Gall Stones advice

[TulipTuesday]

Had what we think is a gall stone attack yesterday, I called 999 thinking I was having a heart attack the pain was so bad.

I was taken to A&E but after waiting 8 hours and feeling fine by then I headed home without being seen.

I thought if I was just careful with what I eat I’d be ok until I can get a GP appointment. However I ate some scrambled eggs last night and within minutes the pain was back and lasted about 5 hours.

I don’t want to go back to A&E but I’m now too scared to eat anything. Does anyone know if it’s normal for pain after eating every time? And what could I maybe eat that’s not going to bring on another attack?

TIA

You need to see your GP urgently. Ignore any other advice on here. I've had gall bladder problems and I've had my gall bladder removed. The pain I had, was gall stones which were stuck.

Hello. My wife suffered terrible pains we called ambulance for. The hospital were useless and called it muscle spasms. We went to her gp and she correctly diagnosed gall stones. She had to stay on a very low fat diet as any fats will set off an attack. Surgery corrected it by removing it. No further problems. But go on a low fat diet and get it scanned because that will show up the stones.

GP asap and very very low fat diet.

Ive never experienced pain like it and also called an ambulance when it first happened. My go prescribed Oromorph for when I was having an attack, miserable wait for the op but have never looked back since.

I had the most excruciating pain under my right ribs. The pain moved to my back and shoulder and I was doubled over in pain. I went to A&E and waited about 4 hours. Saw consultant and he gave me morphine kept in for 4 more hours then sent home to rest, told not to eat for 24 hours, just water. Then very low fat diet and scan appointment would be sent to me. About 10 days later had scan and although enlarged and tender gall bladder no sign of gall stone. The consultant suggested I may have passed it. I did not notice it leaving me. I have been told stay on low fat diet and if it flares up again I will have OP.

Second the low fat diet, but will also add: eat regular small meals, as going hungry for too long and then eating a full dinner can also set off an attack.

Keep an eye out for any signs of an infection or liver problems.

I ended up in A&E with severe pain, constant vomiting and a temperature.

Admitted and out on IV antibiotics which didn't work so a couple of days later they went in and removed my gallbladder. It was badly infected and rotting so they had to wash out all round the area with antiseptic and put a drain in which kept me in hospital another couple of days.

Ever since then though all good and no attacks. So I'm kind of glad it went infected and saved me the waiting list if I'm completely honest.

If you do have gallstones, surgery will be by far the best solution. Start the process by booking a GP appointment.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

I’m so hungry I’ve got a headache that won’t go away even with paracetamol, but I’m too scared to eat anything 😩

I’ll hopefully get to see my GP on Monday

I've had gallbladder attacks and they're awful!
Usually require antibiotics if it's not the actual gallstones.

My mum has gallstones and egg sets them off everytime!

I'm really pleased you have an appointment for Monday. Do let us know how you get on.

Gp app asap and eat very bland low low fat foods in small quantities. I'm taking steamed white fish plain potatoes, peas. Fat free yogurts. Plain chicken breast, plain rice. Avoid alcohol, citrus or spice and absolutely no fatty foods. No dairy at all. Skimmed milk if you have to. You have my sympathy op it's a bloody awful pain.

Book a GP appointment and get the ball rolling. Don't be fobbed off! When I initially went I was told I had to have 3 attacks before I would be sent for a scan. I then saw my usual GP after attack 2 and she was shocked that I had been made to wait. I also went on a non fat eating regime, I was so terrified of the dreadful pain. I almost skipped into hospital on the day of my op!

Well I spoke to someone at my surgery this morning after calling for an emergency appointment.

She said it might not be gall stones and could be acid reflux, she kept asking if I took Gaviscon when I had the attack. I told her I did at first but it did nothing, then after the pains got worse I couldn’t even consider doing anything else as the pain was so bad. She then said I didn’t give the Gaviscon enough time to work 😬

She said she’ll prescribe Omeprazole and I should go on a low fat diet, if it happens again to go back to them!

I told her I was sure it was gall stone related as I had also had orange wee and poo and she agreed it might be gall stones but the wait time for a scan is 12 weeks.

She kept calling me Sweetie and when I asked what foods I should avoid eating she said ‘there’s lots of good advice on the internet Sweetie’

Then... she obviously looked closer at my records and saw that I have outstanding blood tests for possibly related things so called me back 5 mins later to ask me to make sure I go for those blood tests ASAP

Oh I'm a snarky sort especially when frustrated so I'd have been doing the sweetie thing back.

Her - there are lots of lists on the internet sweetie
Me - I'm sure there are sweetie but right now I need a referral for an ultrasound not a diet sheet so how do we sort that out sweetie?

