Gallstones - bloody hell!

[DottyDot]

Just back from spending the night in A&E where I was admitted with severe abdominal pain. It came out of nowhere and the nearest thing I could relate the intensity to was contractions!

They've diagnosed it as gallstones and have booked me for an urgent scan then gallbladder removal.

I was wondering how others found the pain during an attack - I was terrified and really want to avoid it happening again so will be eating a very low fat Christmas dinner...

Also, assuming I have the op, how did others find it? It's come right out of the blue for me so wanted to hear from anyone else who's been through the same!

Almost 5 years after my op can honestly say it improved things hugely. I don't know if it's co-incidental or not but I also used to suffer terribly from acid indigestion, after almost every meal .... but after having gallstones out, I now only ever get acid if I've really overindulged with lots of fatty food ... literally acid 2-3 times a year instead of 5-6 times a week.

I try to eat healthily but don't always manage it. If I do eat a fat laden meal such as fish and chips, or roast with all the trimmings, I often tend to feel queasy as a result but really haven't had any pain as such ... more uncomfortable and bloated. I find if I don't give in to eyes bigger than belly I'm fine with most food, just don't go mad.

Hi I had mine out in September and was back to normal, driving, lifting baby and horse riding after a week. While you are waiting for op, get some painkillers from gp in case you have an attack. Buscopan is good and I had codeine. Also watch alcohol intake over Xmas as that used to set mine off too (usually next day)
Hope you feel better soon, it is horrible

well I'm just cooking my rice for Christmas day - going to have a bit of turkey with it and some mushrooms.

Can't guarantee limiting my alcohol as the white wine's already more or less gone open and I've got red wine and port lined up for tomorrow, but here's to a low-fat Christmas and I hope everyone has a good one!

Just back from my ultrasound and I need to offload! No gallstones could be seen, just sludge. So no op and I've been told to carry on as normal.

Is it wrong that I'm gutted? The radiographer thinks I must have had a stone and passed it. So what if it happens again?? I didn't imagine the pain and I'm really worried it'll happen again.

I know I should be happy that I don't need to have an operation, but I wish it had been clear cut so I could have had it out and have done with it! Also feel a fraud somehow - like there should have been loads of stones there to show for the pain

And I didn't have any sodding Xmas dinner because I was being really careful about having no fat.

Sigh.

When I had gall stones and was on waiting list for op the gp gave me pethedine 50mg to take at home that really helped but you may need an anti sickness tablet to take alongside of it, sorry to hear you haven't got lots of stones it's alot easier to just have the op and get rid!

I had to see an emergency doctor at 10pm last night, Jesus, I have never known pain like I experienced yesterday, I honestly thought I was going to die.

Im seeing my own GP in a couple of hours, emergency doc said I need a scan to confirm I have gallstones, and if I do then its best to have it removed.

I was offered a tramadol injection, but didnt want it, so he gave me codeine, which thankfully has really helped

I first started getting pains about 3 years ago and, yes, the pain was horrific. I have never felt anything like it and they were very much like contractions (had 2 c-sections so never really experienced the really painful contractions) They always happened in the middle of the night (so many hours after a big meal I guess) and, with 2 very young DC, I never went to hospital or anything as the pain did stop after an hour or so.

I didn't go to the doctors until after about the 5th time as I had worked out it was gallbladder problems and thought I had better do something about it. My ultrasound scan also showed sludge rather than actual stones (that is exactly how they described it) but I was still referred for the op so strange that you have not been.

There was about a 6-month period between the scan and the op and I controlled it by literally not eating anything fatty and having no more than 1 course when we went out for a meal - it worked and it didn't half help the diet I was on

The op was fine - very straight-forward, not really painful afterwards (well, not compared to the c-sections anyway) and was back on my feet within hours - I did have 2 weeks off work but I didn't really need that long but who was I to argue with the doctor

Thanks - that's really helpful. I think I'll give it a bit and then go and see my GP to see what the scan report says. I've heard and read of others getting a referral for the op even when it's sludge not stones, so I'm not sure either.

I don't want an operation for the sake of it, but I'm really scared I'll get the pain again. Suppose I'll just have to wait and see and if it happens again I can go to the GP and try and ask to be referred?

Sigh. Feeling less sorry for myself today though - and at least allowed myself a couple of Quality Streets last night!

