Gallstones • Patient Education
I Went to the ER and They Found Gallstones. What Happens Next?
You went to the emergency room with pain in your upper belly, and after an ultrasound or CT scan someone told you that you have gallstones. Now the pain has eased, you have discharge papers in hand, and you are not sure what to do next. Here is what usually happens after that ER visit, and how to tell when waiting is not safe.
By the surgical team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas · Updated September 30, 2026
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THE SHORT ANSWER
If the ER discharged you with gallstones, the usual next step is a follow-up visit with a general surgeon, ideally within the next few days to weeks. Gallstones that have caused one attack are likely to cause more, and most people with symptomatic gallstones are advised to have the gallbladder removed, usually with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Go back to the ER right away for fever, yellow skin or eyes, or pain lasting more than a few hours.
Why Did the ER Send Me Home?
Emergency physicians focus on ruling out conditions that need immediate treatment. If your pain improved, your blood work was reassuring and there was no sign of infection or a blocked bile duct, the ER likely diagnosed biliary colic: pain caused by a gallstone temporarily blocking the gallbladder outlet. Biliary colic usually settles within a few hours.
If the ER found acute cholecystitis, an inflamed gallbladder, you were probably admitted instead, because inflamed gallbladders are commonly removed during the same hospital stay.
Do Gallstones Found in the ER Always Need Surgery?
Not always, but gallstones that caused the pain that sent you to the ER are a different situation from gallstones found by accident. Stones that have never caused symptoms usually do not need treatment. Once they have caused an attack, further attacks are common, and each one carries some risk of complications such as cholecystitis, a stone in the bile duct, or gallstone pancreatitis.
For that reason, surgeons typically recommend removing the gallbladder after symptomatic gallstones. Medications that dissolve stones exist, but they work slowly, only for certain stones, and are rarely a good option for people whose stones are already causing pain. Read more in do gallstones always need surgery?
What Should I Bring to the Surgeon?
- Your ER discharge summary
- The ultrasound or CT report, and the images on disc if you have them
- Your blood test results, especially liver tests and lipase
- A list of medications, including blood thinners
- Notes on when the pain started, how long it lasted, and what you ate beforehand
These details help the surgeon confirm that the gallbladder, and not something else, caused your pain.
Found Gallstones in the ER?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir sees patients after ER visits at our Katy and Sugar Land offices. Bring your ER paperwork and imaging.
When Should I Go Back to the ER Instead of Waiting?
Return to the emergency room, or call 911, if you develop:
- Fever or chills with belly pain
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Pain in the upper right or middle abdomen that lasts longer than a few hours
- Pain that spreads to the back with nausea and vomiting, which can signal pancreatitis
- Dark urine or pale, clay-colored stools
These can mean the gallbladder is infected or a stone has moved into the bile duct, both of which need prompt treatment.
How Can I Reduce Attacks While I Wait?
Many people notice attacks after large or fatty meals. Smaller meals lower in fried and fatty foods may reduce how often attacks happen, although diet changes do not remove the stones. Keep your follow-up appointment even if you feel fine; feeling well between attacks is typical of gallstone disease.
What Does Gallbladder Surgery Involve?
Gallbladder removal, called cholecystectomy, is one of the most common operations general surgeons perform. Most planned operations are done laparoscopically through a few small incisions, and many patients go home the same day. Robotic surgery is another minimally invasive option in selected cases. People live normally without a gallbladder because the liver continues to make bile. Learn more about gallbladder surgery and laparoscopic gallbladder removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I see a surgeon after an ER visit for gallstones?
Many patients are seen within a few days to a few weeks. Follow the timing your ER discharge instructions give, and go back to the ER sooner if pain returns and lasts, or if you develop fever or jaundice.
Can gallstones go away on their own?
Gallstones rarely disappear on their own. Small stones can pass into the bile duct, but that can cause blockage or pancreatitis rather than solving the problem.
Will I need surgery right away?
Usually not, if the ER discharged you. Surgery is typically scheduled after a consultation. Patients with acute cholecystitis are often treated during the same hospital admission.
What kind of doctor removes the gallbladder?
A general surgeon. Your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist may help with diagnosis, but the operation is performed by a surgeon.
Key Takeaway
Gallstones that sent you to the ER deserve a follow-up with a general surgeon. Most people with symptomatic gallstones do best with gallbladder removal, usually laparoscopic, and warning signs such as fever, jaundice or long-lasting pain mean you should return to the ER.
Sources and Further Reading
- Gallstones, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Treatment for Gallstones, NIDDK
- Acute cholecystitis, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf)
This article is general education, not personal medical advice. For severe abdominal pain, fever with abdominal pain, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek emergency care.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University, completed General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He sees patients at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas in Katy and Sugar Land.
Related Reading and Care
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This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated September 30, 2026.