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

I ordered the Solgar digestive enzymes and they arrived today.

I've downed a load of prune juice and herbal tea so won't be trying them this evening but I'll see how they go tomorrow.

Thank you @HeyBwoss. I hope we both get some answers and solutions 💐

Worst pain I've ever had, sympathies As pp have said, eat no fat or grease. I did that for a month and they went away permanently, no op needed and have eaten plenty of fat in the 16 years since

There are some yoga type poses that can help when pain is bad - basically like variations on downward dog. If you can bear it. Sometimes just raising arms above head can make a small difference

There is nothing wrong with carbs, with gallstones. I lived on them when I was unwell. Whole grain is better, obviously.

Definitely not sustainable long term. The GB needs to come out. I can't remember what the meals were like now, it was some years back. Very difficult diet to follow. Also low fat foods tend to be high in sugar so definitely not ideal.

Thank you all so much for all your advice. Managed to get some buscopan but obviously hoping to not have to use it!

Putting this here because my family are sick of me moaning.. it's really hot and I really want an ice cream 😩

Sorbet should be ok.

Just been catching up on this thread. I had the worst attack yet yesterday, after 2 hrs my dh rang 999 for guidance, they called a "blue light" ambulance out, arrived an hr later. Anti emetic didn't work, continued vomiting, two doses of morphine didn't do anything but make me fuzzy headed, didn't touch the pain. I got to (i don't even really know where i am) some abdominal surgery sort of A&E. They gave buscopan and that helped a bit, pain still there. Something went awry and bloods weren't taken, so I've actually been sitting in a chair from 11pm until the time of writing, and I'm dehydrated so they struggled to get blood from me. I'm floored with exhaustion, messy from the sweating, vomiting, toileting, but i know i have to stay and see this through. This is the first time I've felt well enough to use my phone since i got here but everyone's asleep, so I'm won't to you all!

Just saw the dr, white cell count shows possible infection and I'm dehydrated so they're going to hook me up to antibiotics and fluids. They're keeping me and will do a ct scan of the whole area but agree it's likely gallbladder. "Funny" as i was just literally looking to book a private scan moments before this kicked off. Sorry to be offloading here, waiting for my family to wake up.

That sound awful @dudsville. I'm awake and have been for hours because I'm still in pain. I've had constant stomach and back pain for weeks now.

My blood test results show cholesystis but they haven't done anything about it. I had more blood tests yesterday presumably to see if the infection is going away.

I've got an ultrasound on Friday but I'm getting worried that no one actually seems to want to do anything apart from tell me to take painkillers and eat a low fat diet.

I'm in pain, I'm tired, I'm hungry. It's surely not a sustainable solution to just keep taking painkillers and eating rice cakes.

@CleanQueen123 , i wonder if you could try what we did? I want playing the system at all, i just got scared so asked my husband to ring 999 for guidance. Everything that's happened since was based on their getting the ball rolling. I didn't over exaggerate anything.

This is A Surgical Assessment Unit. I'd not heard of them before but they're specifically for things like this, where its likely a surgery is needed. I've already had my ct scan, the antibiotic has started. Although i am a little hungry i'm still terrified to eat too, still struggling to keep water down since yesterday.

Anyway, maybe try 999 to get their guidance?

I was ignored until I developed acute pancreatitis and ended up in hospital for 3 weeks. Never experienced pain like it. I agree with others, next really bad attack A&E!

This sounds like pancreatitis! Please do go back to GP

I think it will be straight to A&E if it gets really bad again. I called 111 and they told me not to bother because it didn't sound like I had an infection. But blood tests say I do. The worst of the pain has subsided now but I still have constant stomach and lower back pain so clearly I'm not well.

We bypassed 111 because i was scared of the prolonged wait of the result was that they had to make a referral.

Anyway, ward round just happened, they're going to book my gall bladder removal but will have me on a course of antibiotics first so hopefully I'll go home today.

Oh @dudsville, how awful for you. It's shocking we have to be practically dying to get any help! I'm glad things are moving for you now.

Sorry you are still suffering @CleanQueen123. I was doing some Mumsnet searching and came across this post about NHS choose and book, I'm not sure if it will be any help to you? Might be worth a try.

I haven't had another attack since my last, but am eating the same boring, bland foods. When I try anything else I get an immediate urge to make myself sick (I haven't) because of the fear it will cause another reaction. My family think I'm crazy (and over reacting although they haven't said that out loud). I've booked a private scan for Tuesday afternoon so I know either way at least.

