Most people who know me know that I had my gallbladder removed, but many don't know why. Many members of my family also had their files deleted. The gallbladder is an organ located below the liver that may or may not be removed if you have gallbladder disease. You may be wondering what exactly the gallbladder is. The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ about three or four inches long and one inch wide. It is located below the liver and is connected by the hepatic duct. (Mama's Health) My doctor told me a simple way to expand the functions of the gallbladder: it is a storage system for the liver and helps digest fats. He also told me that it was like your appendix but on the right side, you have it but if it gets infected it will burst. You can live without this organ. As with many medical problems, some people are at higher risk of developing gallbladder problems. People with existing medical conditions that cause the liver to produce an abnormal amount of bilirubin, a substance formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin in the blood, are at higher risk. People with gallbladder disease in their family are also at higher risk, as in my family. Other people are women, people over forty, ethnic groups, pregnant women, transplant recipients, diabetics and many others are at higher risk. (MedlinePlus)One problem you might have is gallstones. The most common type of gallstones is cholesterol, which has nothing to do with your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol stones form particularly when there is an imbalance between bile salts, which help cholesterol remain a suspended liquid, and cholesterol. This will turn into a mucus gel made up of chole...... middle of paper...... if that was the problem. It is common, however, for stones to return and later require surgery. (Mom's Health) Having my gallbladder removed helped relieve the pain. I know many other people who have had their gallbladder removed and it has helped them too. The only downside to removing it is that I can't eat the same food I used to eat; Now I just have to watch what I eat, eat the foods that give me problems in smaller proportions, and then I won't have any more problems. Works Cited “Gallstones and Gallbladder Diseases.” Google.com. June 26, 2009. University of Maryland Medical Center. March 10, 2010. “Gallbladder.” Google.com. 2000-2009. Mama'sHealth.com. March 10, 2010. “Gallbladder disease.” » MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia. 1997-2010.