To think gallstones hurt more than labour?!?

[BishopBrennansArse]

9 hour session of what I suspected was biliary colic overnight confirmed by ultrasound this morning as gallstones. Thought I was dying.

Honestly I'd rather do labour more than once than be like that again, and I know that it will happen again soon...

Or is that just me?

I couldnt eat SOLID food with mine.

I was living on water biscuits and slim a soups.

The advice on what to eat from the NHS is generally, bollocks

YES I had been on a low fat plan for MONTHS before my first attack

The NHS would do much better to sound warnings about fast weight loss but are too concerned about obesity to do this.

Just chiming in to agree--yes, gallbladder pain is worse than labour.

I told the paramedics the pain was worse than childbirth and they were surprised. Apparently they think of childbirth as the "level 10" pain. If it is then gallbladder is at least a 12.

Thanks Bishop, I'll mention those to the Doc next week and see what she says.

Yes yes to worse than labour. I developed gallstones from losing weight too fast, had an attack before I fell pregnant, thought I was dying.

Had attacks throughout pregnancy, had to fight nail and tooth to get a scan for my gallbladder as I didn't fit the 'fair forty and fat' criteria (well I was fat).

I went through 7 days induction to have DD including 15 hours on the drip...I'd do it all again over a gallstone attack. Finally had it out when DD was 8 months.

Also, any food would set mine off, salad, low fat yoghurt, vegetables, fibre. You name it, there was fucking pattern. Awful

Definitely worse than labour. I've had attacks since 2008, only finally diagnosed in 2014 (was blue lighted to a&e 3 times, investigated for kidney stones, heart attacks, why no one thought it was gallstones i will never know). Had the op earlier this year, best thing I have ever done. Made such a difference to daily life. I had chronic inflammation and infection meaning I had daily pain as well as the intermittent big attacks. I was BF/pregnant for 3.5 years of it too so very restricted in what painkillers i could take.

I've not had gallstones...but I suspect that that, along with appendicitis and similar bouts of sudden pain actually seem a lot more painful than they are because a lot of the time you don't know why it's hurting iyswim.

If anyone experienced labour pain without knowing what it was, you'd definitely think you were dying.

There are lots of stories about people sitting and waiting in A&E, walking to the toilet being awfully hard, conversing with nurses...none of which is even possible for many labouring women. With my objective hat on, i'd say it's probably unlikely to actually be worse pain than childbirth and more to do with the fear of the unknown which increases stress response and sensitivity to pain. Still, I've never experienced GS so there's no way i'd know.

I've never been through labour, but I have had gallstones and they were the most painful thing ever! I thought I was taking a heart attack or had a blood clot to the lungs. I had them a week after my son was born and sometimes thinkthat in a final destination kind of way that they were the punishment for having a very easy c section birth

A hot water bottle helped me quite a bit ; I used to lie propped on pillows with one under my back and one on my stomach. Wish you well, as it's bloody awful but it does get better

mygiddyuncle if you've never had gallstones I don't think you are in a position to comment on the pain level!

I've now had my gallbladder out but experienced gallstone attacks for 2 years due to misdiagnosis and a long waiting list for an op. I had an attack every few weeks or so - my first was 2 weeks after having my baby so it was assumed it was after pains, but I couldn't understand why it was so much more painful than labour.

Definitely worse than labour, by far. The first few attacks maybe you do also have the unknown element. But once you have a diagnosis there's usually a wait for treatment/op you know what it is/how long it's likely to last but in my experience just as bad.

Too right on the 1-10 scale gallstones are 10 labour is an 8!

I've not had children so I can't compare but gallstones are the most painful thing I've ever experienced. Despite that, I regret having my gallbladder out as I've now got so many other problems!

I had what was probably a mild attack last night in the grand scheme of gallbladders, but it was fucking painful. I also had 18 hours of induction followed by a non emergency c section. Recovering from the c section; the sweep; the pessary; the cannula in the hand (surprisingly painful); the catheter - none of it as bad as last night.

It's disgusting because there is no relief. Painkillers don't seem to work and you can't lie down or sit in a different position. Urgh!!!

Pink - what sort of problems, do you mind saying? Sorry you've had problems. The dr last night was v keen to tell me to get on the path to have mine out now I've had an attack and I'm thinking surely I should at least try losing weight, eating less fat etc?

My DD had gallstone pain 4 years ago. She said it was worse than labour pain. When she had my DGD,she was in labour for 37 hours and ended up having an emergency c-section. So I think she knows what she is talking about!

To be honest I didn't have any choice about having mine out as I had pancreatitis and the side effects I've got now are preferable to dying, which the consultant told me was a distinct possibility.

I've now got a long list of food I can't eat and frequent indigestion. At lot of food that doesn't actually upset my stomach makes me feel queasy. Some time I think 'sod it' and eat what I want and deal with the consequences afterwards but it does take the edge off a meal really!

My GP has given me the option of having further investigations or managing it with Gaviscon. At the moment I'm going with the Gaviscon...

I hope all those suffering with gallstones feel better soon

BTW I don't want to put anyone off having surgery! I've been unlucky, whereas my friend had hers out and can eat whatever she wants.

Idk, I haven't had gallstones. But my friend who has 4 dc and has had them says gallstones are much worse.

Thanks pink. and hope it calms down. Stupid gallbladders!

Yes worse than labour, loads worse for me. I'd rather have ten more childbirths than a severe GS attack.

Absolutely. And kidney stones hurt more than gallstones 😩

I've been lucky after the surgery- no more attacks and I can eat anything as normal. My recovery time was incredibly fast as well- I was up and around the next day.

Giddy ive not had kids but an ex neighbour has had two children and gallstones and she also says the same as a lot of posters here. That the gallstones are far worse.

With a pain like that i wouldnt be tempting fate either!!

I get indigestion and bloating after having my gallbladder removed but as the years go by its definitely less frequent. I think my body has had to adjust to the change in digestion. Cake is an issue for me but it doesn't always stop me eating it!