I'm also getting headaches every day and have come on another period 6 days after finishing one which I think is just stress related!

I had mine removed in France. They told me there's no point in doing anything else once the problem is diagnosed. Never had any trouble since, was eating curries within 2 weeks.

Thanks @HeyBwoss I'll look into it.

I'm hoping by the end of the week they'll decide what's happening and get something booked. I'm not going to be impressed if after all this they decide to wait until next time to consider surgery.

Everything I've read says surgery is the only sensible option once you start having issues.

I hope this is OK to post, i don't want to be discussing another person's experience but it's with respect to folks on here i wanted to pass it on. Another patient on my ward had gb problems for years but didn't have it out for various reasonsand i don't know what those are. She'd been on the ward but was discharged like me (but with her much more serious history), so sent home with antibiotics to try to get the infection down so that it can be removed. She was home a few hrs when she passed out and came back in. Nurses and drs surrounded her immediately, she sounded quiet, out of it, she'd developed sepsis and jaundice, her bp had dropped v low. It was scary to hear about.

I'm so grateful that my awful experience Saturday has got me on a treatment path. It was wonderful to be back home yesterday evening but I've not bin bed back to feeling perfectly well, as i have done in between previous attacks. My entire digestive system feels bruised. If i cough or blow my nose it hurts. My face has blood spots from the aggressive vomiting. I can't recommend enough calling 999 and going straight to your local SAU.

Avoid fatty food
When you have an attack a nice hot bath
Hot water bottle
Paracetamol and codeine

It's really is the worst pain, I'm 7 years gallbladder free and it was the best thing ever when that was removed

I was about to ask how you were @dudsville! Glad you have got a plan, but sorry it had to get so bad first. Your story about the other patient is what worries me. I really don't understand how this isn't classed as serious when so many issues can arise and there's no actual treatment to help. I have a scan tomorrow, if it shows any issues I plan on pushing for a blood test as I found the NICE guidelines which say GPs should do one and then hopefully I'll get put on the surgery waiting list. I have no idea how long it is though.

I think I might be just as worried about the scan being clear though, as I think then GP will say it's just indigestion. I really don't think it is, my right side and back ache all the time now and I have a constant headache, but none of it is unbearable so I feel silly getting checked out again. I've decided next time I have an attack I'm going to a&e.

@HeyBwoss , there were people on the ward with gb issues that didn't require surgery but i never could clearly hear all those circumstances. During the ward round, no one before me was told they would be given surgery to have it removed but their diagnoses were different, a lot of diverticulitis, i didn't catch what else, so i was prepared for the same news and feared being dismissed (my main exp from my gp), but i felt the scan decided the drs thinking, as it should. When he got to me and asked the standard question he asked everyone, how are you feeling, i was totally honest, the pain had reduced from a 9 to a 2 or 3 and i would classify it as discomfort, and i waited to be dismissed, but he just said i have (i can't remember the name but it's mentioned upthread) and just said it had to be removed. I'll go downstairs later and find the diagnosis so you can compare symptoms. So i didn't have to be in absolute agony or at death's door to warrant its removal.

As the morning wears on today I'm feeling really sore, like internal bruising, I'm stooped with it, and bloated, i can feel my gb if i take a deep breath or try to sit up, but it doesn't hurt as such when I'm just sitting here. I've now had 4 doses of penicillin and I'm holding a hot water bottle. I've just taken a buscopan to see if that can ease the bloat, and I've taken antacids for the same reason as i now know they don't ease gb pain (similarly vomiting and bowel movements don't either, which i was surprised to learn). My bowel movement was like passing tiny pebbles and i had to really fight for it.

I've been reading about diet for gb and i think ill be ok over the coming weeks as a lot of it is my diet already, beans, pulses, fruit and veg and fish and chicken, though i shall miss butter and full fat greek yogurt. Of course I'm destined now to start craving cheese, but i don't have it daily usually.

As an aside, my cholesterol jumped up this yr, and google says gallstones are made of cholesterol, and the gb diet is all v low cholesterol, so I'm wondering if this is all related.

So, my handout they gave me syays "Cholecystitis ... inflammation of the gallbladder... Most cases are caused by gallstones... Antibiotics to treat the infamation ... and then removal is usually advised (doesn't say when it wouldn't be).

Oh @dudsville. Thank you for the update.

I've got Cholecystitis too but they haven't even bothered with antibiotics for me, let alone talk about removal. Fingers crossed they look at my latest bloods and the ultrasound on Friday and take some action.

Like you my whole insides feel bruised and even my back is very sore.