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Original poster

I need the wisdom, experience and patience of Gallstone sufferers

50 replies

lolaflores · 23/12/2018 09:16

Something makes me think the pain i have experienced over many years is starting to look a lot like gallstones.
Yesterday I went to A&E after 2 days of relentless pain in my right side, up under my ribs, out my back.
What tipped it over was when I started to feel nasuea along with shivering and sweating.
The doctor wasn't sure it wasn't appendix either...
Came home with advice to keep taking the painkillers but the GP was the only person able to send me for ultrasounds etc.
How long did it take any of you to get a final diagnosis of Gallstones.
Does an attack last very long?
What can I do in the meantime?
The Christmas eating blow out is being cancelled, thats for sure.

OP posts:
Dowser · 23/12/2018 09:43

It’s a bit drastic but works
Look up gall bladder/ liver flush.

I’ve done 7 in the past
Don’t really want to do any more but would if I have too.
If you can’t find it, it’s on curezone

Dowser · 23/12/2018 09:45

If you start now you have time to feel a lot better by Xmas day

If you don’t want to go at it full throttle, just sip lemon juice squeezed in warm water

milkjetmum · 23/12/2018 09:46

I would say the opposite! Sadly took a long time for diagnosis for me as mine were gravel rather than big stones. Was 18 months after first attack before I finally had surgery. Over that year painkillers ramoed up and in the end needed oromorph for pain relief. Surgery was Best thing that ever happened to me!

In the meantime you have to stick to a low fat diet sadly. Anything over 3% fat would service me off and random things like hot drinks or being hungry were also triggers. Good luck!

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milkjetmum · 23/12/2018 09:49

But plenty of low fat Christmas treats, sweets are fine, jelly, most cheaper custard. Chocolate flavoured syrup, sorbet, prawns, meringue, Turkey breastpads, buy cheaper gravy granules they are low fat. Same with stuffing mix. I found cheaper foods the best as they keep them cheaper by not adding butter etc.

milkjetmum · 23/12/2018 09:50

Lol Turkey breastpads! Autocorrect Grin

Dowser · 23/12/2018 09:51

Oops..that should’ve said for next two days to rest your digestion until Christmas Day and then go steady
Don’t have breakfast...but enjoy your meal
Hopefully that will get you through.

happystory · 23/12/2018 09:52

Had my first attack in August, GP was pretty sure it was gallstones, I tried to control it with diet, which worked sort of. You find out the hard way what your triggers are. But eventually I couldn't bear it any longer and had my gallbladder out in the following March. Easily diagnosed by ultrasound.

Frogscotch7 · 23/12/2018 09:56

Sounds like gallstones. Keep going back to gp if you don’t get any relief. Attacks can last half an hour but I’ve had infections in mine that went on for weeks and required hospitalisation. Had mine removed eventually.

hmmwhatatodo · 23/12/2018 09:58

Did they scan you when you went in? Why have you been putting up with this for years? When I first went in, they (the hospital) tried to suggest it was indigestion (hah, I knew it wasn’t!) and gave me gaviscon. I persisted and they sent me for a scan which of course revealed gall stones. This was on the 2nd occasion of experiencing the pain. It took me something like a year of waiting for the operation which was far too long as the result was me losing 2 stones in weight (and I was nowhere near overweight to begin with) so I was very tired and fed up and in the last 4 months I experienced the pain daily. Sometimes I was just an uncomfortable pain that you could just about tolerate and sometimes, well, it was definitely worse than childbirth and nothing could stop the pain short of morphine knocking you out. It was a miserable time. The pain could last for maybe 10 minutes with no after effects to hours with general uncomfortable feelings into the next day. I wasn’t given any dietary advice and this was in the days when internet access wasn’t that good so I had no way to research, I just had to grin and bear it.

MacarenaFerreiro · 23/12/2018 10:01

See your GP when you can and ask to be referred for an ultrasound. If there are gallstones there, the ultrasound will see them easily. Mine were more like sand than a couple of large stones.

Getting my gallbladder out was the best thing I ever did. Things like flushing your gallbladder are a temporary move as the stones will just build up again if you're prone to it.

Lulutheboss · 23/12/2018 10:01

My friend had her first attack last Monday. She had no idea what it was. She hadn’t had any symptoms previously.
Anyway, my friend was admitted on the Monday evening and had a diagnosis by Thursday. Operation will be in January.

EggysMom · 23/12/2018 10:02

Came home with advice to keep taking the painkillers but the GP was the only person able to send me for ultrasounds etc.

My GP referred me for an u/s for liver and gallstones on Monday. The next day, I got a call inviting me to an appointment on the Thursday, I couldn't make that, so I have my scan this morning. So it's not a long wait!!

Elephantina · 23/12/2018 10:03

Go to GP, ask for ultrasound scan. From my first significant attack to having mine out was 8 months, all on NHS. Job done!

In the meantime - go easy on fatty foods (including full fat yoghurt sadly), use buscopan and paracetamol for pain.

