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Original poster

How do I stop, relieve a gallbladder attack?

40 replies

norflux · 07/10/2023 18:12

I had what I believe was a gallbladder attack a couple of weeks ago, it kept me up all night in horrible pain that nothing seemed to help, before I vomited (after 8 hours of pain) and was able to sleep. This morning my stomach was sore again but not awful but after I ate breakfast (half a tin of beans on one slice of toast) it is just getting worse and worse. It is an ache in my stomach area and also a twisting dragging pain my my back / side.

I am also getting a migraine, I took my medication but I don't think my digestive system is working so everything is just sitting in my stomach so it won't actually work if it can't get into my system.

How do I treat this pain, how do I stop it getting worse?

OP posts:
shams05 · 07/10/2023 18:15

I'm sorry you're in such pain. I'm not sure how to stop but avoid dairy and high in fat foods might help you avoid an attack.
I found apple juice worked with a squeeze of lemon in it. It kind of felt like it got my system moving.
Are you awaiting surgery or is this very new for you?

AReallyOldBobTheBuilderFlannel · 07/10/2023 18:16

For gallbladder pain relief, you can try applying a warm compress to the affected area. You may be able to drink peppermint tea to soothe the pain or take a magnesium supplement to help empty your gallbladder. But there's not much else you can do to relieve the pain at home

To prevent further pains Google gallbladder diet. Iirc it’s to eat really low fat and avoid alcohol.

RunningJo · 07/10/2023 18:19

A warm bath helps when my gallbladder hurts. I take peppermint tablets, or drink peppermint tea. A hot water bottle also helps
& buscapan helped with the bloated feeling I sometimes get.

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Trixibella · 07/10/2023 18:19

Eat no fat. Fruit, veg, very lean meat (I avoided even that TBH), you can have pasta and cereal etc. Just get it out asap. And you may well lose weight.

Desecratedcoconut · 07/10/2023 18:20

If you are in agony it's worth getting medical advice. I passed a gallbladder stone and it created a blockage at my liver - first I got whiff of that was when the a&e Dr was asking about my drinking habits. In the end, I had to have it removed.

Original poster
norflux · 07/10/2023 18:21

@shams05 I haven't had any high fat or dairy in the past couple of days. I had a vegan stir-fry last night and cold pasta salad for lunch. The past time I had it it came on after eating pea and mint soup!

I think I had similar attacks maybe about 8 or 9 years ago but they just stopped and never came back till now, I went to the GP about them but was told it was just indigestion but I don't think it was. I thought it was maybe my ovaries but I had them scanned for another reason and they are fine.

@AReallyOldBobTheBuilderFlannel I tried peppermint tea and the heat pad but it isn't helping, I'm vegetarian and I don't drink any alcohol ever so I don't know why this is happening to me!

OP posts:
Original poster
norflux · 07/10/2023 18:24

@RunningJo I had a hot shower that helped when I was in but as soon as I got out the pain was worse again. I did try taking buscopan earlier but I suspect I my digestive system has shut down now and so any meds I try are just sitting there in my stomach . I will try another buscopan.

OP posts:
Original poster
norflux · 07/10/2023 18:26

@Trixibella I'm a vegetarian so don't eat read meat and my diet is pretty healthy and "clean" as they say. I also don't drink. Apparently the NHS don't take them out anymore unless you keep going to A&E but that is just what I heard.

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 07/10/2023 18:26

I've just been diagnosed with gall stones, had an attack as an inpatient in hospital.

I was told to take buscopan - it's a muscle relaxant apparently and should relax the duct to allow the stone to pass.

But if its bad, and won't go away, go to A&E - a properly blocked duct is an emergency.

LuluBlakey1 · 07/10/2023 18:27

You really should have this diagnosed rather than guessing what it is.
Gall bladder issues are exacerbated by a high fat diet. Don't eat for 24 hours and drink lots of water. Buscopan for the pain helps. But it is a sign you could have gall stones and they can get stuck in the tube leading to the pancreas and cause pancreatitis- you'll know if they do as it is absolutely excruciating and potentially very serious. It requires hospitalisation. I have 3 DC which I had without epidurals and the pain of pancreatitis was much, much worse.
See your GP and get a proper diagnoses and treatment plan.

