I need the wisdom, experience and patience of Gallstone sufferers

[lolaflores]

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.

Forget the flush - nothing will dissolve stones once they have formed. I have my GB out in September. I had known about the stones for years but decided against the surgery because the pain wasn't really frequent, although it was severe when it happened.

My pain episodes ramped up this year and I asked for the surgery. I might have had to wait a few months but my liver blood tests started to climb dramatically (GGt should be under 40, mine was 1050) after every attack and I was becoming jaundiced. My GP and Surgeon speeded up the process and I was operated on within 10 weeks of referral.

Strangely, not all fatty foods caused attacks but cheese and cheesy food certainly did, I also suspected eggs so avoided them too.

I had my 1st attack. Went to hospital as was in agony. Straight up to surgical ward for tests etc.

I would have been operated on as soon as a surgery slot was available.

But I am pregnant. So currently been told cleared and signed off for surgery. Just need to get my 6wk post partum check out the way and they will operate as soon as they can afterwards.

Been told for non lige threatening emergancies (ie no infection or dislodged stones) the waiting list is around 6 to 8 weeks.

I have been told basicly if they get worse they will take the decision to remove whilst im pregnant. With the line of of you go yellow call 999 imeadiatly reassuring.

Do you feel like weeing provides some mild relief from the attacks? It took ages to diagnose mine but it was definitely gallstones. Pain all around but centering on right shoulder blade. I didn't have any obvious food triggers either for the attacks.

I had general shoulder/ back aches in the evenings/ nights too, like period muscle cramp. Assumed it was due to using computer mouse all day, but I've not had it since I had my gallbladder out.

I had my gallbladder out last year but I still have problems sadly. I see the surgeon again on a Thursday.

The lady who did my ultrasound said they were there. That was April and it took until
October for the operation.

Most stones can been seen on ultrasound, but I needed an MRI. They can travel outside the gallbladder and get stuck in the bile duct which will cause jaundice (hence the previous comments re turning yellow), can also get infected/inflamed (cholecystitis)(sp?) and/or lead to pancreatitis.
In between multiple hospital admission and having my gallbladder removed, I had to eat incredibly low fat, avoid any spicy food and onion.
YY to strong painkillers, sipping hot water, using wheat bags/hot water bottles. And pacing the room as lying down was impossible and even sitting made the pain worse. I usually ended up vomiting, which was painful. Although did seem to be the last hurrah of the attack and it usually eased off after that.
for you, as it’s horrible any time of year, but mine flared up in Nov and it was even worse watching everyone tucking into the quality street knowing I couldn’t eat any!

You definitely want an ultrasound. Two years ago on 22/12 I went to A&E with Gallstone pain. I was admitted, an ultrasound confirmed it and I was transferred to another hospital that evening. I had an emergency gallbladder removal the next day and was sent home on Christmas Eve.

chocolatedeficitdisorder I didn’t realise gallstones affected liver test readings, I have asymptomatic gallstones and raised liver function test readings but I wasn’t told they were connected. That would be a relief actually.
Actually reading posts here I’m not sure if I have no symptoms or that they are just mild - that tennis ball around the ribs feeling is familiar. Is it felt at the top of your ribs (like near the bra line) or the bottom?

Mine felt under the lower ribs, bit like being pregnant and having a head or bum under ribs!

Scary! Glad it’s gone!

Oh god yes! It was stupid things like painting my toenails that hurt, and lying o my left side I got this weird dragging pain too.

Really glad it's gone!

OP, I would be mindful of a gallbladder attack that also results in sweating / fever symptoms as that could be a sign of an infection setting in. During an attack, the gallstones can get stuck in the bile duct and that can be extremely serious, leading to the jaundice that others have mentioned. The pain you experience during the attack is your gallbladder trying to push out the gallstones through the bile duct (feels almost like contractions coming in waves). Like others have said, you need an ultrasound to confirm, get on the list for surgery and in the meantime, eat a VERY low fat diet.

My LFTS are always normal. And the bloods yesterday showed nothing of an infection or worrying things. Urines were all good too.
You know something people, fairly doo bi will have no pleasures left. I gave up smoking last year and haven't had a drink in 6....Now I am looking at a low fat diet! Ok I'll look Fab but I'll be bored out of me box.

I lost a huge amount of weight in about three months thanks to gallstones.
looks in mirror wistfully and debates asking for them back

If it is indeed gallstones I cannot recommend highly enough you have your gallbladder out.

This will be an essay but here goes..

My gallstones took a long time to diagnose because I had a very unusual presentation.
I experienced gallstone pain as a tight, crushing, heavy central chest pain so bad I couldn’t talk or move.
I was 999’d so many times with suspected heart attack.
EEG always normal.
I was told it was anxiety, GERD/reflux, costochondritis, all sorts.

