Gallbladder attacks advice

[HeyBwoss]

Been having episodes of pain since January but have now had 2 in the past 2 weeks. I thought it was trapped wind (actually the first one I thought was a heart attack, at first) but have seen it may be gallstones. All my pain matches everything I have read. Except for labour, it's the worst pain I've ever had.

Anyway, I'm hoping to see the GP tomorrow, but in the meantime I'm terrified to eat incase something triggers it. Does anyone have any advice on how to manage or anything that stops the attacks? Thanks in advance

Have you had a week of antibiotic @Trollfeet? Didn't seem that long. I finished mine Sunday. I'm still not back to where i was before that dreadful weekend. I can feel it after every meal. I'm following the diet to the letter, little, often, low fat. To be fair i do feel generally healthier on this diet, but i can feel my gb throughout the day and it's unsettling. I had hoped to not feel it.

@dudsville I’m having IV antibiotics as a precaution. I’m not sure if they’ll also give me oral to take home.

Ah maybe they will, i thought a few days in hospital on antibiotics wasn't enough, but I'm not a dr!

No surgery for me today! Bumped off the list again so they're sending me home with an appointment for planned surgery for a few weeks time.

The good news is the infection has cleared so no more antibiotics needed and my pain is minimal. I'm disappointed but also would rather know a definite date and not spend every day mentally preparing for something that then doesn't happen.

Oh no not again @CleanQueen123! This must be so frustrating for you.

That’s a shame @CleanQueen123

The results haven’t come back from my MRCP. My liver results were a little better today but bilirubin still just over 50. Still taking antibiotics. Feeling generally unwell today though I felt well yesterday. Staying again tonight.
I’m on the urgent gallbladder removal list but it’s still around a three month wait. I asked the chance of the same happening again and he said likely 😢

Between pregnancies, waiting lists and Covid I have been stuck with my gallbladder for longer then I should.
Buscupan can help with the pain when it flares up.
Diet wise I realised after I was scanned and it showed up that I had gallstones that I probably had gallstones a long time because I had stopped eating most fast food as I felt unwell afterwards. I had switched to non dairy milks if I was having more than a dash in tea etc.
When it gets infected though no matter what I eat means I get pain. The last time it got really bad I was pregnant and was only eating bits of toast and the doctor lectured me on not eating fatty and fried foods. I was too sick to say anything.

This is scary. How can urgent still be months away?! Can I ask what part of the country you are in? Sorry you're still not feeling better.

Are you on a waiting list for surgery?

That is disappointing @CleanQueen123 abot the surgery, good news about the infection. Can you still feel your gb post antibiotics? Mine's unnerving me. No pain, but "movement", anyone else?

3 months @Trollfeet ? Wow. And by the same again, did he mean another attack that leaves you in hospital? Or did he mean you might get bumped off the list again?

I'm also curious about how you've been waiting @Crunchingleaf .

My appetitie seems to be returning, and I know from reading what you guys have written that I'm in for a new level of difficulty in trying to manage this.

He was referring to another bad attack.
I’m in the east of England.

I handed the lunch menu and chose ham salad. They didn’t have any. Told them in needed low fat so was offered peas, sweetcorn and creamed potatoes!

I had wondered how you both had been getting on with hospital food and low fat. I know when I was waiting to be induced with gestational diabetes they actually shrugged and said 'sorry nothing suitable for you to eat'

I just googled my hospital's wait times for a group of surgeries including gallbladder. 57 weeks. I'm gobsmacked.

57 weeks! That’s awful.

A nurse just came and said scan is fine, when can you be collected because we need the bed. Hopefully there will be some advice in the discharge letter because I feel quite nervous about it coming back again because it’s been grumbling all day.

I'm shocked by these stories, and really feel for those of you who are waiting for ops. I've hung on to my gallbladder for years through changing how I eat, but it's scary to read that there'll be no swift help if it deteriorates.

Yes I was slightly bemused by what was considered low fat on the hospital menu. Mac and cheese is apparently!

I've noticed I start the day feeling fine and get worse with each meal, by the evening I'm back on painkillers.

I think I'm going to be very strict with the bland food before my surgery. It's in two weeks provided they don't cancel again so I'll have to grit my teeth and cope with the rice cakes.

I've dipped back in to feeling sorry for myself again. My gb has been moving all day. I don't know what it's doing, but I can only describe it as a juddering sort of accordian, like contracting and expanding. It doesn't hurt, every now and then I might get a minor poke but not pain really, and am looking at private options. I have no idea how to find a good provider.

My hospital doesn't even show the waiting times. I have discovered they have 'requires improvement' from the care quality commission though, and when I Google 'x hospital gallbladder removal' it doesn't bring up good stuff! Reassuring.

I'm feeling sorry for myself tonight too, just miserable at living like this but I feel guilty as I know I don't have it as bad as all of you. But then also worried I'll get worse too. I start the day feeling ok but feel rubbish by evening, which makes me nervous every night as my attacks have previously been in the evenings.

My other worry is that I'll control it with my very bland, very low fat, very boring, very limited diet and by the time I see a consultant they will say I don't need the surgery because I can continue this way.

That's awful @Trollfeet, I thought they'd said you were staying in tonight too?

@HeyBwoss have you been referred to the surgeons yet? Hope your wait isn’t too long.

The Dr did say I was staying until tomorrow but as usual the plans changed! It’s actually lovely to be home but I am so scared of it happening again.

My GP said she was referring me last Thursday, but the wait would be months just to see a consultant/surgeon. I'm going to call tomorrow to check the referral was put in as sometimes it doesn't happen

@HeyBwoss thats my fear too, that the referral has somehow got lost.

Fingers crossed for you @HeyBwoss , you've suffered so much and it seems harsh to be further behind just because you haven't gone to a&e.

I miss savoury breakfasts so much, so tomorrow I'm trying marmite on rye bread. Love rye bread, also bought pumpernickel - no idea what that's like, and some marmite. It's been decades since i tried it. Do any of you have any nice savoury breakfasts that are quick? I can't be separating egg whites.

I think i mentored upthread that when i went to my gp originally with this they wanted to investigate whether it was a heart issue first, so i never got the gastro referral, but I've finally come to what will hopefully be the end of that line of investigation with a heart ct scan tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a report of clear arteries.

Take it easy@Trollfeet , you've been through the ringer and will need rest, and the freedom to eat your own choice of the bland options!

I hope your scan goes well today @dudsville and that you enjoyed your breakfast!

Hope you get your results soon @dudsville

In contact med my GP today to get some painkillers. I spoke to a student GP who was really reluctant and told me the key was to stop attacks happening - I don’t want another one! Eventually after speaking to one of the main GPs she prescribed be codine but said I must go to A&E with the next attack.