Gallstones/Gallbladder Pain Vs Labour / Childbirth?

[volvocowgirl]

Read a few bits on the net comparing gallstone & gallbladder pain to labour & childbirth - just interested to see which one people found the worst?

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

I would rather give birth a thousand times than have gallstones again. It was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt I even passed out several times before I finally had my operation.

[Nicknamegrief]

I had renal colic when I was pregnant with my second, was far more painful than childbirth however you can at least have pain relief for them (unless you are pregnant and then offered two paracetamol, although I did feel a lot happier when the consultant said if I wasn't pregnant I would be offered morphine).

[Nicknamegrief]

PS was told renal colic was like having gallstones.

PPS if its like the colic babies, I feel very very sorry for them.

[nipersvest]

i have given birth twice, and dh has had gallstones. i managed both times just on gas & air. dh however, and who is a big bloke with quite a high tolerance level, cried in agony when the gallstones were bad

[dietstartstmoz]

I have given birth twice with just gas and air for the first and a tens for the second one, I also have gallstones, and have had just one bad attack so far. I would say the gallstone pain is very very nearly as bad as full advanced labour, but labour just has that edge of horrific pain. Gallbladder pain was also excruciating though.

[foxyhen]

Gallstones were worse than labour for me - hands down!

[tipsytrifle]

I endured a huge gallstone for 10yrs. It was undiagnosed (attributed to extreme stress-induced IBS) until a scan revealed what had crippled and, literally, destroyed my life for all that time. I was severely underweight with all the consequences of that; depression and genuine suicidal thoughts accompanied the unspeakable agony. Childbirth was a breeze compared to The Gallstone!

[Doogle2]

I would rather have a c-section without pain relief than have the pain of gallstones again! Worst pain of my life. I was advised to get a morphine shot when I had an attack but I had a small baby so felt I couldn't take it. Sooooo glad it has been removed.

[AgentProvocateur]

I'd rather go through a 7-day labour with a 20kg baby than suffer gall stone / pancreatitis pain again. It's quite unlike anything you could imagine.

[bigbluebus]

How long did you all have to wait for your surgery? DH had a gallstones attack in Nov 2011 and had a further episode last week. He has now decided to have the operation to remove his gall bladder. Seeing the consultant in 2 weeks but just wondered how long he would need to wait for the op?

[AgentProvocateur]

Four or five months, till the inflammation had gone.

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

I was around 18 months before mine got removed, and it took about 4 months to diagnose, so all in all about 2 years. I was hospitalised about 10 times and was on tramodol and a concoction of other meds for the majority of that time.

[bigbluebus]

DHs scan did show that there had been inflamation, but then he went 14 months without symptoms. Seems to be stable again ftb but is taking Omeprazole and some other anti-spasm medication that GP has prescribed.
Just worried in case it flares up again acutely. We live on a knife edge here already with DDs epilepsy so could do without any more medical emergencies. At least the ambulance crew know where our house is !

[ceebeegeebies]

I was in labour for 24 hours before having a c-section so never really experienced the worst of labour pains - however for those 24 hours, DS1 was back to back and the pain in my back was agony!

However, gallstone pain was far worse - hours of total total agony

In terms of length of time it takes, I went from diagnosis to operation in about 6 months. My sister is in the process of waiting for her operation and from the expected timescales, hers will be about 6 months aswell.

[bigbluebus]

Missymoo, why did it take so long to diagnose yours?
DH described his symptoms (which only occur at night) to the GP and he immediately said it was gallstones even though DH is "the wrong shape and age".
He waited 2 months for an ultrasound scan which confirmed the diagnosis and a further 3 months to see a consultant, where he was offered surgery, but foolishly refused and decided on a 'wait and see' policy as he had not had any further problems in those 5 months. He is basically just wimping out as he has never been in hospital before!

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

I didn't fit the critera for checking for gallstones apparently. I was 24 and really skinny (because I could't bloody eat) and I had just had a baby. They checked for loads of things before they finally did a scan. They weren't even checking for them at that time so I'm lucky I had loads or they wouldn't have been spotted. I didn't have any unusual symptoms so I was a bit pissed off it took so long tbh.

[nipersvest]

dh was misdiagnosed initially, for a year he was being treated for a stomach ulcer because they were reluctant to give him a scan.

[Viviennemary]

They took ages to diagnose my gallstones and then I had to wait for the operation. Doctor said what is your pain scale on 1-10, 10 being highest pain. I said worse than childbirth so he wrote down 9/10. And also I think it's more frightening in a way and also feeling ill too.

[catcymrag]

I'm pregnant, have gallstones and It has been causing problems. I have been advised by the surgeon to have my gallbladder removed while pregnant as he believes if I end up having a complication ( cholecystitis or pancreatitis) miscarriage or still birth is likely.

Of course, the operation carries its own risks. Has anyone else out there had their gallbladder removed while pregnant or been faced with having to decide if you should go ahead with an operation when they could lose their baby?

I'm just not sure what to do.