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

Aw @CleanQueen123 , i didn't realise, i just assumed this was the pathway for that diagnosis, i'm sorry. I don't know why you would need another scan, ultrasound or otherwise, it must be disheartening. This bruised feeling is weird, i don't really know what's going on. And I'm so incredibly bloated i can't walk normally or stand or sit properly. After reading your post in now anxious that i don't have anything in writing about the surgery. They emphasised that i did not need to chase it up... but maybe i will of i don't see anything on patient knows best soon.

It's all very odd. The treatment, or lack of, seems to totally contradict the NHS website which implies I'd have had an immediate ultrasound and blood test, then most likely surgery.

But here I am weeks later with no answers and still very unwell.

So my discharge letter does state the surgery, stupid me, i only just got around to reading it. But i rang the ward to ask about it and they said no date can be given, I'm on a wait list that's "months" long, kicking myself for agreeing to discharge without the date as I'd been told initially. So I'm anticipating it will be done by this time next yr and hopefully sooner. If i can control the flare ups with diet then I'll be ok to wait. I'm feeling better today but a little sorry for myself, however i am grateful for the treatment plan and hope you get one too.

@CleanQueen123 can you look up NICE guidelines and try and push that way? Or get a 2nd opinion from a (better) doctor at your surgery?

I've had a scan this afternoon. I have several gallstones, the largest measuring 13mm. I can't get an appointment to discuss next steps with my GP until July though.

Glad you got your scan @HeyBwoss . I know all surgeries aren't signed up to this, but if I'm willing not to see the GP I'm registered under then I can usually get an out of hours person who isn't actually based at my surgery., but I have to ask, they don't just offer it. My GP used LIVI during the pandemic and I thought they were great, I much prefered them to my GP, and I was able to get appts pretty much there and then - I had some random rash and logged in to request the appt at something like 7 am and I was done with the appt with a prescription waiting for me at the pharmacy by 7:30 that morning . They do video appts and are available at something like £50 privately, they can get access to your records and make referrals, prescriptions, etc., I wonder if this would be a quicker way around for you? Mine doesn't use LIVI anymore but they still some kind of arrangment with remote working GPs who do telephone calls and they've aso all been so much better than my actual GP, also with access to my records and able to make referrals and prescriptions.

Thank you, I'll look into that. I might call for a same day appointment this week anyway.

I've got my ultrasound on Friday. If they don't mention surgery then I'll be asking for a second opinion. I'm closer to being back to normal but I'm still taking painkillers daily and terrified to eat normally in case it triggers another attack.

I'm getting anxious, I spoke with a surgeon who used to do these and he said that if the gb is blocked and continues to store bile then it might perforate. I'm looking into private options, some have 0% financing.

I've got the same concerns. I'm holding off until the scan on Friday but I'm not ruling out having to find the money to go private.

It's sad isn't, chronic under funding and the pandemic means we pay in but the service isn't there. I'm reasonably healthy, barely use the NHS. I've decided to see my NI contributions partly a mandatory charitable foundation.

I checked with my nearest private provider, it's about 2.5 to 3 months from initial request to the actual surgery, and a whopping £8k. I'm continuing to look at other options. In the meantime I've written to the ward round dr to highlight that the plan he gave me verbally differs to what I've since been told. No harm in trying.

3 months to go private, imagine what it must be to get it on the NHS then. I could never afford 8k

My SIL (had the op 3 ish years ago) said she agreed to go on the cancellation list, which got her surgery quicker.

I feel really down about it all tonight. I spoke to my mum about it all earlier, she says I just have to find a way to live with it as her friend had 2 attacks (in a year) and is living with it. Which is so easy to say when you're not worried everything you eat will cause you pain, even after cutting most things out.

8k is well above my budget. I've cracked today and had a few chips and a piece of cake. Fingers crossed it hasn't triggered an attack. But I suspect that on the whole I'll stick to low fat out of fear.

I agree@HeyBwoss , this is hard to live with, i don't think that was good advice. We know the evidence is removal, but living with. And i fear eating the wrong thing so much i twitched at your food @CleanQueen123 ! Fingers crossed. I have an uneducated theory based on no medical knowledge whatsoever. Based on my experience of the last 6 weeks, with 3 awful attacks, but in between eating lots of eggs, butter, full fat greek yogurt, daily, and the occasional ice cream, a curry in there, cheese... it isn't as straight forward as eating the wrong thing. It must be a cumulative kind of thing? I'm thrilled to learn wine is good for a gallbladder.

Typo! We know the advice is removal NOT living with!

I would be inclined to agree with your theory @dudsville because I've been on a low carb, high fat diet which was great but I've noticed a recent increase in what I now know are gallbladder attacks, culminating in this one which is the worst yet. So I don't think one fatty meal would necessarily make a difference but several would.

It must take time and fat for the gb to make the stones. I amazed at how inefficient the gb is, why given the right care it can't disolve/pass these stones, why once it's gone wonky that's it and it has to be removed. I wonder how many other aspects of the body are like this.

When i woke up this morning, for a brief window i finally had a break from the ever present gb. It's not been painful since discharge from hospital, just uncomfortable and ever present and that was unsettling. At times it does an accordian-stye of move which freaks me out a bit.

I woke up to being much less bloated, but as soon as i ate i bloated. I've not been able to wear underwear or even loose trousers since Saturday.

Oh what I would do for some cake or chocolate! I was also wondering the same about it being a build up of fat rather then a one off. I've been reading the NHS website and am now worrying my GP won't suggest removal, specifically this bit

*If the pain is mild and infrequent, you may be prescribed painkillers to control further episodes and be given advice about eating a healthy diet to help control the pain.

If your symptoms are more severe and frequent, surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended.*

The pain is far from mild, but what do they class as infrequent? I'm worried they will say since I've cut as much fat as possible and not had an attack for almost 2 weeks that I can control it like this. I don't want to live with this worry hanging over my head, not be able to ever eat out or grab a sandwich, or have an ice cream with my kids at the beach.

I managed to get an appointment this morning. I've been referred for surgery (well to see the surgeon to discuss pros/cons) but its months wait to see them. Which was always going to be the way. Can't give me any painkillers, just go to the hospital if it's bad incase I've got an infection, also she doesn't think my aching back is related.

I've got an aching back as well and wondered if it was related.

My concern is around the frequency as well. Yes it can be controlled by living on rice cakes but that's no quality of life. Particularly when the alternative is a relatively simple surgery that would permanently solve the problem.

I think my antibiotics are working but i definitely had an aching back last weekend. I would describe it as a band of pain from just the verge of my ribcage through around to the back equivalent spot, if that makes sense?

Glad you got your appointment and referral @HeyBwoss , really this is a specialist's call but a gp call.

I've lost track a bit with my frequency but i think I've had 8 or 9 attacks since november, the first two were relatively minor (awful but brief) with 3 in the 6 weeks leading up to last weekend. How does that compare to you both?

Yes I've realised that I had a build up of attacks before this current one. Horrific pain that I assumed was trapped wind but none of the usual remedies for that ever touched it. They only lasted for 3-4 hours and they'd wake me up in the middle of the night. Excruciating pain that eventually subsides by itself.

I've had maybe 5, since January. The first 3 I also thought was trapped wind, I then had 2 in 2 weeks. Mine have started after dinner, around this time so far.

Terrible typos, meant to say from the CENTRE of my ribcage, and NOT a gp call, hate it when typos aren't more obvious!

Sounds like we're all in the same boat. My 1st two were after lunches but the rest were all after dinner.

Yes I'd get quite bloated after lunch but the proper attacks are always after dinner and mostly in the middle of the night.