Gall bladder trouble anyone?

[alysonpeaches]

I have been having lots of pain in my upper abdo, belching, sweating and nausea. The drop in centre doctor thought gallstones, my gp said either gallstones or stomach ulcer, and has ordered an ultrasound and some blood tests. In the meantime he advised a low fat diet, stopping my ibuprofen (which I take for bad back), Im already on omeprazole (which is an indigestion thingy).

Has anyone else been through this recently? Any words of advice?

[NorthernMonkeyGP]

Your GP has basically covered it, though on history alone it sounds more like an ulcer than gallstones (the belching and the fact that you're on ibuprofen are suggestive). Try the low fat diet and, if no better (fat causes the gallbladder to contract. If you have stones, this really hurts) pester see your GP again to get referred for an endoscopy - unpleasant but quick and gives a definitive answer to the question 'have I got an ulcer?'.
Also, I don't know what dose of omeprazole you're currently using, but there may be scope to increase the dosage, as patients are often started on 20mg/day, which will suit milder cases and save the NHS money - again, please discuss with your GP.

[alysonpeaches]

Thanks on 20mg/day.

I had an endoscopy about 5 years ago but they were looking for something else: coeliac disease. Ive had irritable bowel for about 20 years and another doc had it investigated. I really dont fancy another, it was a fight to get the tube down, and I came out with a red eye and pitichae (sp? little red burst blood vessels) all over my face neck and chest.

Im hoping that the scan and blood tests will tell the doctor enough to sort things.

In the meantime I am pursuing the low fat diet option. I am scared it will get really bad though whilst Im waiting because the pain is excruciating when it starts.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

If it's gallstones the low fat diet should avoid attacks - although, for me, they seem to be stress-related.

How long do the attacks usually last?

Hope you get this sorted soon.

[mathanxiety]

The low fat diet will keep attacks down if it's gallstones, but if you get a stone stuck in your bile duct all bets are off, pain-wise. I would get this sorted sooner rather than later...

[stealthsquiggle]

What is the anti-spasmodic they prescribe for gall bladder attacks? Some knowledgeable person will come along and name it, I am sure, but it saved my life kept me sane and funtioning until I (went private and) had it removed.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

I take Diclofenac when I feel an attack may be imminent, not sure if that's what you mean.

[alypaly]

hi alysonpeaches ..
just had my gall bladder out after an excruciating pain episode earlier this year.
Thought i was having a heart attack.ended up on the floor doubled up with the pain. Thought it was bad indigestion at first and then the pain just carried on.

The doc thought i had IBS for years. Had an attack of severe pain near pancreas 3 years ago which landed me in hospital and it niggled ever since. Finally came to a head this year. Did an abdo scan and spotted the 200 small stones and 4 x 1cm ones that they had previously missed.

Blood test showed raised CRP too.

[alypaly]

stealthsquiggle ...trying to be knowledgeable personwas it domperidone (lomotil)or colofac, buscopan maybe.

Ap...get it seen too if its gall stones...believe me you do not want one stuck in the bile duct..it is excruciating and made me really ill. Got inflammed pancreas becos of it.

[stealthsquiggle]

Buscopan - I hereby annoint you as officially (IMO) knowledgeable person, alypaly . Magic stuff (but don't let the magic deter you from getting it seen to sooner rather than later if it does turn out to be gallbladder related!)

[alypaly]

cheers

[herecomesthesun]

Fancy that, just last week had a scan after horrendous upper abdomen and back pain, compared only to labour pains as I was rolling round on the floor in agony. Anyway, have been told I have lots of gall stones. Ended up at A&E last night just for pain relief as I had another attack.

Anyway, for the pain: Buscopan 2 tablets four times a day (stops gall bladder contracting apparently), and then whenever I have an attack Ibruprofen 1 three times a day and also Co-codamol up to 2 four times a day or until attack stops.

Waiting for a consultant appointment and apparently I will need my gall bladder removing.

[alypaly]

yes same thing,ambulance to A and E ..morphine...pain stopped in about 2 hours.

did they ultrasound you to confirm stones? felt a fraud and went home.

Told no ibuprofen incase it was gastric problem,gp gave me pethidine as codeine can affect the pancreactic and bile ducts.

[alypaly]

sorry ..silly me you said you had had a scan

[alypaly]

stick to a very low fat diet til you have your op,so that the gall bladder isnt over stimulated

[alysonpeaches]

I havent had the scan yet, been referred for one. Various blood tests including fasting ones on Monday.

