Does any painkiller work for gallstone attacks?

[AllBranEater]

I've been told it's too risky to have a gallbladder operation, so my only options are a low fat diet (not sure if it's helping) and painkillers. I've been given codeine for the really bad attacks (as opposed to the day to day), but it doesn't touch it. Is there anything I can do?

I take 2 codeine and 2 ibuprofen and 2 buscopan as soon as I realise an attack is imminent.

Paracetamol does absolutely nothing

Turns the pain fron excruciating/needing an ambulance pain to very uncomfortable and unable to function for an hour.

I've found it's really important to take it ASAP and not leave it until actually in pain.

My mother used to take buscopan

A low fat diet stopped me having attacks while I was waiting for the op, but I wouldn't have wanted to do it forever - I had to be pretty extreme (no more than 10g of fat at a sitting).

Painkillers didn't touch the pain at all, but sipping ice cold water did help. I can't explain why, but it was the only thing that gave me any relief.

Why is it too risky? In what way? Mine ruptured so it HAD to come out.

I dont think so

But I cut out carbs (especially potatoes) and they stopped for me ❤️

Buscopan and Oromorph for me, but it’s still agonising- the only thing it does is prevent a trip to A and E each time

I take Buscopan and Tramadol, but I don't get an attack very often.

I don't find painkillers help much at all, but heat does. As soon as I feel the pains, I put a hot water bottle on my tummy and one on my back. It's the only thing that helps.

Diclofenac if you can get your hands on it. If you can get it as a suppository, it's gentler on the stomach.

I'm not sure anything short of intravenous morphine does help. I was told to present at a&e every time it was really painful so I could have pain relief and more importantly be assessed in case there was an infection.
The idea that people let them rumble on for ages is horrible.

I've had mine removed now but didn't really find painkillers made any difference. Gulping them down with water sometimes made it worse - maybe try liquid painkillers if you can. Buscopan sometimes helped if taken as soon as there was a hint of an attack. I used to kneel by the side of my bed and sort of curl over a hot water bottle and rock back and forth with my weight on my elbows as the only thing that gave some relief. Be careful not to burn yourself and I did end up with 'hot water bottle rash' across my abdomen but I was beyond caring about that.

So sorry you're going through this pain, I really wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Morphine was heaven. My dr administered it at 3 am when the pain became unbearable. It was only when he saw me he diagnosed gallstones. I found water helped. But you have to watch what you eat. It’s not always fatty foods. Other things, grapes, I think, caused me pain. ‘Dr Berg Gallstones and how to treat them’ on YT might help. Bless you. It is so painful.

Mine is out now but no OTC painkillers touched it for me, the only thing that ever helped was morphine at a&e

Tramadol helped me, and I took a couple of paracetamol or ibuprofen at the same time, just to be sure.

I used to have a regime of gulp water, apple juice and apple cider vinegar, take 2 buscopan and naproxen then have a peppermint tea with hot water bottle on me.

Was finally removed this January

Morphine was the only things that worked for me. I kept getting attacks because of infections though rather than from eating the wrong thing so I had to go to a&e every time I had one and usually got admitted for around 5 days to get the infection under control.

I was originally told the operation was too risky but after 18 months of being hospitalised every 3-6 weeks they relented and did it. By then I had massive adhesions and it was starting to kill my liver.

Diet wise I had to stay below 3% fat AND below 0.5% hydrogenated fat. And that's per ingredient - not average over the meal. I couldn't mix something 5% fat into a meal to "dilute" it. There was a lot of plain boiled chicken and plain mashed potatoes with lots of black pepper for flavor. If I was craving a treat I'd eat sherbet flying saucers as they were fat free - I'd eat them like crisps.

I was prescribed dihydracodeine & Buscopan along with an anti sickness medication. The only thing that took the pain away properly was being sick & getting rid of whatever had brought the attack on in the first place. My first attack started when I was hungry just before bed & made myself a slice of bread & jam, I've never been able to face eating it again. The operation was instant relief for me, the moment I came round, I could eat whatever I wanted.

I spent many nights either on my hands & knees mooing with my bum in the air or kneeling on the stairs with a hot water bottle under my chest.

I actually find stretching to help. I do it when my gallbladder is grumbling along in the background. I put on a stretching video and stretch away. Helps for now.

Another vote for morphine, it’s the only thing that makes a dent in a proper attack for me. Why is it too risky to have it out? Ever or just currently as it’s inflamed? Work out your trigger foods too. As time goes by you’ll get a feel for what you can eat. I’ve gone from a very basic diet to a lot more normal diet while waiting for removal surgery as I’ve got a feel for what sets it off (red meat for me).

Naproxen worked for me. But it's risky to take over the long term as it can cause stomach ulcers.

During an active attack, nothing helped. You have my sympathy, it is the worst pain I ever felt.

I have 20 days until surgery and I’m in what feels like a permanent flare, I just about managed to sleep last night but I feel bruised and battered. I’m exhausted.

The heat works for me, I have morphine at home and almost got up last night to take it but managed to avoid and took codine instead, I was close to driving myself back to hospital.

I have a stuck stone so regardless of what I eat the second my gall balder contracts its agony, as it’s jammed. It’s only been 5 days since my hospital stay and I’m loosing so much weight, I simply can’t face food, the pain after eating is just not worth it, luckily I have a spare 8kg hanging around but after that I’m going to start looking ill.

Im forcing down tiny bits of jelly, yougut, brown bread and I made some gentle soups but even 2-3 small spoons and it’s off again.

Horrid pain, and can’t wait for surgery. Sending big hugs to everyone else in the same boat.

I had morphine for mine but usually the only relief I had was vomiting and occasionally if I could make myself burp that would stop it. Can I ask why it’s too difficult for you to have yours removed?