Get the bloods booked, if they show any anomalous results for liver tests or inflammation then it will be another tick in the gallstones box.

Do you have any kind of private insurance through work? You might be able to get a consultation appt quicker that way.

I spent 12 days in hospital last February with a gallbladder infection. It was hellish and something I don't want a repeat of! I had CT scan and ultra sound to confirm it was gallstones as it was originally thought it might be appendicitis. While in hospital I was scheduled for the op but it was cancelled and I'm now on a waiting list...God knows how long that will take.

I rigidly follow a low fat, low dairy diet....the sheer fear of suffering like that again makes it easier to stick to. Upside is, ive lost the 2 stone I really needed to lose. I get little niggly pains which sets my nerves on edge... Can't bloody wait to get rid of the damn thing!
Get those blood tests as soon as possible ....hopefully if anything shows up you'll get the scan sooner.

Sending sympathy. Such horrific pain. I thought I’d had a heart attack one night so went to A&E in a taxi, but got sent home after ecg was fine. I didn’t know what the issue was for 7 months and these attacks kept repeating every few weeks. Saw GP 3 times, but always ended with her telling me to do yoga, consider resigning from my job and advising me not to “get stressed” 🤦🏼‍♀️ Thankfully had insurance through work. Booked a consultation with a gastroenterologist just to get some answers. He booked an ultrasound for the same day. I had gallstones blocking my bile duct and was really poorly and ended up in hospital for weeks with pancreatitis, which was excruciating. Thankfully gallbladder removed as soon as I was well enough for the op.

Hope the GP helps and you can get an ultrasound 💐

Threads like this always make me wonder what the point of GPs is. I’m sure they’re not all as useless as this but some of them really aren’t helping their profession’s reputation.

Thanks for all the advice and support, it’s really helpful to read if others’ experiences.

Now I have a question, can I drink alcohol or not? 😁 I’m not usually too bothered but I have a family party at the weekend and if I can have a drink I’d like to.
Is there any drink that’s better than others? Or should I completely avoid?

Gallbladder attacks usually come on due to fat not alcohol however an infected gallbladder can cause liver problems and alcohol wouldn't make that better.

So I'd go with moderation and steer clear of baileys and the like or any milk/cream inclusive cocktails. Also prepare yourself mentally for the possibility that you may have an attack and weigh up whether you can tolerate that.

I was diagnosed with gall stones in February this year and am 5 weeks post surgery to remove it. I had no help from the GP and called 111 many times who were really helpful. I ended up in A&E at 5 weeks post partum. They admitted me for 4 days as my gallbladder was so infected and inflamed because of a blocked stone that I needed IV antibiotics and IV morphine and fentanyl pain relief. This sped up my referral to see a consultant for surgery. Surgery went well and I haven’t looked back.
I tried to stick to a low fat diet (under 10g a day) and options such as cereal, red milk, rice, baked beans, fruit helped me through. In the end I was struggling to drink water and ice lollies without an attack of pain. As for alcohol I hadn’t drunk in a long time but found most was no fat.
Good luck OP.

OP if your urine is orange it's a sign you have a blocked bile duct, I had this, it was emergency surgery and needed sorting ASAP as it was affecting my liver function. If it is still really bright orange please do get seen again. Also buscopan will help pain relief if you have another attack.

I had my gallbladder out years ago, but I remember how very painful having gallbladder stones was.

I cut out such a lot:
butter, cheese, eggs, pastry, cakes, anything with cream or ice cream, anything fried, quiche, chocolate.

I ate only plain foods like salads, fruits, chicken and lean meats, fish, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice.

Keep off alcohol, fat, cream, spice etc. Gallbladder colic is agony.

Keep dissolvable paracetamol and a bottle of water with you as these work much more quickly than tablets

Read Rosemary Connolley's hip and thigh diet book (really old). She devised this diet to help with her Gallbladder attacks and ñever had to have it removed.

You need to stay at A&E next time. The changes will stay in your blood for some time after an attack and you are likely to be scanned at the time too. You will then get on an 18 week operating list, unless it is an emergency op (blocked duct)

Forgot to say OP - 111 prescribed Naproxen (and Omeprazole) for the pain during the wait for referral. They worked within 30 minutes of taking. During my last attack pre surgery A&E sent me home with Oramorph. Post surgery they have prescribed Busopan which helps with phantom contraction pain.

See your GP, have Gallstones formally diagnosed and then ask for your gall bladder taking out! In the mean time, low fat diet, cocodamol and try putting a hot water bottle on the area where the pain is.

I feel for you, I had this not long after my DS was born and the pain was worse than Labour for me!