When the correct diagnosis was finally reached I was too frightened to have the operation.
I tried to eat lower fat and read up on holistic remedies, bought liver detox tea and hoped it would just go away.

Months down the line I got another attack.
The pain was so bad my hands clawed, I was given morphine and still in terrible pain.
The gallstones had caused pancreatis and my organs were beginning to shut down.

Gallstones are not to be messed with.
Leave them be and they can kill you...

I had one big attack (terrifyingly painful), went to gp next day. She said it sounded like gallstones and I was sent for a scan pretty promptly, which confirmed it. I then waited 8 months for surgery, but managed to avoid any further attacks in the meantime by eating an extremely low fat diet. Surgery went well, quick recovery and no further problems since (surgery was 2.5 years ago).

I started getting the pains not long after having my first child, I thought I was having a heart attack, the pains lasted for about an hour and then eased off. After a couple of occurances I finally went to the gp who referred me for a scan where gallstones were diagnosed. After that I didn’t really get any further options and was basically told to watch what I ate and get on with it!

Anyway one day I started with a particularly bad attack, after 24 hours I was still in pain so my DH took me to A&E, I got there at 730 on the Monday morning and ended up being kept in for three days as I had acute cholecystitis which was causing jaundice, by 12pm I looked like a Simpson!! Anyway it turned out to be a blessing as the consultant treated the infection and jaundice and booked me back in the following Tuesday as an emergency and I had it removed as a day case. Best thing ever!!! I’ve had no problems since and my digestion is totally fine and no after effects.

During an attack I used to find buscopan took the edge off and a hot bath but it was more a case of just waiting it out. I feel so sorry for you, it’s the worst pain!

chocolatedeficitdisorder I didn’t realise gallstones affected liver test readings, I have asymptomatic gallstones and raised liver function test readings but I wasn’t told they were connected. That would be a relief actually.

Yes, they very much can and do affect liver blood tests (for info, the Docs tend not to call them 'function' tests these days as it's not really what they do. The results are mostly a measure of inflammation or the chemicals emitted by damaged cells). Cholestasis can cause a huge rise in the numbers. Most of my numbers were pushing 10x what they should be within 24hrs of an attack and I would have nausea and orange urine. If I had no attacks for a week or so the numbers would drop dramatically. Unfortunately I began to get attacks more often, sometimes 3 a day and I felt really poorly. My surgeon had me admitted on his 'on duty' weekend and I sat in a single room from Friday morning until Monday morning until I got the surgery, each day starved and on IV fluids until the evening. Still, I'm very glad when it was finally done and I would have waited as long as it took.

Mine aren’t that bad but the worst attacks seem to happen when I’ve not eaten all day and then binge, since I’ve stopped doing that the attacks are very rare. Buscopan is amazing stuff!

Buscopan gave me relief eventually. I ended up having Tramadol 50mg every 4 hours in an attempt to make the acute attacks bearable. My attacks were short, sharp and very painful. I would become massively hot, salivate and eventually vomit. The attacks lasted from between 15-60mins.

My MRi showed no stones in the CBD (Common Bile Duct), but the swelling around the gallbladder neck was blocking the flow of bile and causing lots of inflammation.

meant to say that Buscopan gave me no relief eventually

My tummy bloats like an absolute beach ball. I can go up and down a dress size or 2 like a leaky football. My DH thinks is I am grasping at straws but as I have had all my gynae bits out I can conclude they are pro ably not the culprits.

My cholesterol is high despite quitting fags and drunk. Their p probably due to menopause.

Could this contribute to this upsurge in gallstones type pain?

My mum had hers out in her 30s. Same with aunts.
Does genetics play any role.
Does the old adage about fat, fair, forty and fertile still hold?

I think genetics might play a role.
Both my parents had theirs out also.
But tbf they were both very overwight, terrible diet, dad was a smoker so it could be that.

Genetics definitely related.

As does the fair, female and over forty. I'm not fat, I'm a size 10/12 and reasonably fit but pregnancy is a huge trigger apparently. Having had two babies, two miscarriages and a later loss I spent a lot of time with those issues building....

I was diagnosed with gallstones aged 23. Had gall bladder removal at 26 and have have had two bile duct obstructions since both resulting in hospitalisation.
It is horrific pain, I remember a sort of down dog move with someone rubbing my back slowly but hard helped.
Unfortunately my op removed the gall bladder but I have had 20 odd years of associated digestive horror. I am in about a 2% of it not working. My sis also had early gall bladder removal (32) and had the subsequent obstruction (claw hand, morphine), but just the once.
Not sure I'm helping. It can be genetic. It can be solved. I am grateful not to have "that" pain but I hate the resulting damage of acid pouring into my digestive system
Take care and good luck

Pebbles I used to beg people to press on my back as hard as the could to try and get rid of the pain, I would bruise but I didn’t care! It was often the only thing that would help.