Unusual gallbladder symptoms

[Gracie2001]

Hi my ultrasound confirmed that I have hundreds of gallstones.
I’ve been having some classic symptoms but also unusual symptoms. I’ve had constant pain for the last 5 months. No let up.

• right shoulder blade pain
  
• Right neck pain
  
• Right mid/upper back pain
  
• Pain under right rib, painful to touch
  
• Right low back pain, with pain going down my right hip and right leg.
  

From what I’ve read online mid/upper back pain and shoulder pain are common symptoms.
But I haven’t really seen anything about low back, hip or leg pain. Did anyone else experience these symptoms?
I haven’t really had attacks, but have discomfort after eating under my right rib, right chest and the mid/upper back pain intensifies

[Lemonpiano]

It might be referred pain or from holding/carrying yourself awkwardly. Or unconnected.

[SOLINVICTUS]

I could have written your post myself!
I have a scan later this month but am pretty sure, as is my GP that it's gallstones. I've been thinking the right leg thing is sciatica due to working from home and sitting at a computer all day but hadn't really thought about it being connected to the digestive issues. Or I've wondered kidneys...

[SOLINVICTUS]

Oh, I also have pain on "inside" of hip bone which I thought might be appendix related, but then just thought maybe just aged hips suffering from lockdown-itis

[RandomMess]

My friend suffered with horrific bowel and gynae pains for over a year that turned out to be all gallbladder referred pain.

[Gracie2001]

Wow this has been my exact experience. I thought the pain was due to working from home and sitting down too much. Seen physios and chiropractor and the pain just isn’t shifting.

[SOLINVICTUS]

Yep. I'm lying in bed now as foolishly gobbled down a pizza too quickly so started with stomach cramps. Often my right groin, hip and leg kind of have a weird tingling thing going on. As I said, I think the leg is sitting in same position for too long, but did wonder if the lower groin, kind of being near intestine was gallbladder. (I don't even know if mine is gallbladder yet but symptoms and the 3-4 attacks I've had seem pretty textbook- ache under right rib, and when it flares it goes right round into back and shoulder and up into jaw)

[Cherry889]

As well as all the normal symptoms from gallstones I am also experiencing a change in bowel motions such as diarreah after fatty food, some days multiple bowel motions, trapped wind etc.

One dr said these would not be due to the gallstones another said it could be and we won’t know until I have had the op.

[Gracie2001]

Hi Solinvictus just wondering how you’re getting on. Have you had an ultrasound?

[Footle]

@Gracie2001 , if you retype your message to @SOLINVICTUS as I've just done , preceded by @, she should get an alert and read it.

[Gracie2001]

@Footle thank you,

[Gracie2001]

@SOLINVICTUS
Hi Solinvictus just wondering how you’re getting on. Have you had an ultrasound?

[ballsdeep]

I've had an ultrasound and MRI which shows blocked stones. I am on the list for removal.
My pain is linked to my cycle. I can guarantee every month I have horrendous gallstone pains. I am exhausted. I could sleep for hours and hours but can't because of the pain. It's awful. I also have leg pain. I can't wait to get mine removed

[Gracie2001]

@ballsdeep I’m sorry to hear about your pain. My pain is definitely worse during the time of the month , although it’s there everyday. I couldn’t imagine that gallstones could cause so much pain in unexpected places. I hope you get relief very soon.

[CharlotteRose90]

I had every single one of your
Symptoms before mine came out it was absolutely horrific

[Gracie2001]

@CharlotteRose90 it truly is awful , did you get relief after getting your removed?

[CharlotteRose90]

[quote Gracie2001]@CharlotteRose90 it truly is awful , did you get relief after getting your removed?[/quote]
I did but I’ve had a few pain episodes since. I got mine removed in 2018 and I’ve had probably about 4 episodes since then. Who knew you can get gallstones without a gallbladder.

[oil0W0lio]

Hello gallbladder people how are you all?
Mine is grumbly but only comes on every few weeks or so, would I even be sent for a scan with symptoms that are infrequent 🤔

[Gracie2001]

@oil0W0lio You can ask to be sent for an ultrasound if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort with your gallbladder.

[oil0W0lio]

Thanks Gracie🙏 I intend to get it checked out....although when I phoned my GP this morning the attitude of the receptionist infuriated me so greatly that I slammed the phone down😡🤦🏼‍♀️
it's like everyone is treated as a time waster by default and you have to fight to be taken seriously, aarrgghh, I will have to get in control of my temper and try again later 😶

[Els1983]

@Gracie2001, my symptoms are identical to yours and I have a scan booked soo, Dr thinks mine is also gallbladder. Like you, I haven't had any classic attacks.
What treatment were you recommended following your ultrasound?

[oil0W0lio]

@ballsdeep

I've had an ultrasound and MRI which shows blocked stones. I am on the list for removal.
My pain is linked to my cycle. I can guarantee every month I have horrendous gallstone pains. I am exhausted. I could sleep for hours and hours but can't because of the pain. It's awful. I also have leg pain. I can't wait to get mine removed

I wonder if this is a sign of some degree of endometriosis?
in my case even though I am a few years post menopause my symptoms appear to be 4 weekly as if there are still tissues in the abdomen which operate in a cyclical way?
When I was in my 30s I had my appendix out and I remember that used to flare up every 28 days

[Gracie2001]

@Els1983 hi i had the ultrasound in January and the only treatment they recommended was surgery to remove my gallbladder. Prior to surgery I had to have an endoscopy done so they could rule out or identify any other stomach/gi issues.

I had the surgery on Saturday. It was keyhole and a day case. It’s however still early days to assess if I feel better. The surgeon said I should feel 90% better by the end of week 2. Im really hoping so.

I went private via work insurance so the process has been much faster than via the nhs.

[CuriouslyStardust]

This has been really helpful to read. I had a scan and was diagnosed end of last year. I do get attacks along with constant aches and bloating. The weird thing for me is it's often on the mid to left side rather than the right side. It really radiates out into my shoulder blade and feels like a band of pain. It's reassuring to know other people find it gets worse during periods. That's been my experience which made me question whether I had a problem in that area as well but it genuinely sounds like it could all be gallstone related.
It's depressing that they've suspended all appointments due to covid. I'm a little worried I'll have to deal with this pain for ages. The dr's seem completely unconcerned too!

[Gracie2001]

I have to say the symptoms that has really stumped me is the pain in my right hip going down my right leg. No doctor could confirm that it’s linked to the gallbladder but I joined groups on Facebook with other gallbladder sufferers who experienced similar symptoms and found a lady on YouTube who documented her experience of pain all down the right side of her body from gallbladder issues. From neck down to legs. Her symptoms seemed to resolve after her gallbladder was removed .

[Gracie2001]

I should also say that I was tested for other conditions. Had a whole spine mri to see if I had a slipped disc that was pinching a nerve. My spine was fine. Had a pelvis mri to see if I had structural problems in my hips, or issues in my reproductive organs - that was clear. Was tested for blood cancer - negative. saw a neurologist who said my symptoms weren’t neurological. Attended weeks of physio and chiropractor which made my symptoms worse. Tested for diabeties - negative. Blood tests were fine with some inflammation noted. Heart checked fine, checked for blood clots - fine.
It’s been a real journey and I’m hoping that the pain resolves