SoIinvictus · 07/10/2023 18:27

Digestive Enzymes 15 minutes before any meal has changed my life. I also take a peppermint oil capsule after every meal.
I can now eat anything within reason, fats and all.
If I get the tell tale feeling of inflammation I drink peppermint tea

If I get a full blown attack (much rarer for me now than 2-3 years ago) I take 2 buscopan and more peppermint tea.

Original poster
norflux · 07/10/2023 18:28

@Desecratedcoconut I thought about calling NHS 24 but not sure what they can do really, I will let my DH get his dinner then see how I feel and call them if it is getting worse. Its not been great all day and I suspect will just get worse now like it did last time until I vomit.

OP posts:
Dizzydeers · 07/10/2023 18:28

I ended up taking as many killers as I could, lying in a darkened room and trying to breathe through the pains.

Was very relieved to have it removed last week!

LuluBlakey1 · 07/10/2023 18:29

Just read your update. Call 111/NHS 24. You might need to go up to a hospital or walk-in.

Original poster
norflux · 07/10/2023 18:30

Thanks everyone i can't sit at the PC anymore so will take more buscopan and call nhs 24.

OP posts:
Dizzydeers · 07/10/2023 18:32

I was told to go to A&E if I vomited, had a fever, couldn’t manage the pain, was jaundiced or had multiple attacks back to back.

RunningJo · 07/10/2023 18:33

Have you been diagnosed with gallstones?

it’s worth getting an appointment with your Dr to speak to them. They will arrange a scan then to confirm. Always worth getting professional medical advice.
hope you can get some relief

worriedatwork123 · 07/10/2023 18:33

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (with the mother) in boiling water

this helps relieve e my pain but if i catch it early enough (and i know the warning signs now) it stops it escalating

Psychonabike · 07/10/2023 18:33

I have had a few attacks, including one that resulted in a 999 ambulance while 38 weeks pregnant.

So far I haven't had my gall bladder out.

Things that have helped an attack:

Colpermin (peppermint oil capsules)
Sipping strong real/high quality peppermint tea -like 4 teabags in a mug
Paracetamol and ibuprofen
Doing something to make sure my bowels move -somehow if there is some movement through the digestive system, the pain can really reduce or just stop abruptly. On occasion even a big burp has been enough to completely change things.
Laying on my left side.

Good luck.

jenn88 · 07/10/2023 18:34

As @Desecratedcoconut says I was very unwell for about 3 days when I couldn't take it anymore I went to a&e. I was admitted to hospital with a stone blocking my liver! I was jaundice and they also questioned my drinking habits as my liver was I such a state! I hadn't touched a drop for some time as I was 6 months post partum and breastfeeding!
Had 2x ERCP and then removed about 1 year later

Psychonabike · 07/10/2023 18:35

BTW, gall bladder disease can become cholecystitis /pancreatitis so absolutely right to seek help if it isn't improving on its own.

DeepFriedKermit · 07/10/2023 18:38

OP I had these attacks before having my gallbladder whipped out after collapsing in someone's garden. I used to adopt the feotal position to relief symptoms and this worked

Lizzieregina · 07/10/2023 18:38

I had 18 gallbladder attacks when I was pregnant. I ended up barely eating anything as everything seemed to trigger it, but definitely anything high in fat and also green veggies. I was hospitalized at one point for 4 days as I had acute pancreatitis and was very ill. They couldn’t remove the gallbladder due to my advanced pregnancy.

I finally had it out when my baby was 19 days old.

I would definitely get a proper diagnosis. I think once it starts happening often, it doesn’t stop till you get it out.

Lookingunderrocks · 07/10/2023 18:47

Please see your doctor asap and get a referral, I had got to the same stage, lost 2 stone in a few weeks bc I got to where I was too scared to eat anything, especially oil/fat of any kind. Surgeon found it had been caused by multiple gallstones/diseased gallbladder. Removed gallbladder by keyhole surgery within 2 wks of 1st app., home the same day and never had a problem since. As Psychonabike says, this can get dangerous so please don’t hesitate, all the best!

MissHoollie · 07/10/2023 18:57

I found if I took buscopan as soon as I felt an attack coming on it helped.

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