What does a galllstone/gallbladder attack feel like?

[immy784]

So while I was pregnant it was found I had 5 gallstones, that was about 3 months ago. Nothing was done. Last night I had a really fatty meal (a cream based dish) ever since then I have had pain under my right boob and just below, and I have just been sick- I originally thought heartburn but it won't go away with antacids! I'm not really sure what to do! If I ring 111 they will send a ambulance as the pain is radiating into my chest.

Get referred for an ultrasound to confirm stones, and an operation. You need to get this seen to asap.

When I had gallstones I felt as if my innards just under my ribcage were being tied into a tight knot and then twisted hard. The pain made me throw up.

Like my bra was trying to kill me by getting tighter and tighter, except I wasn’t wearing one!

@Onthegrid I actually took my bra off last night as that's how it felt, and I thought it was just my bra, still in quite a bit of pain and vomited twice! Even though the pain is radiating around my chest as well, I would feel a total fraud to go to a and e.

@mathanxiety while I was pregnant they did a ultrasound which shows 4 gallstones.

A gallstone attack can feel as bad as being in the advanced stage of labour ...

Have the op @immy784. And while you're waiting, stop having fatty meals.

Like I was being impaled very slowly with a red hot poker. It started in my right shoulder blade and ended in my chest. I got sent to hospital to rule out a heart attack.

My dh said that a gallbladder attack was the worse pain he has ever experienced.

And he went to a and e with it it was that painful.

@immy784 HORRIFIC! I had a 39 hour labour with a big baby and no pain relief and I’d do that again before I’d have my gallstones back 😓
My pain was in my side - radiating round into the middle of my chest, round into my back and up to my shoulder blade. It’s not even a pain I can describe.
Please push for surgery ASAP. I had mine for 18months, having these attacks at least twice a week despite changing to a ridiculously low fat diet. They refused to even can me to check for gallstones because I was “too young to have them” at 23 😓 Also - watch out for trigger foods! For me, as well as anything greasy/fatty, ANY dairy produce at all (even skimmed milk and low fat options) triggered an attack.

I called an ambulance because I thought I was dying

that sounds like the symptoms

Yep, I thought I was having a heart attack too. Worse than labour.

My Dad had the worst time with gallstones - just so painful.

DH also had a heart attack, which he thought was indigestion for several hours before it dawned on him that it was more serious.

Not to alarm you, but if you feel like you need medical assistance, just get it. We got told off big time for waiting so long to dial 111 (not in the UK).

it starts under my ribs on the right and goes around my back and up in to my right shoulder.

I've been given tramadol, told to go to a+e if the attacks go on for too long or I can't cope with the pain and referred to hospital.

Worse than labour/heart attack with me. Last about an hour. I was usually on the floor in the bathroom rocking back and forth waiting to be sick.

For a year, I never went anywhere without a lot of medication.

I had it taken out 3 years ago.

That sounds like one yes.
Mine is like a tight band around where your bra band would be, (I call it a heart attack on the right- and if it was the left I'd have thought it was one) goes up into right side of chest and as far as right jaw.
That's an actual attack.
Generally, digestive issues after eating certain things, though am currently managing that quite well with digestive enzymes and peppermint oil. Buscopan also on hand always.
I have sludge and stones.

I thought i was dying. On my knees, unable to move. I couldn't tell you exactly where the pain was, other than upper abdomen. After 5 hours, it eased a little and went around my back and shoulder blade.

It can come on in seconds too.

My DH has just come out of hospital with this. He was in pain and vomiting so went to A&E. They found him jaundiced and gave him an ultrasound, diagnosing gall stones, so the gall bladder needs to be removed, but stones in his bile duct which needed an urgent procedure. He already has an appointment for the gall bladder removal in a couple of months. If you already know you have the problem please seek treatment before it becomes acute. He thought he had digestive problems and had been using products that he didn't need.

Worst pain in the world. I had 2 attacks and was rushed to hospital after the 2nd. I had gallbladder out 6 weeks later...only 1 stone. I did no fat diet in those 6 weeks and had no further attacks. Red meat triggered mine.

Really was the most horrendous pain. I ended up in hospital on a drip (try sips of water if you can keep it down) i had gas and air and morphine several times before they took them out. 💐

And just to say, it doesnt have to be stones for your gallbladder to fritz. I had a "clean" GB, it just stopped functioning. From the first attack to removal was nearly two years.

Probably more common than GPs realise, its just harder to detect and. HIDA scan is needed.

This sounds like your Gallbladder. I eventually got diagnosed when the consultant ( female) in A&E heard me say the pain was worse than Labour pains. She just said it will be your Gallbladder. I waited far too long to have mine out and the attacks impacted badly on family life. When you have an attack lie on your left side with a warm not hot water bottle positioned in your lower abdomen.
Good luck OP x

I thought something had exploded in my chest, sweat pouring off me, vomiting and couldn't get off the bathroom floor. Got morphine in A&E and admitted 3 days later with stones, pancreatitis and something else. I was turning yellow by this point. Please, make a fuss

Absolutely horrific and the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve never had an attack like that since, but it still niggles occasionally and I know at some stage in the future I will have to have it out.

Just like you describe & kind of like you want to burp but can't. My back was very sore, the pain always started there, no rhyme or reason with what you eat, I often had attacks first thing in the morning when I hadn't eaten for over 12 hours. Ask your GP for a choose & book referral to your nearest private hospital, you will get everything done much quicker than going to an NHS hospital, from my first attack I was sored & done in 7 weeks. Ironically my exh was admitted on Sunday with severe pain & had the scans etc, he had an ERCP procedure to remove the stones from his bile duct yesterday but now has to wait a month before seeing his consultant to decide if he needs his gallbladder removing as it isn't seen as an urgent need operation. Ask your GP for some good pain relief, I had dihydracodeine & some anti sickness tablets but the pain always eased after being sick, I also drank peppermint cordial & soda water which helped with the feeling of not being able to burp. The op isn't bad, I have had worse visits to the dentist, I went in at lunchtime & was home sat watching soaps by 7.00pm, I was driving by the evening of the day after.

I just knew I had to be in hospital, there was something seriously wrong and I couldn't cope at home. When I was triaged on arrival (3 in the morning) the nurse said "why are you here tonight?" and I just said "it feels like my entire abdomen is on fire" and that was as accurate as I could get it. Intense burning, radiating pain, no let up at all.