Suspected gallstones but feel like I'm being lazy

[Winter876]

Ive had awful pain in my right upper side radiating to my back since Tuesday night. Doctor thinks its gallstones and have a scan booked. I feel like shit. The pain is really getting me down, havent slept properly for 2 nights and despite being on 3 different kinds of pain medication, the pain is still there and it feels like all I can really think about. I feel like I'm being so lazy though. Apart from the absolute basics like washing myself, walking 10 minutes to the shop for essentials and trying to keep on top of the house (which I'm not doing great at) I've literally achieved nothing in the past couple of days.

Gallstones are awful. I’m awaiting getting mine out. I am exhausted after a bad attack, and I am not a lazy person! I exercise daily, I work, volunteer, but a gallbladder attack takes it out of me totally. What pain meds have they given you?

Its my first time ever having this. The pain is just so horrible. I want to rip my gallbladder out! They've given me co codamol 30/500 and told me to take buscopan and ibprofen. Sorry you suffer with them too 😔 hope you arent waiting too long to get it out.

If you can’t get on top of the pain, go back and ask for morphine. Codeine can make the pain worse (and some people just don’t respond to it, it doesn’t do much for me for any pain). I have liquid morphine now for attacks which is the only thing that helps. Heat helps too, if you have a microwave pad or can sit in the bath for some relief.

Ive been waiting about a year, wait time is about two years here but because I have made a nuisance of myself and been hospitalised a couple of times they have escalated me and I just had my pre-op assessment so hopefully won’t be long.

If you do have gallstones and need gallbladder out, make sure you are pushing GP if you have frequent attacks so they eventually write a letter of escalation to bump you up the list.

And low fat diet, you’ll start to learn your trigger foods.

Does the pain that goes to your back feel like a red hot poker mine did and it turned out I had pancreatitis confirmed by a blood test caused by gallstones that's how I found out I had them. Luckily all I had to do was go on a zero fat diet and it returned to normal but then had to have my gallbladder out after being admitted to hospital a couple of times. The pain is unbearable prescription co codomol worked for me when I had an attack. If pain killers are not working you have to push for something different. When I had an attack I just had to lie down and not move and wait for the pain killers to kick in. I was in so much pain sometimes I couldn't even speak.

I found gall bladder pain worst than labour especially when l didn't know what was happening. I was literally rolling around the floor! Just do whatever your body calls for. One thing that set mine off was coffee so be careful with that.

Had mine removed two years ago. I can eat what I like now, but I generally like healthy stuff!

Yes that's shameful. You obviously aren't at work so you could run the hoover round and maybe go to the gym?

Are you for real?

I have never felt as ill in my life as the last time I had a big gallstones attack, I couldn't move from my bed for about a week apart from to run to the toilet to vomit up bile. It wiped me out for a good couple of weeks after too. Thankfully I'm now down one gallbladder so I don't have to worry about it again. Listen to your body and take the time you need to recover.

Gallstone pain is the most horrendous thing, truly worse than childbirth. Unfortunately due to misdiagnosis mine went on a few years but my gallbladder was removed some years ago now and it such a relief not to live in fear of another attack happening. You are definitely not being lazy!!!!!!!!

Reading this thread, I'm so relieved that my wife's gallstones were dealt with incredibly quickly. She had an awful attack and showed up at A&E crying and in a cold sweat from the pain, which she said was many times worse (for her) than childbirth. She had surgery within the week, on the NHS (I know, we were really surprised it was so quick).

It would have been awful to see her suffer like that for months on end while languishing on a waiting list. Good luck to all who suffer from this horrible pain.

Goodness! I waited 3 years to get mine out despite repeat agonising attacks, your wife was very lucky!

What?? Op is in PAIN! 🙄

You are most definitely not being lazy! My DD had an attack of gallstones several years ago and she was literally crying with the pain. And she has she has quite a high pain threshold!

I have them too and am waiting for op to remove my gallbladder. You have my sympathy- the pain is hideous and quite frightening. The last time I had pain like that that wouldn’t go away no matter what I took, I ended up going into hospital and had an infected gallbladder. I needed IV antibiotics. I don’t want to scare you but that can lead to pancreatitis if not treated. Have you taken your temperature? I would strongly consider going to A&E

I think the poster was being sarcastic

Buscopan is a waste of time. When I had gallstones they gave me volterol suppositories. Not nice to use but definitely helped with the pain!

Take it easy and be kind to yourself. Gallbladder pain is horrendous.

I had mine out a while ago now but the attacks were really awful and totally wiped me out. Because it's quite common, people don't always realise just how debilitating it is.

I found that even after the initial bad pain subsided to a dull ache, I was still exhausted. It's because there is still inflamation and your body is still recovering.

I was so relieved when I had mine removed.

I hope you get yours sorted out soon. Until then, a really low fat diet definitely helped me. My doctor said less than 3% fat until it was out helps to prevent flare ups.

She’s joking but seriously, I did find a brisk walk helped. And codeine and low fat diet. It is vile though and I hope you’re sorted soon!

Same. The suppositories were amazing!

You have my sympathy. Gallstones have caused me a lifetime of pain and problems thanks to one damaging my pancreas. Always take it seriously and get it out asap. It really is horrible pain, worse pain i’d had until pancreatitis.

Pain medication doesn't have much effect on gallstones. I was in hospital on Tramadol and a Morphine drip and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference.
Best advice is to get your gallbladder removed as soon as you can. I managed to ride out my gallbladder pains until it got infected, and that's a whole new level of pain.

I had gallstones and pancreatitis. The worst agony ever.

I had gallstones which led to an infected gallbladder and ended up in hospital for a week with it. It was so excruciating, i could barely move.
I think as soon as you start ending up in hospital with the attacks they whip your gallbladder out really quick. I was scheduled straight for preop and it was out within 4 weeks. They said once you have one bad attack it will likely just keep happening so they take it out as urgent.

I had gallstones and attacks around once a week for months. The MOST horrendous pain - worse than childbirth. I was going to GP at first but they’re not very fast moving! When it starting happening more regularly, I went to hospital every time I had a severe attack and that really sped things up for removal. Not ideal because of waiting times etc but they take bloods and can see the spikes which confirms what’s going on. I was admitted on Xmas eve 2023 and referred for fast track surgery because they could see how high my blood scores were compared to the previous time I was there. Had the removal 4 weeks later, thank goodness!

If you can’t get to hospital, take the strong painkillers when you’re sure you won’t be sick (I was always vomiting during an attack) and then sit crossed legged, leaning over a cushion placed against your tummy. That was the only way I could get any relief.

I really feel for you and I’m sending love. I hope you manage to get things sorted soon.