Ive been troubled by this pain several times and have been rolling about with it, somehow you just cant lie still although you would love to go back to sleep.

Interesting that you mention buscopan, I used to be on that for IBS, Im not sure if I have any left. Im on mebeverine now.

I take co-dydramol for back pain, so I presume I can continue with that as I have stopped ibuprofen.

[herecomesthesun]

Yes I had lots of blood tests also, before scan. Had a tiny tiny amount of grated cheese on salad last night which must have accounted for the attack.

It is crazy, another friend has the same thing, almost the exact same time as me and she has recently had two children, as have I. Also, prior to these problems and at present my diet is at the healthiest and lowest in fat it has ever been.

[alypaly]

alysonpeaches..i was the same...troubled with undiagnosed abdo pain...doc thought i was becoming a hypochondriac i think.Told me it was IBS....had pancreatic attack which was the worst pain imagineable( would rather haev given birth to a hippo)then after 3 years of intermittent pain ...i would have loved to have rubbed my GP's nose in it...and said"told you i was ill" grrrrrrrrrrrrr doctors!!!!!!!!v

They make me so angry,they play with your lives and in the end most of them know bugger all.

sorry just gone off on one as i have had unnecessary pain for years due to crap GP's and some crap consultants.

I like alyson spelled with a Y Too

[minimu]

Once you get round to the op it is great- key hole surgery - two days after I was eating roast lamb - sosmething I had been craving when on the low fat diet leading up to my op. I read somewhere that female hormones play a part in the creation of gall stones so can be common after having children..Not sure if that was fact or just some helpful comment I was offered when rolling on the floor with an attack!! Do try and get on the waiting list asap as it does not tend to go away on its own. I left it too late and was a bit desperate so in the end spent my holiday money and went private

[stealthsquiggle]

I absolutely agree - keyhole op and 'twas all sorted. If you do happen to have private health insurance get yourself referred now - don't wait for the next stage.

[alypaly]

minimu i was only saying that to my BF ...it seems to be women just after giving birth and 45-55 yrs too.
Gall stones are mainly cholesterol ,but my cholesterol was really low...but i reckon its to do with hormones of pregnancy and menopause alike.

Despite being told i would be ok within days of op.....I was really ill after my gall bladder removal... had keyhole too. Was in agony trying to eat for 5 weeks...really thought i was on my way out( as you might have read in previous threads).... lost 18 lbs becos i couldnt eat and then all of a sudden just started to feel better.Eat cream and dairy and fatty stuff

Although...(she pauses) i have still got a niggly pain near my pancreas which is still worrying me slightly. dont know what to do ,dont want any more investigations.

[alypaly]

just found this on a web page.....Gallstones are a painful condition that can be caused and worsened by pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body slows and the gallbladder cannot empty excess cholesterol.

Pregnancy is beautiful, but not always glamorous. Morning sickness, swollen ankles and headaches are normal, but sharp abdominal pain or pain that radiates into the back and right shoulder blade in addition to nausea and vomiting is a sign that a person might have gallstones.
What are Gallstones?

Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in the gallbladder or in the nearby bile ducts. Diets high in cholesterol and fat increase the chance of developing stones. When you eat fat, both the liver and gallbladder excrete bile to the stomach for digestion. The gallbladder contracts to release the bile that is needed to digest the fat. Once digestion stops, and if the gallbladder is not emptied out completely, bile that remains in the gallbladder can become too concentrated with cholesterol and stones are created.

Read more: prenatal-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/gallstones_and_pregnancy#ixzz0S2Iow6TI

[stealthsquiggle]

My consultant told me the high risk group was 'female, fair, fertile' (and less polite people would add 'fat', which I also fit)

[alypaly]

not in that bracket...
i am female however,dark,infertile,slim.

My doc added another 'f' which i wont repeat but made me laugh

[alypaly]

the other F is forty and i am 53 so it throws the whole theory in the air

[alysonpeaches]

I am fair, and fat, fifty and the fertile thing doesnt fit because I had a hysterectomy last year. I thought I had read somewhere that when the old saying said "fair" it simply meant the fairer sex i.e. women. lol at the other f word though, might tell my mum cos its probably her favourite word at the moment.

Anyhoo, my scan is going to be next Wednesday and my fasting bloods Monday. I have lost half a stone this week by not eating much and sticking to low fat which is good. But today I felt better and discovered boiled sweets ...

Thanks everyone.