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Original poster

Gallstones

76 replies

StudentMumArghh · 20/10/2017 03:46

On Monday, I went to the GP about pains I've been having in the night. He reckons I've got gallstones and I've been referred for blood tests and a scan.

Tonight, I've been woken again by another attack. This is the 5th in a space of a week. I still have another week to wait to do my blood tests and a further unknown wait for the scan.

These attacks are so painful and exhausting, I don't know how I can cope for much longer. I've read that some people go months without attacks yet I'm having them almost every night Sad

OP posts:
CotswoldStrife · 20/10/2017 21:54

I hope you get a pain-free night and some sleep OP, crossing many body parts for you!

User36367292 · 20/10/2017 22:10

Needs to be fat free or as little fat as possible. Skimmed milk, chicken, fish, veg, rice, pasta, potatoes boiled and bread. No fizzy drinks, no alcohol, no sweet stuff.

Small portions 6 x a day rather than 3.

It works for me.

User36367292 · 20/10/2017 22:10

No dairy being the key one too!

notfunnyhaha85 · 20/10/2017 22:12

I’m due to have my gallbladder out in a few weeks after being diagnosed with gallstones last year. Haven’t had an attack since the biliary colic that landed me in hospital but I get chronic stomach pain that comes on regardless of what I’ve had to eat.

It’s bloody horrid so you have my upmost sympathies! You should be a candidate to have the op if you’re having frequent attacks but it can take a while for a surgery date on the NHS. I swear by apple cider vinegar to ease the pain, it’s the only thing that’s ever worked for me and I’ve never been one for more ‘homeopathic’ remedies. Two table spoons in a glass of warm water when ever you feel an attack coming on, it’s vile but just hold your breath and chug it back Grin

Good luck OP Flowers

Pebbles16 · 20/10/2017 22:27

Op I feel for you and I hope
Tonight goes well for you. I could never understand eating the same food two nights running: one night all good and the second crippling agony. You will probably end up with a cholecystectomy and for most people that is fine but if it isn't, then please keep on at the Drs.

Sirrah · 20/10/2017 22:49

You have my sympathy, the pain of gallstones can be worse than childbirth.

Keep a food diary to help you find triggers... dairy of any kind, eggs and red meat were off the menu for me. Buscopan can help, take that and codeine when you feel an attack.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/10/2017 23:04

Op, I certainly hope you get this all sorted very soon. Having lived it, I know exactly how miserable you feel and how shattered it makes you. 2016 was horrible for me before my surgery in December, and it made me so grateful that at least there was a cure for me through surgery when there are so many people living with chronic illness who have no fix. I hope you're better soon!

coffeeandcake7 · 20/10/2017 23:05

I had gallstones at the age of 19. It went undiagnosed for 12 months. I had 3 attacks and wash time I went straight to a&e. I can honestly say the pain was worse than labour. I was admitted on my 3rd trip to a and e and given an ultrasound to diagnose. I then had to wait a few weeks for the op.... Mine were always triggered by fatty food. If you are in a lot of pain go to a&e

Original poster
StudentMumArghh · 21/10/2017 09:46

Pain free night! Grin So relieved! The anxiety of possibly getting an attack is horrible too, each time I woke up last night I had a little panic attack because I assumed it was the pain when it wasn't.

OP posts:
Original poster
StudentMumArghh · 22/10/2017 04:15

Oh no, another attack Sad

OP posts:
Teddy7878 · 22/10/2017 07:18

Really sorry to hear that. I would get yourself to a&e and they'll hopefully scan you and book you in for an op a lot faster than if you have to get referred through your GP. Hope you're ok today and stay off all fat until you get checked out. When my friend had them she couldnt have any fat at all in her diet or she would def get an attack. Dairy products, red meat and things like desserts were a no no

Original poster
StudentMumArghh · 22/10/2017 11:20

Thanks Teddy. I rang for advise last night and was basically told that nothing could be done as I wasn't jauncide, feverish or ill Angry Told to dose up on ibuprofen and co-codemol.

OP posts:
Teddy7878 · 22/10/2017 11:22

You should just show up one time and writhe about on the bed in agony until they scan you. Sounds like you really need a scan asap as you can't continue to have attacks every other night. Or book a GP appt for this week coming and demand they put you down for an urgent scan. You'll be exhausted and the anxiety will get worse.

dotdotdotmustdash · 22/10/2017 11:26

I have had known gallstones for nearly 10 years but attacks tend be infrequent, none for months then 2-3 per week for a while.

