Feeling really worried

[Milicentbystander72]

I came home from holiday over 3 weeks ago. I started to feel a bit rough on the last day. Felt like indigestion.
After I got home I had about 4 days of diarrhoea, then my period (I do sometimes get diarrhoea with my period). That passed, then I had a migraine with slight nausea and indigestion again.

On Tuesday I called an Ambulance for myself. I've never ever in my life called one but I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. I was sitting relaxing at home, just after lunch. All of a sudden an incredible intense pain came over my chest and abdomen, spreading a bit into my back. My breathing became so difficult and it was hard to speak. My arms and hands went all tingly and my skin cold and clammy. I'd never felt pain like it. Even childbirth.
Whilst waiting for the Ambulance the pain subsided. I was left feeling just lightheaded. The Paramedics gave me an ECG (normal, phew!), said my blood pressure was a bit high but otherwise I was fine. I promised to go to the GP the next day.

The GP did another ECG (fine again) and has taken bloods looking for heart disease, liver function and infection, as well as other things I can't remember.

I'm pretty bloody terrified there's something really wrong. I still feel generally 'unwell' today. No energy.
My only thought was Gallstones. I know I have gallstones as I saw them on an ultrasound when I was pregnant 12 years ago and had an abnormal liver function then. They never quite got to the bottom on the liver function but they induced my baby early. I just very gradually got better. They said not to bother with the gallstones unless they caused me problems.

Does anyone have experience of passing gallstones? Does it sound like this could it?

I'm sorry this is so long. I think I do have some health anxiety. My (very fit and healthy Dad) died of bowel cancer a few years ago and I naturally think it's something like that.

[Malibucyprus]

It could be gallstones, my experience of them was extreme pain in the sternum area, bruised feeling under right hand side ribs, bloating, loose/pale bowel movements.

My attacks can last for up to 5 days, and then I’m left feeling sore and bruised for a few days afterwards.

What did your GP say? Did he offer a diagnosis or do you have to go back?

[Seaweed42]

What meal had you eaten before the attack? Presume on holidays like most of us, you ate rich and fatty food and drank alcohol. What age are you, as these digestives things seem to hit in the 40s.

[Milicentbystander72]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm 47, I'm overweight. I do eat fatty foods to a certain extent but not madly. I don't drink alcohol at all and don't smoke. I exercise by walking about 1 hour half every day.

The GP said it could be gallstones moving but I need to wait for the blood tests results to see if If indicates it. I know I have them as I saw them on an ultrasound 12 years ago. They've just never given me any problems so they were left.

I haven't had the incredible pain since (thank god) I just still feel generally unwell but still managing to walk/work etc - and I have loose, pale-ish stools but wouldn't call it diarrhoea.

[Milicentbystander72]

The lunch I ate was just a few crackers with cheese and pickle. Quite light and nothing I've not had before.

[Malibucyprus]

Cheese is a big trigger for me, in fact any dairy.

[Milicentbystander72]

Malibucyprus when you say a trigger do you mean you ended up passing a gallstone and having gallstone pain after eating cheese etc?

Did you have your gallbladder out?

[ChiaraRimini]

It does sound like gallstones.
The cheese could have triggered it as any high fat food can set it off. The
pain stops when the gallstone has passed out of the gallbladder. The only treatment is surgery to have the gallbladder removed.
(The blood tests may come back normal OP as mine always did, however the diagnosis of gallstones should be by ultrasound which you've already had. )

[NationMcKinley]

Sounds very like gall stones. Poor you OP. I have a friend who has had 4 children and says that labour and birth is a walk in the park compared to gall stones.

[Malibucyprus]

If I eat too many eggs and cheese I end up having an attack. No idea if the stones are passing or just stuck. My attacks also coincide with stress.

I haven’t had my gallbladder out.

Have a read of this thread, lots of other peoples experience with the gallbladder.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3465213-gallbladder-removal-2019-support-thread