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Gallstones - no 'attacks' but constant pain. Please share your experiences!

10 replies

DodoAirlines · 24/02/2021 14:25

I started to get upper abdominal pains about 6 months ago and was referred for an ultrasound scan. In the meantime, the pain would come and ago. A lot of the time I thought it was the muscles in my ribs/sternum causing the problem from poor posture working from home. 2 weeks ago, after a roast beef dinner (very rarely eat beef), I developed a constant burning pain that radiated from my lower right rib cage up to my chest and and through to my back. Spoke to Dr who suggested antacids and painkillers. Also felt nauseous and poorly. Like I was coming down with the flu. After 4-5 days it eased off but still a constant ache. Luckily the date for my scan had come through which I had last Friday. Phone call from my Dr on Monday - I have two large gall stones and an inflammed gall bladder. Prescribed antibiotics and told to go on low fat diet. I asked to be put on the list for gallbladder removal.

I've been taking the antibiotics for 3 days now and there isn't much improvement. Still in pain but not agony. It's just always there (a constant ache / burning sensation with occasional shart jabs in my shoulder). Everything on upper right abdomen feels swollen and tender. Have switched to very low fat diet (not that it was high fat before) and eating very bland foods to give everything a bit of a rest.

Has anyone had anything similar? Is this it now till I have the gallbladder removed or will it ease off once the inflammation has calmed down and I continue to cut out fat? Everything I read talks about very acute episodes with people needing to be hospitalised for gallbladder inflammation. I can't find much about being treated at home with antibiotics? All a bit scary!

Be interested to hear about your experiences. As you can imagine, surgery is going to be a loooooooong way off in the current climate. Dr thought over a year...

OP posts:
Laila747 · 24/02/2021 14:30

I had gallstones and had a dull ache in between flare ups but I wouldn’t have said it was painful as such, more annoying than anything. The flare ups became more regular and I was on a long list of medication as well as having oramorph for when the pain was really bad. After 3 short spells in hospital I was kept in for 2 weeks NBM until they eventually removed the gallbladder.
Unfortunately the pain turned out to not be caused by my gallbladder and 12+ years later I still get the pain Sad

Hopefully it works out better for you! Flowers

fuckweasel · 24/02/2021 14:34

I never had any attacks and only knew there was a problem when my gallbladder became infected (cholecystitis) and I went to the out of hours doctor with abdominal pain. Like you I was put on antibiotics and when there was no change after three days, went back to GP and was promptly admitted to hospital for IV antibiotics (which did the trick!). I had an ultrasound in hospital and a very large gallstone was spotted (5cm - yikes!).

I think I waited three months for surgery and stuck to a very low fat diet in this time. Unfortunately my gallbladder was so infected (yet I had no symptoms at all during those three months), keyhole surgery was converted to open surgery.

I would definitely contact GP again if you are still in pain with it. You may need IV antibiotics or a change in medication.

DodoAirlines · 24/02/2021 14:37

Thanks @Laila747 Sorry to hear that you are still in pain. I think this is my fear, that without any of the typical 'attacks' you wonder if it is the gallstones?

I hope things pick up for you Flowers

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DodoAirlines · 24/02/2021 14:39

Thanks @fuckweasel That's very interesting. Do you mind me asking what the pain level was? I'm conscious of it all the time but not rolling around in agony?

I'm going to speak to my GP tomorrow.

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fuckweasel · 24/02/2021 14:42

Well I thought it was trapped wind, until it went on for 36 hours. It was very uncomfortable and constant, but not in agony. No position was comfortable to sit or lie in. I remember it being a ‘6’ out of 10 when the nurses asked me when I was admitted.

DodoAirlines · 24/02/2021 14:45

Thanks @fuckweasel Sounds very similar.

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Mehripoop · 03/08/2021 11:50

@fuckweasel I have the same symptoms as you. Just uncomfortable, pain on right side and daily headaches (probably unconnected)! I have sludge and a stone. How are you now after removal?

AuntieMarys · 03/08/2021 11:56

I had 1 attack ( after red meat) and was taken in....once I eventually got pain relief I was fine and had no more pain. Wasnt prescribed anything.
Had gallbladder out after 8 weeks ( 2 weeks ago) but I could have had it out within a week. One stone and some sludge.

Lees83 · 25/06/2024 18:24

@DodoAirlines @fuckweasel I am having similar symptoms and was wondering if you got to the bottom of your issues and how are you feeling now? Sorry I know this is an old post

DodoAirlines · 25/06/2024 19:07

@Lees83 I'm still knocking about 😁

I continued to have a dull ache in my sternum and under my ribs. It would come and go and difficult to pin point exactly what would trigger it. I did follow a low fat diet (and lost a bit of weight!) because I was terrified of setting off my gall stones and having full blown attacks that people talked about. My GPs weren't that interested in it to be honest, and the waiting list for gall bladder removal op was long (I was living in Wales at the time) and GP said I probably wouldn't qualify as not in enough pain. I moved to Yorkshire in spring 2021 and my new GP referred me straight away for gall bladder removal based on my symptoms and the scan that they did in Wales. I had my gall bladder removed in Dec 2021. I'm glad I did as the report after the op said it was pretty diseased. I think it was a bit of a ticking bomb. Feeling fine now. Hope you get to the bottom of your issues.

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