Pregnant with gallstones

[rocketleaf]

I am 13 weeks and have just been diagnosed with gallstones for which I have been getting increasing symptoms for the last 3 weeks. Apparently this is quite common in pregnancy due to increase estrogen. I am a bit gutted as I've always had a pretty healthy diet although I have been eating a lot more carbs than normal in the last few weeks (who doesn't in the first trimester!)

The GP i saw (locum I think) said that there wasnt really anything they can do and I need to manage it with diet, IE eat a very low fat and high fibre diet and take paracetamol for the pain (pointless!) He also put me in for an ultrasound appointment which will take 6-8 weeks to come through. I've done a bit of internet research, it basically advised cutting out pork, red meat, and poultry (IDKY they dont just say 'meat') dairy, nuts and most beans plus anything fried (obviously) spicy or containing onions or cabbage. beetroot cucumber avocados and grapes are all good! This does not leave me with much option for getting protein in my diet (or ideas for what to cook!!) and I am a bit worried that the development of my baby will suffer. On the one hand it will stop me from eating utter crap which is silver lining I suppose. I have eaten really healthily the last few days and the pain has been a lot less, although I have still been eating a bit of dairy and that doesn't seem to have been a problem but I have lost a few pounds already which is not so good.

So I have a few questions of anyone who has had this before.

Am i going to have to put up with this for the whole pregnancy or might it calm down of its own accord?
Should I get in touch with my midwife about diet (I am booked to see her in about 3 weeks) I don't want to come across as one of those fussy everythings a crisis preggos as I have already spoken to her about something else unrelated to this.
Or go and see my own GP and see if I can get fast tracked on the ultrasound front. Is there any other treatment that could be given in the 'safe' 2nd trimester that I might miss out on if I don't get the ultrasound til nearly 20 weeks?
Any other advice very very welcome, if you are still with me! Sorry this was a bit long!

Hi Rocket,
I was diagnosed with gallstone at 20 weeks after increasing episodes of pain and vomiting. Unfortunately, I was advised that while preg
there is little anyone can do except be on a no fat diet and pain control. Needless to say, I didn't need maternity clothes and was taking codyramol regularly by the end. The symptoms tend to increase as preg progresses due to increase abdo pressure due to baby and hormone levels. It is unlikely to calm down.

It is definately worth seeing your midwife as symptoms can be similar to pre eclampsia. I ended up in obs and gynae ward only to be transferred to see a surgeon!

My gp was great though and recommended No Fats at all, so I ate, fruit, veg, steamed or grilled white fish, chicken or turkey and took spatone to keep my iron levels up. No dairy at all or processed food. Even spread on bread was banned,. It was v boring but only thing that worked till surgery after dd birth

oh lordy, that doesn't sounds good. Thanks for replying, cathers, its encouraging to hear you still ate chicken and turkey. I was getting worried about what was going to happen as things get more squashed in there but I suppose it makes sense its only going to get worse. :(

Did you have your gall bladder removed straight after birth? Do you mind me asking if everything was ok with your DD? That is my main worry, that I won't be getting enough fat/protein/calcium etc.

Everything was absolutely fine. There is lots of calcium in green leafy veg, so ate that along with proteins from the chicken and pulses was very healthy!

I had the op to remove g bladder when dd was 4 wks old. Waited till then to get breast feeding established and chose to go private through nhs chose and book scheme. This meant dd stayed in my private room with me so I could feed easily. Op was fine but took 2 weeks to recover.

oh thats good! congratulations on your dd btw. Ok I suppose I am just going to have to resign myself to a very bland diet from now on. (i am guessing too many spices are out the window too!) I am hoping (probably in vain) that as this has manifested quite early I might be able to nip it in the bud by eating very healthily now. I haven't had the serious symptoms you have, no vomiting or anything just the tenderness in the gall bladder itself and I have read that people (none pregnant tho) get bouts of attacks that come and go and that people can have gallstones and not know about them for years because they don't cause any problems. This is probably just wishful thinking but I need to put some sort of positive spin on it right now!

thanks again.