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

@CleanQueen123 that sounds awful, my worst nightmare. It is scary that the pain is severe enough to call an ambulance for some people but it's classed as non urgent. Maybe calling 111 when it's really bad will get you a scan sooner?

Luckily I don't drink coffee or fizzy drinks, so 2 less things to cut out I guess.

I will definitely check out that group and get some buscopan, thanks all

I called 111. It got me some soluable co-codamol but that was it. I've spoken to 5 different medical professionals this week who all say unless I develop a raging infection then any treatment is non-urgent and painkillers are the answer 🤷🏼‍♀️

I was bordering on going to A&E but 111 told me there was no point in that either.

It seems bizarre that they'd prefer me to take opioids indefinitely rather than actually treat the issue.

Don't stop eating because that can also make things worse as the bile will build up and could possibly create more stones.

I would recommend low fat cottage cheese, oats, oatcakes, low fat houmous, coffee, veg and lean protein.

Also if you get another attack, buscopan is very good. Hot water bottle and lie on your left hand side.

I had severe gallbladder attacks, pain and gallstones diagnosed by ultrasound but in the time it took to get a consultant appointment during covid (ages) I made massive lifestyle changes and I haven't had an attack for 18 months.
My gastro consultant has signed me off as he said no surgeon would remove it when it hasn't caused a twinge for 18 months.

@CleanQueen123 God that is depressing and scary. I genuinely don't think I'll cope. I looked up private gallbladder removal and it was over 5 grand 😱

I'm currently avoiding dinner through pure fear, but knowing I have to eat something as it'll hurt anyway if I don't.

You need to try and eat as close to zero percent fat as possible. I lived on this diet for about 6 months while waiting for gallbladder removal - this was almost 20 years ago when I was 21, size 10 (I’m saying this, because I didn’t fit the bill at all and doctors took so long to refer me for a scan as they refused to believe I had gallstones). It doesn’t have to be so bad - you can adapt. Sugar became my best friend (especially fussles at the time 😂). Obviously avoid alcohol too, because your liver is affected by gallstones too.

Definitely don't avoid eating. I certainly feel better now my appetite has come back and I've had some proper meals.

I'm going to struggle with the low fat though. Low fat usually has so many additives in it to make it taste nice. I can't believe it's good for you.

Mint tea, hot water bottles and laying on my left hand side has been helping though.

I’m currently waiting for gallbladder surgery. My gallbladder is diseased, pretty much non functioning at this point. I live off:

rice
fruit
some vegetables, spinach for example, but I can’t digest most
low fat super noodles
rice cakes
cottage cheese
wafer thin chicken slices

I can’t even eat chicken breast for example as I get pain. It’s shit and I have no idea when the surgery is going to be. At least you’re going to the dr. I ended up in a&e with cholecystitis and I turned yellow.

@Applesinmyhouse that sounds awful. I really don't understand why surgery isn't a priority. That can't be a nutritionally balanced diet and must be having a mental health impact.

@Applesinmyhouse I'm so sorry it's so bad for you. I don't understand how your surgery isn't a priority. Have you been having attacks for long?

It is awful that they won't operate.

My doctor said once a GB is diseased (and that can be sludge, stones, or even just low functioning and/or inflamed) it won't get better, the only cure in the long term is to get rid. There are all kinds of wacky recommendations for taking things to flush out stones or "heal" a diseased GB but none of them work or are particularly safe. There's something called a gallbladder flush or something that people think breaks down the stones but it's rubbish.

I can't recommend the digestive enzymes enough though. A lot of people go onto them after surgery but there's no reason why you can't take them before. Some contain ox bile (euwwew) which is apparently the nearest to the human bile produced by the GB but the ones I take don't contain that.

This is what I don't understand. If there is no cure then why isn't surgery done asap once the issue is discovered. I appreciate no surgery is without risk but the rest of my life on chicken and rice with varying degrees of medication to stave off pain makes me want to take the risk.

I've just ordered some of the digestive enzymes so 🤞 they help. I've just eaten a plain jacket potato, plain chicken and lettuce and cucumber. Driest meal I've ever eaten, but now so worried it's going to happen again tonight. My last one was last night.

Also, I have some buscomint peppermint capsules, just went to take one and they say don't take with gallstones or bile issues?

The GP prescribed me the normal Buscopan and said it was fine to take because it would relax the stomach and make it easier to pass the gallstones.

Which digestive enzymes did you order?

The solgar ones @NowZeusHasLainWithLeda recommended

Thank you. I'll take a look.

If you're in excruciating pain go to A&E. I know someone some time ago now that did and they ended up removing their gallbladder.

Sadly the only way to get treatment in some areas appears to be turning up at a&e. My GP recommended it 😬

It affects 3 times more women than men, and that is probably the reason it's not a priority.

Well I never.

Just googled peppermint oil (main ingredient of buscomint and what I take after ever meal) and for every hit saying it's bad for gallbladders there's another saying it's good. It was my GP who told me about it.

They'll prise it out of my cold dead hands, that's all I know.

L

Yeah I take buscopan and the GP has given me Voltarol for when it gets too bad. I'm on the list to get my gallbladder out. I don't tend to get pain if I eat high fat food necessarily but I get flare ups where literally everything I eat will cause pain. Annoyingly, an empty stomach also causes pain. During flare ups I also get really tired and my joints hurt. Some days I could eat plain crackers and be in agony. A couple of weeks later I could eat a big takeaway pizza and be fine.

Sorry to hear you are experiencing this. It's awful.

I developed gallstones during pregnancy. I kept having awful attacks, vomiting and severe pain. They kept sending me to the labour ward. They didn't know what it was and said baby was on a nerve. I knew that it wasn't. When it carried on post baby, I went to the GP, and they said next time it happens, come for a blood test. I did and it turned out I had developed pancreatitis. I ended up being sent to A&E and had emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder.

The next time it happens, I would definitely be asking the GP for a blood test (that day or the next day if it is overnight) to check that the gallstones aren't causing other issues. As scary as it was having emergency surgery, it all went well, and I feel completely normal again. I hope you get it under control one way or another soon.

Oh interesting, thanks. I will definitely ask about a blood test if I get an appointment tomorrow. Really feel like I will be fobbed off as my GP isn't great (only one good GP) but I'll try to push for a scan and blood test.

Sorry you are all going/have been through this too

What annoys me is they said my surgery was a priority! Two different doctors and the surgeon said 6-8 weeks. It’s been 10 weeks now. I have no idea where to call as I was treated for the infection in an outpatient unit :s

I’ve been having gallbladder attacks for years but they were so infrequent (once a year maybe) that I chalked it up to indigestion. Then in pregnancy the attacks really ramped up, once or twice a week. But you hear how bad heartburn & reflux is for pregnant women so I though ‘oh must be this reflux’ i’ve been hearing about like an idiot. Then I had an attack and it didn’t stop and I still didn’t go to the doctor even though I could barely keep water down. Finally turned yellow and though well that can’t be right.

I think yo yo dieting for years caused the issues & pregnancy was just the final nail in the coffin.

I thank you for your sympathy because it’s genuinely been awful and the hospital don’t seem to care. I can’t go out for the day and just grab something to eat for example. I’ve lost over three stone, I’m constantly fatigued and I have purple bags under my eyes.

I'm on waiting list for removal too. Extremely low fat diet. Made the mistake of having alcohol couple weeks back. Big mistake, thought I would die and at one point death would have been preferable!. I was given Omeprazol for it. I also take Co codamol.