What do gallstones feel like

[Kalei87]

for a few weeks I have had indigestion starting In the usual normal place for heartburn, centrally in the sternum, I feel like I need to burp, but can’t, then keep getting painful hiccups.

I’ve been taking nexium and gaviscon. This does help with the heartburn but then sometimes it travels down and turns into this pain relentlessly nagging and burning kind of gnawing pain for hours and hours that is more on the right hand side where my rib cage ends. No pain in my back. It feels like I have lots of trapped gas, but I don’t, as nothing is happening other than just having this pain. I have to lie down for ages and eventually it might go away of its own accord but nothing I do helps the pain to go apart from time. I’m not sick otherwise in any other way just this pain is ruining my life! It does hurt if I press on the area a bit

Earlier I felt ok a little bit of indigestion. I ate a normal healthy breakfast but then I was at a kids party and the only food was a slice of pizza, I was hungry, couldn’t leave and no other options so I ate one slice and since then I have been lying down for 5 hours with this pain. Regret regret.

I have nothing to compare this to so just wondered if this sounds like an ulcer or something. I will go see a doctor but just wondered if the 2 things might be related in anyone else’s experience

Recovery seems to be fine after straightforward keyhole surgery. It’s done as a day case and most people walk out afterwards.

Mine was planned as keyhole, but ended up being open, as my gallbladder was apparently holier than your average saint and clinging to the surrounding organs in a desperate effort not to be removed, so I was sliced open like a fish...but still, it's been a big relief since then, being able to eat normally, and no longer being on medication! I was in hospital for a week instead of the planned 2 days, and recovery also took a few weeks longer than planned, but I was fully back to work after 3 weeks, and back on my horse (cautiously) after a month.

I did have an incident about 6 months later with a gallstone forming in the bile duct and blocking the exit into the gut, but that got sorted with an endoscopy under sedation (they gave it a wee shove).

had my appointment this morning

explained symptoms

instantly said - probably gallstones 😂
getting ultrasound and bloods

TMI but I can’t seem to shift having these sticky stools lately so having to be quite strict on my diet

Good that they listened and are referring you. Just be prepared for a very lengthy wait from here and yes be careful with your diet.

I waited 6 weeks, so it was fairly quick, but I think mine was a bit of a mess 😅

Thank you for such fab information.
I am now 3 days post op, was relieved to get the op as a few times life threatening surgery rightly bumped me off the daily emergency list and it was looking like I might be sent home which would have been frustrating after occupying a precious hospital bed.

I have just been in bed since coming home, trying to eat small amounts. Pain has been bearable.

Hospital signed me off for 2 weeks, I have lots of stairs at work which is worrying me. I have been lucky never to have needed a GP sick note, if I need longer do I just contact them on the day current note runs out or before?

@Sunshineandrainbow wishing you a speedy recovery. Yes you can just get another certificate from you GP, they will have a copy of your hospital discharge.

I am still struggling with my bowels which is a very frustrating part of things, as my IBS had been so settled for so long. I’ve tried to avoid too much googling but I did see it’s common for bile issues to affect your bowel movements. I’ve been avoiding fat as much as possible but I do eat healthy fats like salmon and avocado, do I need to avoid these?

I could still have a fatty liver and this worries me so I am having bloods done today. I see a lot of the symptoms are similar. I do hope it’s nothing liver related

No avocado!! I repeat! NO AVOCADO!!

The type of fat makes no difference, just has to be as low as possible whilst you're in a 'flare up', for some of goes quiet & you can eat normallyish.

Mines slowly kicking off again & my poo can smell diabolical if I overdo the fat.

😭😂😭😂
I'm laughing and crying with you about the avocado klaxon

had my blood test ✅

I am stressing now it’s something not related to my gallbladder.

I was still trying to lose a little bit more weight but the whole situation has been stressful and I’m not doing very well

It's just a waiting game now, and that part is awful! Assuming it's around 5 days turnaround on the tests you'll have some kind of answer by the end of the week 🤞

Even if it is your liver, then they'll treat that instead (& with more urgency than a gallbladder problem).

Everything you've said so far really does point at stones/stroppy gb.

I'd not concentrate on any dramatic weightloss till this is sorted, that can cause gallstones all by itself. The biggest risk factor by a huge margin is simply being a woman (which clues you in to why, perhaps, it takes time to get the fucker out 🤷🏼‍♀️) & the next is having had children. Your diet will likely become very restrictive anyway, I lost half a stone in a month mid last year cos I lived on Greek yoghurt & Moju shots lol & my weight was absolutely fine.

But it's not a great way to loose weight lol, I'll be honest. It's shit both figuratively & literally ;)

Oh, & it triggered my IBS like a bastard! That's originally what they were going to diagnose me with till The Attack. May not even have been ibs, might just be the twatbladder

Normal bloods! I’m really pleased. Was interesting to note my ALT was quite high before I lost weight and cut down on drinking alcohol and now it’s really low. So something to watch out. Hopefully I am just a sludge at this stage and I can help myself by being more mindful and nothing bad is happening. Pleased to see I have low cholesterol too

So my scan was normal - no GS’s no sludge

I am suffering with my digestion constantly so I will have to go back to my GP and start at square 1 of looking for a cause.

I am on the peppermint capsules now

I am so bloated and uncomfortable

I'm so glad your scan was clear. I hope you have answers soon though as it will also be a pain going back to square one.

@Kalei87 how are you doing now? Did you get to the bottom of what was going on? I have very similar symptoms. Just wondering what it could be.

From GP to op was 4 months for me. In that time I could only eat Popcorn and small amounts of toast. I lost 3 stone in 4 months.

the pain I was in before I saw the gp was horrendous. I thought I was having a heart attack.