nearby structures like the diaphragm or liver capsule can become irritated, further contributing to pain that radiates to the right shoulder or back.
So, while the gallbladder sits in the upper right abdomen, the pain may be felt in the upper middle abdomen, right shoulder, or back due to how the body processes and refers signals from internal organs.
Yes, you can live without your gallbladder. When the gallbladder is removed—typically due to gallstones or other issues—the liver continues to produce bile, but instead of being stored and concentrated in the gallbladder, the bile flows directly into the small intestine. Most people adjust well after surgery, though some may experience mild digestive changes such as looser stools or difficulty digesting fatty foods. These issues usually improve over time. People who adopt a low-fat diet and limit their consumption of processed foods following gallbladder removal typically experience fewer complications in the long term.
Symptoms of gallbladder problems often include pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after eating fatty foods, which may radiate to the right shoulder or upper back. This pain can be sharp, cramping, or steady and may last from minutes to several hours. Other common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, indigestion, and a feeling of fullness.
In more serious cases—such as gallbladder inflammation or bile duct blockage—symptoms may also include fever, chills, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and pale stools or dark urine. Persistent or severe symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Gallbladder problems are most commonly caused by gallstones that block the flow of bile, but they can also result from inflammation, infection, or poor gallbladder function, and are influenced by factors such as a high-fat and/or low-fiber diet, hormonal changes (especially from pregnancy or estrogen-based medications), and genetic predisposition. Family history, age, sex (female), and ethnicity can all increase the risk of developing gallbladder disease.
Check out our page on the Causes of Gallbladder Disease for more information.
A gallbladder attack is a sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, often caused by a gallstone blocking the bile duct. Attacks are frequently caused by eating fatty food, and they may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or pain radiating to the right shoulder or back. The pain usually lasts from 30 minutes to several hours.
A gallbladder attack typically feels like a sudden, sharp pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, just below the rib cage. The pain can be intense and cramping or steady and severe, often radiating to the right shoulder or upper back. It usually occurs after eating a heavy or fatty meal and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, bloating, or a feeling of fullness. The discomfort can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours and may come in waves. Some people describe the pain as similar to a heart attack or extreme indigestion.
A gallbladder attack typically lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. The pain often starts suddenly, usually after eating a fatty or heavy meal, and may gradually fade or stop once the gallstone moves or the gallbladder relaxes. If the pain is accompanied by fever, chills, or jaundice, it may indicate a more serious condition like gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) and requires medical attention.
Gallbladder attacks are caused by gallstones blocking the flow of bile, especially after eating meals that are high in fat or cholesterol. When the gallbladder contracts to release bile for digestion, a gallstone can obstruct the bile duct, causing sudden pain. Gallbladder pain is often triggered by eating large or greasy meals, rapid weight loss, fasting followed by heavy eating, and in some cases, hormonal changes such as those during pregnancy or from estrogen-containing medications. Stress and dehydration may also contribute by affecting digestion and bile concentration.
While you are actively having a gallbladder attack, the most important thing to do is to stop eating until the pain has subsided. Gallbladder pain can be managed through several techniques, including our popular pain relief stretch – review our Gallbladder Pain Support page for more information.
Gallstones are solid particles that form in the gallbladder, and they are primarily made of cholesterol, bilirubin, and calcium salts. The most common type is cholesterol gallstones, which are usually yellow-green and form when bile contains too much cholesterol and not enough bile salts to keep it dissolved. The second type, known as pigment gallstones, are smaller, darker, and made mostly of bilirubin, a substance produced when the body breaks down red blood cells. Gallstones develop when the balance of bile components is disrupted or when the gallbladder doesn’t empty properly, allowing these substances to harden and form stones.
Gallstones form when the chemical balance of bile in the gallbladder is disrupted, causing substances like cholesterol, bilirubin, or calcium salts to harden into stones. The most common cause is too much cholesterol in the bile, which can crystallize if it isn’t properly dissolved. Gallstones can also form when the liver produces too much bilirubin. Additionally, if the gallbladder doesn’t empty completely or frequently enough, bile can become concentrated and stagnant, increasing the risk of stone formation. Risk factors include a high-fat and/or low-fiber diet, obesity, rapid weight loss, pregnancy, age, female hormones (like estrogen), and family history.