I had mine removed a few years ago. I only had a few attacks over the years but always with the back and stomach pain - I put it down to food poisoning but happened to mention to my Dr when I was having a check up that I was tired because I had been up all night. She examined me when I said about the "not knowing what to do with myself" pain that others have mentioned.
The ultrasound showed it was full of stones and the Dr said not to eat any fat at all at the risk of peritontis (sp?). The blood work showed impaired liver function so the surgeon said I couldn't put it off until the school holidays and had me in within a few days.
I spent one night in hospital and then a week or so resting at home. Best thing I could have done.
Someone mentioned upthread what my Dr said - Its the 5 "F"s with gallstones- Female, Fertile,Forty, Fair & Fat -although she was quite polite and said she couldn't remember what the last one was!

Yep - I tick all 5 of those boxes!

Hey, I sympathise so much. I had gall stone attacks 5-7nights every week during my pregnancy. It was undisclosed and I kept getting told no scan was needed Cz they already knew it was my hiatus hernia, no gallstones

Then I was induced because of weight loss, sickness and agony and I continued to have attacks after my son was born in August. By the first week of October I was rushed to A&E with pancreatitis which was caused by....surprise surprise gallstones! I was kept in for over a week to relieve pancreatitis as its life threatening then had emergency op to remove gallbladder and am so so happy now. That pain was worse than giving birth!

I hope you get your op soon and good luck

I had suspected gallstones 2 christmases ago. Then whilst waiting for ultrasound had a severe pain and fainting fit in which I sweated about 6 pints of fluid Hardly in any pain by ultrasound and told in fact I was fine and diagnosed with gastritis. I was in pain for 2 weeks before the 'fainting'

I am convinced I had and passed a stone as I recovered too quickly imo iyswim?

I now cannot eat anything with high dairy (whippy icecream/ cream) and cannot digest high fat foods (lasange etc) and end up vomiting. I also get pain in my right rib/back/ under rib where the gallbladder is and also get reflux at times too.

Good news is I have learnt to know how to control my symptoms, which 'trigger' foods I can eat as long as I don't eat 'normal' foods at the same time.

IE - if I want some cream with a pudding I have to chose it with the jelly/fruit option.

I have had no luck really with GP's taking it seriously as 'you don't have gallstones' but hopefully you'll discover a way of eating that limits your symptoms.

As an aside well done with slimming world but did you know rapid weight loss can cause stones so maybe if you have passed them and aren't having any symptoms this may have been the cause?

Aaarrrggghhhh. Resurrecting this thread because I got a letter today from a surgical consultant saying he has looked at my scan and I "might have some gallstones in my gall bladder" and that he wants to see me in clinic to talk about whether they're causing me difficulties.

So, having been upset when the radiographer told me he couldn't see anything, and having resigned myself to just having been some kind of wuss, I now get this letter saying I might have gallstones.

Sob. so the question is, what do I say to the consultant? I'm kind of assuming he's going to ask me what I want to do. I've had some grumbling-type pain after a couple of heavy meals - I haven't been doing low fat since I was told I didn't have any stones

So, do I ask to have my gall bladder out or say we'll leave it for the moment? Or maybe ask him what he would do? Maybe that's the best bet?

Am very confused indeed...

Only me again - had another episode (while on holiday - great) on Wednesday night and ended up in A&E again at 3am - my blood pressure had dropped to an impressively low 70/40 so they couldn't give me morphine, but I had gas and air and buscopan and was discharged later in the morning.

Sigh. I'm waiting to be seen by the surgeon to discuss whether to remove my gallbladder - I was happy just to wait and see but having had another attack, I definitely want it out!

Am going to give the secretary a ring tomorrow to hopefully see roughly how long my appointment will be - then presumably it'll be another few months before I get an operation date.

So it's back to low-fat for me! I'd pretty much given up on it as it had been so long, but the pain is sooooo bad it's reminded me I really don't want to experience it again....

Just seen this thread. I had my gallbladder and 54 stones (!) out about 6 years ago. Best thing I ever did. I was in and out in a day, keyhole surgery with about 2 weeks for recovery. I don't eat fatty foods now as they tend to go straight through me but I have never had an attack of biliary colic, to give it its proper name, again, thank god! If you are waivering, I would advise definitely to have it out.

Gallstones!!

