Educate me please on gallstones

[Bigoldwimp]

Hi.

I had odd results from a liver function test In pregnancy and an ultrasound showed gallstones. Not sure on size etc but know they are there. Mentioned it at my 8 week check and it was shrugged off as nothing to worry about. I’ve never had an attack . HOWEVER... i do get really bad shoulder blade pain and hadn’t realised it was linked ( I assumed the pain was from poor posture). So if it is caused by gallstones what should I be doing/eating/ not eating? I don’t want to bother my GP as I’m not needing urgent care but would love to hear advice

[trinity0097]

The NICE guidance is to not eat things that trigger it. For some that’s fat, for others they are fine eating fat. This goes against what doc RS used to learn, so many doctors still give out the old guidance of a low fat diet. In fact a low carb high fat diet helped keep mine at bay for years!

[Bigoldwimp]

Ps though I’m chubbier than I would like to be, I’m not overweight but I am nearing 40 (35) and fertile

[Bigoldwimp]

@trinity0097 that’s confusing! But maybe I should keep a note of what does trigger it. I’m wedded to carbs and caffeine

[goose1964]

I was unable to eat fat without causing an attack. I've had my gallbladder out now and still have to eat low fat or I get awful pain in my intestines followed by the inevitable clear out. The dietician said about 10% of people who have their gallbladder removed suffer from this.

[dahliaaa]

Goose do you get pain in your side too ?
I'm too years on from gallbladder removal and have very similar to what you've described.

[Idontkowmyname]

If you are considering losing weight do so very gradually since rapid weight loss is renowned for increasing gallstone numbers as well as any symptoms. Disclaimer - not medically qualified just what I remember reading about it over the years

[abstractzebra]

I had bad results from a liver function test and in my case, the gallstones had escaped and were blocking various areas including my bile duct and liver.
I had to have them removed before eventually having my gallbladder removed.
My GP failed to diagnose it as gallstones or even pick up that I had quite bad jaundice.
It was only really when I went to hospital after I collapsed that I found they really did all the right tests and diagnosed all the other issues.
If it was me, I'd visit the doctor but with the hope that they refer you to the experts.
I was much sicker than I realised and let it go on far too long before I even visited a doctor.

[abstractzebra]

Good point!
Mine was probably triggered by rapid weight loss but no one really warns you off this!

[Bigoldwimp]

After my third child, rapid weight loss is alas a pipe dream! But you’re right @abstractzebra I won’t let it go on forever but if I can find a way to make it settle that would be good. I’m cutting low fat foods first. Bye bye mint chocolate magnums...you will be greatly missed

[abstractzebra]

Realistically though, nothing will help if you are already in the problem zone if you see what I mean.
In the end, I was leaving work early everyday after a perfectly healthy lunch because the attacks were coming thick and fast and nothing would stop them.
Knowing what I know now, I would be trying to get referred to the experts before it gets out of hand.

[abstractzebra]

Sorry! I keep forgetting to mention, shoulder pain or upper back pain for me was the indicator that my gallstones had escaped elsewhere which eventually caused me to get very ill.
I don't want to scaremonger but I ignored it for far too long and the operation to remove the escaped gallstones wasn't very nice ☹️