The symptoms of gallstones can vary, but the most common is sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen or center of the upper abdomen, often after eating a fatty meal. This pain, known as biliary colic, may last from 30 minutes to several hours and can radiate to the right shoulder or upper back. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, bloating, indigestion, and a feeling of fullness or discomfort after eating. In more severe cases symptoms can also include fever, chills, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and clay-colored stools or dark urine. Some people with gallstones have no symptoms at all; these are called “silent” gallstones and are often found incidentally during imaging for other conditions.
Gallstones are typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests. The most common and effective method is an abdominal ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of the gallbladder and can clearly show gallstones.
If further evaluation is needed, doctors may use additional imaging such as a CT scan, HIDA scan (to assess gallbladder function), or MRI with MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) to view the bile ducts. Blood tests may also be done to check for liver function or signs of infection, especially if symptoms like jaundice or fever are present.
Together, these tools help determine the size, number, and impact of gallstones on the digestive system.
In most cases, gallstones do not go away on their own, especially if they are made of cholesterol or are large in size. Once formed, they tend to persist unless treated. Some small gallstones may pass through the bile ducts without causing symptoms, but larger stones often remain in the gallbladder and can lead to pain, inflammation, or blockages.
Non-surgical treatments—such as taking gallbladder supplements—may support the resolution of gallstones over time, especially in combination with diet and lifestyle changes. Dietary changes alone usually don’t dissolve gallstones, though they may help prevent new ones from forming.
Adopting a gallbladder friendly diet in partnership with gallbladder supplements, and engaging in regular physical movement, can be an effective way to reduce or eliminate gallstones. Visit our Gallbladder Diet page for more information on the foods to eat and avoid when you have gallstones, and consider purchasing a Gallbladder Starter Kit.
Sometimes dietary and lifestyle changes, along with Gallbladder Supplements, are not enough to resolve gallstones. If you feel that your gallstones are not responding to the changes you have made, talk to your doctor about the best course of action for you.
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove the gallbladder, most commonly due to gallstones or gallbladder disease. During the procedure, a surgeon makes three to four small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a thin tube with a camera (called a laparoscope) to view the gallbladder on a video monitor. Special instruments are then used through the other incisions to detach and remove the gallbladder. Compared to traditional open surgery, this approach results in smaller scars, less pain, and a much shorter recovery time.
The recovery time after gallbladder surgery depends on the type of procedure, but most people recover quickly following laparoscopic gallbladder removal, which is the most common approach. Patients are often able to go home the same day or within 24 hours after the procedure. Light activities can usually be resumed within two to three days, and most people return to work and normal routines within one to two weeks.
In contrast, recovery from open gallbladder surgery, which is sometimes necessary for more complex cases, is longer and typically involves a hospital stay of two to five days, with a total recovery time of four to six weeks or more.
Check out our Gallbladder Surgery Guide for more detailed information.
Studies have shown that patients who eat little to no fat in the first weeks after gallbladder surgery experience the best long term outcomes. For the first several days after surgery, eat only fruits and vegetables cooked by steaming or baking, with no added oils. Slowly add a small amount of lean protein back into your diet over the next several weeks, and begin to experiment with small amounts of healthy fats after the first 30 days following your surgery.
Check out our Gallbladder Surgery Guide for more detailed information.
Some people are indeed able to go back to ‘eating anything’ following gallbladder removal surgery, but why would you want to? A gallbladder problem is often an early warning sign that your diet and lifestyle are in need of changes. If you do not heed the gallbladder warning, you can potentially find yourself experiencing worse health problems down the road. Why not use this as an opportunity to make healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle?
Listen to our podcast episodes on The Gift of Gallbladder Disease and How Long Do I Have To Eat Like This? for more thoughts on these topics.
If a gallbladder problem is left untreated, it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. What happens depends on the specific issue, such as gallstones or gallbladder inflammation.
Gallstones, if not treated, can block the bile ducts and cause repeated gallbladder attacks, leading to severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. Ongoing blockage can result in cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), which may cause infection, swelling, and even gangrene or rupture of the gallbladder if left unchecked.
In some cases, stones can travel into the common bile duct, causing jaundice, pancreatitis, or serious infections like cholangitis, which require emergency treatment. Chronic gallbladder disease can also lead to scarring and loss of function over time.
Although some people with “silent” gallstones have no symptoms, once problems begin, they tend to worsen without treatment. Seeking timely medical care can prevent complications and reduce the risk of emergency surgery or long-term health issues.