Need advice, don’t know where else to ask! I’ve got gallstones, I’ve been controlling it with a healthier diet. But I want to know what to do about Christmas dinner!! I don’t want to cut out pigs in blankets or anything like that 😂 and I don’t want to ruin the dinner for the family my making it a lot less tasty! Do you ladies know if I’ll be ok to eat a proper Christmas dinner?? TIA!!

Hi there. I'm sorry to hear this. I had several years of this twenty or so years ago (until I had my gall bladder removed). The pain was simply agonising. I had to curl up in a ball on the floor. I also had pain in the middle of my back with it, which I was told wasn't typical, and because I didn't fit the 'model' (too young, too skinny) it took about 3 years before it was eventually diagnosed.

The good news is that it all went away with the removal of my gallbladder. I've actually been thinking back to those miserable times today because I think I've come down with Norovirus, and the stomach cramps are the only pain I've ever had which almost matched the pain I had with my gallstones.

Good luck and I hope you're much better soon

@Mrsfluff

I remember my midnight dashes to A&E, sat there doubled over, trying to get my head near my ankles, desperate for relief. The only thing that stopped the pain was morphine injections. I spent most of summer 2010 on the stuff You have my every sympathy, I found natural childbirth a walk in the dark in comparison!!

This ^^ is the perfect description of what mine was like.

I had so many trips to A&E that on at least one occasion I was clearly suspected of being a drug seeker. Fortunately my mother (a nurse) was with me and spotted the signs in the young doctor, and told him that's not what it was. I found it was the proverbial vicious circle, as when I would go to A&E as a last resort I naturally told them what had been tried on each earlier occasion and that only morphine had helped, but each time I had to lie on a trolley as they went through the repertoire of drugs until eventually, several hours later, they would give me something that would eventually get it under control.

It seems that now I've started I can't stop! It was really a terrible few years in my life as I was doing a very high-pressure job that involved a fair amount of driving, and I could simply never predict when it would start. I went to see a doctor privately in the end, as my GP had been fobbing me off with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and 'stress-related' for years. Makes me angry to think back to it now.

FWIW I couldn't link my attacks to any particular kind of food, either. I clearly remember sitting one day working and taking a bite of an apple, and within 30 seconds I was in the middle of a full-blown attack.

I had the keyhole surgery, and I was up and about and back at work I think within a fortnight. The day they took the bleeping thing out was the best day of my life! Get rid of yours OP, if you can

I know I’ve been suffering ever since I’ve had a baby. But I am overweight as well, also had a bad diet before I found out. If I get them taken put will I be able to enjoy bad food again? Because for at least 25 years of my life I’ve had a bad diet. And it’s really really hard to drastically change it. I’m too scared to eat a burger!! 😂

But of a random response, but many years ago (30+) I went to Cyprus on holiday when waiting for my gall bladder op. First night in youth hostel I had a terrible attack. Got on my rented moped and rode to Paphos hospital. Explained the issue and they gave me morphine injection. Got back on bike and ride back home, feeling no pain and immense exhilaration. One of the best experiences of my life! Wouldn't happen now...

Hello, I need to be on a gallbladder thread, I'm having issues, gah:(

Hi @Yohoheaveho, there seem to be so many of us!

there sure do!
How are you getting on TheSilent?
Mine has been grumbling for a while now, fairly low level but I had a longer attack yesterday.
I plan to see my GP soon-ish, see if I can get things in motion for some kind of scan

I had mine out, was on the waiting list for about a year though so I'd advise if you have problems to get the ball rolling straight away as it can take a long time to get the op, probably even longer at the moment. Only thing that worked for me during an attack was codeine and lying on the floor until it passed. It's horrible!

@Yohoheaveho

there sure do! How are you getting on TheSilent? Mine has been grumbling for a while now, fairly low level but I had a longer attack yesterday. I plan to see my GP soon-ish, see if I can get things in motion for some kind of scan

Thanks for asking- not too bad but the cream on the trifle was a BIG mistake. Mine sounds pretty much like you, dull ache and odd twinge under rib but every so often (middle of the night of course) an attack that feels like a right sides heart attack. I shall be astounded if the scan doesn't show it's my gallbladder. I'm the right age, fair, my mum, aunt and gran all had their gallbladders out. Hope you are doing OK. I am drinking apple cider vinegar which is apparently good for gallbladders. Urgh.