Suspected gallbladder attack - please keep me company

[AlexaShutUp]

I'm currently awaiting a scan appointment for suspected gallstones. Am having another suspected attack and I could do with some company.

The pain isn't as bad as it was earlier, but it's still very unpleasant and I can't sleep. I have thrown up twice. I'm now sitting downstairs with a hot water bottle, really hoping that I'm over the worst of it but not really sure.

Is anyone awake?

I’m awake and full of gallstones. Doctors have decided to leave it alone for now

Stay hydrated, lots of sips little and often.

Sorry to hear you have them too @Marriagegoingtoimplode. Do they trouble you a lot, and are you happy that they're leaving them for the time being?

I have a mug of hot water that I'm drinking slowly. Feel like I might throw up again, too early to know.

I’ve had one night I’ve really struggled with the pain but no vomiting and one night of discomfort. I’ve got a complex medical history so the doctors are keen to not operate unless absolutely necessary. Will continue to monitor the situation and take it from there, I suspect it will need to come out eventually.

That makes sense, @Marriagegoingtoimplode. This is my third attack.

The pain is manageable right now but I feel like I'm possibly going to throw up again. Just want it to stop!

Oh you poor love. I had regular gallstone attacks after my son was born and the pain was so bad I would have preferred to go through labour again. I eventually got referred to hospital mid-attack and they took the bastarding organ out. Absolutely revelatory, my life has been so much better since. I so hope they do the same for you. It is the most bleak, horrendous pain.

It’s worth remembering that if you can get yourself to A&E or your GP while an attack is ongoing they can refer you for emergency surgery. That’s what ended up happening for me - it saved me probably 4 months of being on a waiting list.

Thank you @CloudFormations, it's helpful to know that there was a resolution for you.

I have been dozing for a bit but have woken up in pain and feeling sick again. It still isn't as acute as it was yesterday but I really thought the whole thing would have passed by now.

It is the worst pain ever. I used to sip sweet, weak black tea, because it tasted the same when it came back up again. The sugar means you don’t get the hideous bile taste that you do with water, and the warmth of the drink is comforting.

I also called the OOO doctor in the middle of an attack. He called the ambulance immediately, I was admitted and operated on a week later. Have been fine since then. No-one in my extended family, who is over the age of 40, still has their gallbladder.

Thanks @Blyatiful, I might give the sweet black tea a try.

I had a similar experience to blyatiful. Was up all night regularly, once in so much pain I was vomiting so I called nhs and they sent an ambulance. Went to a&e and treated as an emergency. Gallbladder out within one month. I’d call an ambulance! They put me on a drip and everything.

I think it's worth getting to A&E during an attack if you possibly can. At least they can send you home with strong pain killers (I was given 30 codeine tablets) which you can use to manage future attacks while you're waiting for surgery. Every sympathy!

Oh it is awful, I remember them vividly. Echo what everyone else is saying in your attack get to the hospital or at least the Dr it's good for them to see you like that and should push everything quicker. I was told I had to wait 7 months then in one attack I couldn't cope anymore and had barely eaten in days so fainted my husband took me to a and e one week later it was out and the surgeon said its good they took it out then as it would have burst on the normal waiting times. I was only in early 20s. Also try to figure out your triggers, greasy food, dairy etc.
I know you will be exhausted once the pain lifts but try to take it easy and get to Dr ASAP.

It doesn't help that I'm really phobic about doctors and hospitals. I'm never sick normally so don't usually have to deal with them much.

I called 111 on the first occasion and they sent an ambulance out, but I was feeling much better by the time they arrived.

I really don't think I can face A&E right now, especially with the whole covid thing still going on - I'm scared of having to stay in hospital. The pain is better than it was but I still feel quite sick. I'm sitting by the open window and it's freezing but the fresh air is helping somehow.

Thank you for all your support by the way. It helps to know that I'm not alone.

Ah bless you I had this a month ago, 111 sent me to A&E they gave morphine which helped. So maybe go during an attack to get some.

The scan didnt show enough stones to operate on so I'm taking it as a chance to eat a bit better and lose some weight, not successfully though, Easter in lockdown last year was my downfall and now I'm out and about even less

Hope you're feeling better soon, sounds like you need the op.

Just to reassure you about covid and hospitals, where I work there are barely any cases in at the moment particularly on ITU. We have stopped the daily figures announcement as numbers are so low so not completely up to date. If you need to be there, then go. Maintain hand hygiene etc but at least you can be assessed for surgery need if you're really suffering.