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

No, nothing from them yet. I tried to call twice on Friday but no response.

I also need to sort out the follow up blood tests that should have been done on Friday and rearrange an appointment that was made for the 18th that I can only assume was a follow up after surgery.

I'm quite unimpressed at this point really.

I don't blame you being unimpressed. It's ridiculous.

Thanks @HeyBwoss

I'm getting nervous now. I'm on the evening list, so it's going to be alot of sitting around worrying. I'm also daft as I been reading stories on Facebook about people having continued problems after surgery. I know it's absolutely fine for the vast majority of people who have it removed and I'm likely worrying about nothing. It's not like I have a choice I have already had one stone travel and cause me big problems, and I have loads of stones.

I'm my own worst enemy with anxiety. Anyway will update you all how I get on tomorrow. Hope you are all managing ok. 🙂

I completely recognise those feelings @Lionoso. Best of luck for tomorrow 💐

I hope you get your date soon @CleanQueen123

I'm feeling off tonight. I'm really tired and have an ache in my chest I'm worried is going to turn into an attack. I go away on Wednesday morning to see family in Ireland so I'm really really hoping I don't have one as I'm worried if I go to a&e (or get ill) I won't be able to go away. But I've also been anxious all day anyway so it could just be that.

Urgh. How long does the feeling shitty after an acute attack last? GP sent me straight to hospital who took bloods, ignored me for six hours then sent me home with advice to stay away from KFC.

And its now a week later and I still feel sore, tired and bloody miserable.

AND I HAVEN'T EATEN A SODDING KFC EVER IN MY LIFE.

I guess I'm grumpy too. Tell me it eases off a bit while the NHS waiting list grinds slowly on?

A week is a long time, @summergreens. Sorry you're feeling so awful. It does ease off, but others on this thread have previously had infections which made them feel ill for a long time. Did your bloods come back clear? It may be worth getting checked out again. Also, KFC?! Maybe I could see their logic if you had eaten it and it had triggered an attack, but how rude to just assume. Mine was previously triggered by a roast. Can't remember the last time I ate KFC!

I hope today went well @Lionoso

@dudsville, hope you're ok, it's been a few days since we heard from you.

Thanks @HeyBwoss , that's very considerate, i'm well! Just house sitting a very unsettled dog, so I read and start to post and then get distracted! I've also been nursing some anger that someone I know has just been given a less than 6 month wait on the NHS for a surgery for a problem that isn't health related. I was thinking of how much I'm paying, and how long the wait is for others on the NHS for a surgery that stops agonising pain and where the wait can lead to all sorts of other even more serious complications.

I hope you can stay well for the Ireland trip @HeyBwoss, how have you been today?

How did it go @Lionoso ? You had an eveing slot, so you might not be posting ay time soon!

@summergreens , if this thread is anything to go by the emotions coe and go. As do the irritating statements by medical professionals. I see you KFC and aise you one "it's all in your head".

Hi everyone.

Well it's out! I'm still in hospital though as having a lot of dizziness and nausea from the anaesthetia. Had a lot of pain straight after but that's better now. They are being generous with the pain relief! Struggling to sleep but dozing on and off. Staff have all been lovely. I did try to have some dinner of a really tasty soup, but the nausea was too bad.

Just glad it's out now. Hoping I feel better in the morning and can go home.

Hope that post made sense have had a lot of morphine!

Ah, @Lionoso, our first brave soldier reporting in! So pleased for you and will be anxious to hear what the next few days are like!

Well done @Lionoso! Are they keeping you topped up with anti sickness medications?

🤞 for a speedy recovery over the next few days.

I see you KFC and raise you one "it's all in your head".

I was told I 'definitely' didn't have gallstones because I'm thin. I insisted on a scan and I have more than 20!

@Lionoso, hope you feel much better today.

I've got an attack starting. It's round my sides and in my back. Christ it hurts

Oh no @MeinKraft , 2 hrs in now? Any sign of it letting up yet?

@ScribblingPixie , the utter gall of it, pun intended

How are you doing @MeinKraft and @Lionoso ?

Also, I am so frequently bored of the food I can eat recently. For work I literally took in tins and ate things out of the tins cold. I just didn't care. I had a tin of tuna (I did at least drain this), a half size tin of baked beans, and a tin of soup. That is 100% enjoyment free.

I've tried to liven it up with a soup at home made of a low fat chicken stock cube, veggies and turkey with bulgar wheat - this has become one of my staples ever since finding the low fat stock cube a few weeks back. At least I'm full.

I know how you feel. My saving grace is that I seem to cope with spicy food so at least that's some flavour.

Thanks @dudsville it didn't last too long but under my ribs on the left side feels very tender now, and I'm tired. Still haven't figured out what the left side pain is about 🤷🏻‍♀️

Its scary@MeinKraft, when/if you find out let us know! Glad you're on the recovery side of it. I hate the start so much. You just don't know how long it's thing to be, if it'll be worse then the others or different in some way.

@CleanQueen123 , I've spent the evening down loading recipes to look forward to.

Well more than 24 hours on here I am not sleeping again. So far the gas pain is probably the worst but post op. It's really sore at times. I'm walking around with a heat pad or ice pack on my shoulder and windmilling my arms which helps a little.

The stomach pain is manageble with paracetamol and codeine so far unless I cough or laugh, yesterday I had hiccups, really do not recommend those. I have 4 incisions with waterproof dressings I can shower briefly with them on. I also have to wear a fetching pair of anti emoletic stockings for 2 weeks.

Food wise I haven't eaten much yet as my appetite is low still. Had some roast chicken, rice and veg last night. Toast at lunchtime. So far no food has given me issues but I'm only eating low amounts. Drinking tons of water. I felt really dehydrated post surgery.

Nausea still there a bit, that might be the codeine also. Havent done a number 2 yet. They sent me home with stool softeners which I'm going to start taking.

Overall I'm still feeling pretty rubbish but think I would feel generally better if I could sleep. As I'm typing this in the wee hours you can tell how that's going! 😂

I sound pretty negative but I'm glad I did it despite the rough ride I had with the anesthetic.

Onwards.

Oh @Lionoso 😔 some slightly odd suggestions coming but firstly, have you tried gripe water? I know it's for babies but someone gave me the advice to try it when I eventually have my surgery. Apparently it worked for them.

Also, have you got anyone in the house that could wind you like a baby? I wonder if it might help shift the shoulder pain at least. Someone else who I spoke said the shoulder pain was the worst but they felt great as soon as they shifted it.

Gallbladder removed 10 yes ago after very similar symptoms.
I still get some pain after drinking beer, eating high fat foods or taking very strong painkillers. I think this is possibly due to stomach irritation, but the pain is exactly the same.
Advice: avoid triggers such as high fat food and alcohol, take buscopan - you can buy it over the counter. I also have a a gastro-resistant med (lansoprazole) prescribed for when things flare up and it was given to me after the gall bladder op.
Main thing is see the GP and get referral because it's really very painful!