Gallbladder pain. How much pain is 'normal'?

[grumpygallbladder]

I am in such pain with my gallbladder and would appreciate some advice. I had a scan in 2019 so I know I have at least one gall stone. I have had no serious gallbladder attacks since then up until about 2 months ago when I felt absolutely awful. I was given antibiotics and they helped. On Monday the pain started again and I have been in so much pain. I went to the GP today and was given tramadol. This time I didn't have my temperature taken or my blood pressure, I already take cocodamol regularly for chronic pain and was told today as the cocodamol doesn't help at all I could add tramadol in too. I wasn't given antibiotics this time. The tramadol is doing nothing to help. I have taken both tablets together and am still in pain. I can't sit/lie/stand comfortably, it hurts to take a deep breath. Will this just ease off or should I have tried to get antibiotics again? Should I call the GP again tomorrow? I almost feel panicky because it hurts so much and I don't know how to make the pain stop. My Apple Watch is suggesting I have been exercising as my heart rate keeps going high with the pain.

I don't know why they have given antibiotics for gallstones! You need to follow a fat free diet and for now you need gaviscon and buscopan to ease the pains. To have this pain since Monday is extreme, it usually passes after a few hrs so I'd imagine you have a stuck stone. I also used a heat pad/hot water bottle under my boobs to help with the pain. Hope it eased soon for you OP!

A&E for morphine
Don't sit at home in excruciating pain

Not sure if already been suggested but buscopan really helps. It stops the spasms . Works better then painkillers but obviously great with them

@JollyOldStNicholas - the OP says she's been given amitriptyline, which is a painkiller / antidepressant, not an antibiotic. An antibiotic would be more helpful, though. I was given antibiotics for gallbladder infection and again after surgery.

OP - I agree with the advice about Buscopan - it reduced the spasms during a gallbladder attack.

Has anyone ever taken Buscopan with hayfever tabs (eg cetirizine) or Nytol? I discovered recently that you aren't supposed to and just wondered if it really mattered.

How are you this morning OP?

Get to A&E asap.
Gallbladder pain is horrendous, mine turned into pancreatitis and was life threatening. I had to stay in hospital on a drip for a week before they could operate.
I've had no problems since having mine removed, it's been life changing for me.
Good luck

The pain is a little better this morning. I can breathe a little easier. I am going to see how I am through the day. The pain is still there but I am able to not be completely consumed by it like I was yesterday

@grumpygallbladder - that's good to hear. You may have been having biliary colic and have now passed the stone, which has eased the pain. When I had pain that lasted over a weekend, I assumed I'd caught a stomach bug. Ended up in hospital (a blood test showed really high liver enzymes which needed investigation) and that's where I was diagnosed with gallstones. The doctor said I'd had biliary colic and the pain had eased because the stone had passed.

However, I'm afraid that once your gallbladder starts playing up, it tends to get worse - so please follow this up with your GP. Unfortunately, waiting lists for gallbladder surgery are long and people end up suffering a lot in the meantime. I had to go private to have mine taken out.

Stick to very low-fat food and no alcohol to minimise gallbladder pain. And keep a supply of Buscopan and co-codamol to hand.

Glad you're a little bit better OP

Just an update, the pain got bad again so I went to a and e. They have admitted me to try to get the pain under control. Fingers crossed it works

Best of luck. I hope you feel better soon. Have they scanned you for a blockage or anything?

I think I am having an ultra sound tomorrow

I was you some months ago. I had let mine get so bad (I hadn’t eaten or slept really more than an hour at a time for about a week) that it was not removed on the spot, as they needed to get it under control. This took four days of IV antibiotics, after that I was released from hospital but off work for two more weeks recovering. Acute cholecystitis.

I then had a wait of several weeks to ensure it was settled, and then it was removed. It was very badly scarred and basically had turned to pus 🤢 as I’d had many attacks over a period of years, and had never been diagnosed.

Life is so much better without my gallbladder. You will get through to the other side of this. Thinking of you.

Really glad you've gone to hospital OP, hopefully you'll get a scan and then a proper plan for treatment. I think 111 were very remiss in not sending you to A&E when you called them.

You did the right thing going to A&E.
I too am shocked 111 didn't tell you to go immediately.
Good luck, hope all goes well for you.

I'm relieved you've gone to A&E. I hope you now get the treatment you need - and that the pain is under control.

Please let us know how you get on. I remember how scary the experience of gallbladder pain and infection was for me, so I sympathise with what you're going through.

Hope you get some sleep tonight.

And I agree with @Kittycats18 - 111 should have sent you straight to A&E.

Thank goodness OP.
Not nice being in hospital but hopefully you will get sorted now.

Good luck, keep your chin up

Glad to hear you went to A&E and were taken seriously. Hope you feel better soon.

Great post explaining it. I've been through many different pains in my life and a gallbladder attack has been the worst. It takes over all my abdomen and goes on for hours, feels like a giant is squishing it.. constant pain rather than coming in waves or spasms where you might get a break between. The sweat and shivers and chills. When they happen to me I can't stand, sit. All I can do is bend over the bed or lay down writhing around for hours. Fucking horrific! Take care OP

Hope they're sorting you out OP.
They've probably had you up since the crack of dawn !!
Good luck x

Just checking in to see how things are going, OP. I hope you're having scans and blood tests today. And I hope the pain is under control.

I have had blood tests and an ultra sound. I only have one stone but it is measuring at 12mm which I'm told is massive. They still can't stop the pain even with oramorph so until it calms down I am here to stay. Thanks for checking in.
Oh and whichever pp said it, yes we have had lights on since 6.30 this morning!

11mm, wow! I've just been googling images of gallstones etc, and I'd forgotten how long the tube is that bile has to travel down from the gallbladder to the stomach. No wonder it hurts so much when they get stuck. They stay stuck for so long until they get out.