Good luck, it's not much fun is it. Flowers

Hohocabbage · 23/12/2018 10:04

I have gallstones, diagnosed in a scan for something else. I don’t have symptoms (touch wood) but if I do at least I know what it is. You shouldn’t be having pain for years OP.

stresshead84 · 23/12/2018 10:15

Diagnosed in April after months of pain that became increasingly severe until I was sweating and feverish so admitted defeat and went to the drs. Was referred 2 weeks after initial misdiagnosis of a kidney infection/urine infection. Ultrasound in July took minutes as it was full of stones. Had it out in early September. Upset stomach for a few days post-op. Now pain free and normal digestion. Definitely worth having the op for me. Best painkiller I found was buscopan, which just took the edge off the pain enough to be bearable and keep me out of A&E while I waited for the op.

ChodeofChodeHall · 23/12/2018 10:31

Mine were misdiagnosed as reflux so I suffered with attacks for 15 years before treatment. Didn't even get an ultrasound until I had been admitted to hospital with pancreatitis.

During an attack: take strong painkillers at the first twinge, as PP has said, sip lemon juice in water. I found walking around during an attack helped a bit. Keep on at your GP until you get a diagnosis, and try to keep fatty food to a minimum (hard at this time of year, I know). Good luck!

Sinead100 · 23/12/2018 10:35

I had my first Gallstone attack on Christmas Day four years ago! And then suffered for 11 months before having the gallbladder out.

Recommend: very low fat diet, Paracetamol and Buscopan the second you feel an attack coming on. Dont take ibuprofen as it will aggravate the inflammation.
Some people swear by Apple cider vinegar but it didnt work for me.

Good luck!

WithAllIntenseAndPurposes · 23/12/2018 10:37

I'm really laughing at turkey breast pads!!! Best auto correct ever!
Took about 8 months to get diagnosed and had surgery 13 months later getting an infected gallbladder was the worst part never known pain like it

Godowneasy · 23/12/2018 10:46

Be careful about just soldiering on with an attack- mine got so bad I had to call an ambulance and was in hiospital for 10 days with pancreatitis. The pain was excrutiating! It can kill you as your organs start to shut down...
I had my gall bladder removed about a month later.

MissMarplesKnitting · 23/12/2018 10:53

I had my first attack in march, exactly like you describe. Though I think I'd had grumbly gallbladder for years, and misdiagnosis of IBS.

Saw the GP following week, and had a scan in May, and gallbladder came out in August.

Best thing EVER. The week after surgery you have to take it easy but I recovered very quickly and within a week was driving, doing most normal stuff except lifting.

But omg I feel so much better. I have loads more energy, and I had massive vitamin D deficiency, which may well have been related to the gallbladder issues.

Nothing hurts when I bend over or lie on my left side, it was like having a tennis ball under my ribs 25/7. I can eat normal foods.

Get to the GP and get the ball rolling!

MissMarplesKnitting · 23/12/2018 10:55

In the meantime drink lots of water. Being dehydrated set mine off.

Bland food, low fat. For me, dairy fat was a big trigger, as well as anything fried and/or spicy was a no too.

Original poster
lolaflores · 23/12/2018 12:22

I was reading this while waiting for the bus, nodding and muttering "Yes, yes...oh yes"
Have been told on numerous occasions I had IBS.
Acid reflux (this is aggravating my asthma too._
Due to the reflux, my ENT man is probably going to send me down the gastric road and hopefully get an ultrasound that way.
Been told I was depressed.
A variety of diagnosis of urniary infection, kidney infection or stones.
At this point in my life I am utterly fed up with it all.
All the advice regarding diet is very welcome and I can at least have some control over the worst of it and not inadvertently trigger an episode.
Frankly, I was feeling so ill, the sight of food didn't do anything for me.
I usually eat till I am full and stop. More of a picker than a proper sit down.
There is loads to be getting on with and I will look at that flush, but Ill be honest...it doesn't sound like much fun but am willing to give anything a go.
thanks all, enjoy the break.

OP posts:
willowpillow · 23/12/2018 13:14

Your symptoms sound very much like gallstones. I have never known such awful pain in my life! I would really advise against doing the flush. If you investigate a bit on the internet you will see that medical professionals advise against it and that the product you are flushing out is not actually gallstones either. I did try to do it once out of desperation and I ended up in A&E with such severe pain I had to have a morphine injection.

After that A&E episode I was referred for an ultrasound which immediately showed stones and gravel. I then had an appointment with the consultant who said I was a good candidate for surgery. I have since had my pre op assessment but I am now waiting on a date for surgery. I first went to A&E in June just to give you an idea of waiting times.

I can also really recommend a low fat diet, spicy food and over eating are another trigger for me. I have not had any symptoms for a few months now following the diet advice but the consultant still recommends having it out.

willowpillow · 23/12/2018 13:16

And I also didn't realise how common a condition this was until looking at Mumsnet! Apparently it's one of the most performed surgeries in the uk.

JingleAllTheQuack · 23/12/2018 13:18

I second a lot of the advice you've already been given - particularly Buscopan. A couple of other tips...

To avoid attacks, I found it wasn't just about what I ate, but when - try not to eat within 3 hours of bedtime or lying down.

A very hot bath helps to relieve the pain.

Keep an eye on the colour of your skin and eyeballs - if you become jaundiced, get to hospital.