I eat a normal diet usually and had never figured out a trigger until the latest spate of attacks. I realised that cheese had been a factor in all of them so I have not eaten cheese in about 8 weeks and so far, so good.

I do miss lasagne and pizza though!

dotdotdotmustdash · 22/10/2017 11:27

I have prescription Buscopan and Tramadol for attacks, if I take them at the first twinge my attacks don't last long.

Buxtonstill · 22/10/2017 11:35

You have my complete sympathy. Worst pain in the world, I hope they do something about it soon.

notanurse2017 · 22/10/2017 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cantthinkofabloodyname · 22/10/2017 11:55

I had my gallbladder removed last year, along with a gallstone the size of my thumb (yes both width & length Shock). Before surgery I was in absolute agony, so I was prescribed oramorph as well as all the other medications that I was taking.
I had suffered from heartburn for the 16 years prior to the diagnosis of gallstones, so I was used to putting up with the pain of heartburn. Then suddenly it started to get much worse. I went to our local walk in clinic & was told that they suspected that I had gallstones & cholecystitis. I was prescribed antibiotics & told to get an appointment to see my own GP to get a referral for the gallbladder to be scanned via ultrasound. They also said that if the pain got suddenly worse that I should go to A&E.
Before I could get to the appointment I booked for my GP I ended up driving myself to A&E. I was given IV morphine & admitted to the surgical assessment ward, where I had the ultrasound. The doctor then said that she was “surprised I was not crawling the walls with the pain” due to the size of the gallstone that was lodged in the neck of the gallbladder.
I was sent home with more medications & told to wait for a surgery date. Thankfully I have access to private health cover, so I managed to get the surgery sooner (only a few days) by going private. The relief was amazing once it was taken out.
I hope that yours gets dealt with very soon OP.

Original poster
StudentMumArghh · 22/10/2017 12:27

I'll try buscopan! If I could get to a&he safetly I would, but I don't think I can drive with the pains (hospital is 1/2 hour drive away). Taxi isn't an option as we just don't have the cash. Especially for a fare in the middle of the night!
I think I'll try and see my GP again this week and push for an urgent scan.

OP posts:
NecklessMumster · 22/10/2017 14:10

I can't believe they let people suffer like this, I'm so relieved I didn't have to wait and wait and didn't realise how lucky I was. I rang nhs direct, so a and e were waiting for me. The operator asked if the pain was making me rock from side to side(? but yes). I cried down the phone that I couldn't go to a and e as I had no one else to watch the kids, he said a dr wouldn't do a home visit just cos I had kids. It was 5 am by now, my partner drove me to a and e and dropped me off and luckily kids still asleep when he got backBlush. They were 11 and 12. I think you should call an ambulance if its night time, which is when all my attacks were, no one shuld suffer cos they cant afford a taxi

Teddy7878 · 22/10/2017 14:29

My sister got taken to hospital in an ambulance during a bad attack

notanurse2017 · 22/10/2017 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
StudentMumArghh · 23/10/2017 15:40

Thanks all. I was naughty last night and had hunters chicken with some cheesy chips (cheat day) and thought fuck it! Woke up this morning, no attack!! How strange!?

OP posts:
WhatwouldAryado · 23/10/2017 15:51

Gallstones are awful. When it became apparent almost all food was triggering gallstones for me I was prescribed painkillers whilst waiting surgery. An infected gallbladder will die gradually potentially beco.ing atrophied and attached to other organs or rupture. So do get it out!
Crying in the corner as ^^ is sometimes all there is. I would also do hours in a hot bath followed by dozing in an armchair. Brisk walks would help literally move my (small numerous) stones. But not a succesful treatment for large stones.

ExConstance · 23/10/2017 15:56

I had gall stones diagnosed a few years back. I can second everyone who says it is the most exquisite agony you can imagine. The only thing that keeps you going is the knowledge that sooner or later it will stop. Cheese was a real trigger for me and I cut it out entirely and dieted to lose a bit of weight. After that the attacks stopped and I've been free of pain for some time. I told my GP I'd rather wait a while than undergo surgery and for me that seems to have been the right decision.