are gallstones ALWAYS apparent from blood test results...?

[Spaniard]

I had terrible pain 2 weeks ago, behind my right shoulder blade, under my ribs, and some pain at the front right, below my ribs. I ended up vomiting and retching. The pain woke me at 4am-ish, and lasted approx 18 hours. I've had similar pain in the past (although not excruciating on past occasions, and not with vomiting), and had put it down to trapped wind or whatever.

I went to the GP a few days later, and had blood tests to check my liver function and check if it is gallstones.

Today I had the pain again, not excruciating, but constant. I've had it for 14 hours now. Nothing has helped at all. I spoke to NHS Direct who told me to take paracetamol, and phone the GP if they didnt help. Phoned the GP 2 hrs later, who said to take ibuprofen too (obv to go to A&E if the pain got worse), as the blood test results are back - and everything looks "fine", so it's "possibly muscular". I've also to go and see him tomorrow, to see what we can do next.

SO - sorry for the long post - are gallstones ALWAYS evident from test results, or should I be pushing for a scan? Or does anyone have any suggestions? I just feel that if it was muscular, why was I vomiting 2 weeks ago when I had the same (but more intense) pain? If it's muscular, why does the pain for hours on end, with no let-up, but then vanish just as quickly (wouldnt excruciating muscular pain gradually ease over a few days? And wouldnt muscular pain be relieved slightly with paracetamol?

Thanks for reading!

I never had a blood test to diagnose my gallstones, but did have a scan.
I would have thought you need a scan, as a blood test can only show the overall function of the general area (I am by no means a medical professional...) I would go back to the GPs and really push it, as I ended up having to go private as my GP wouldn't listen.

I had to have a scan too.

And also had to go private.

Same as Becca - just had a scan.

I think a blood test can determine if you have stones blocking bile ducts and affecting the liver but you don't always get that with gallstones so the only way is a scan as far as I know.

Go and see the GP again. I had to go 4 0r 5 times over 6 months before a referal for a scan. Then it took a long time for surgery. I wish I'd been more pushy about a scan as it was very obviously gallstones and I suffered very badly for a year before having the damn things out.

Thanks for the replies. Did any of you ever go to a&e when having an attack? I wish I'd done that 2 weeks ago (or wouldn't they have tested for anything? ) but today wasn't bad enough to merit that.

Yes I had to go to A&E when I had gallstone pain, couldn't get any relief from normal meds, needed morphine for the pain. Also wasn't diagnosed by blood tests, needed an ultrasound to see gall stones. All done at A&E.

I saw the out of hours gp on a Saturday morning having had constant pain since eating a pizza on the Friday evening.

The gp referred me directly to the hospital, I wasn't even allowed to go home and get my stuff. That was 16 years ago though.

I was in hospital a week and on iv antibiotics as my gallbladder was so inflamed as a stone was stuck in the duct.

I had my gallbladder removed about 2 months later after following a low fat diet and it had gone down to its normal size. I had an ultrasound to determine the stones and size etc.

Hope you get it sorted soon

Yes, I went to A&E with the first attack because I didn't know what it was. Neither did they, but at least I was in a "safe" place whilst the pain subsided.

The pain is horrendous. If I had known what it was and not had any co-codamol to hand, I would absolutely have gone to A&E and got some pain relief.

Get your GP to prescribe some co-codamol, but be careful as it can be addictive and causes constipation, which can make things worse!

Also get some Buscopan.

Interesting thanks! So if I have severe pain like 2wks ago, I'll go to a&e. I'll try to push for a scan in the meantime

DH had an ultra sound scan to diagnose his. He had a few attacks (although not excrutiating) but with months in between and then nothing at all for 12 months, so he decided against surgery as he is a coward. However the attacks started again, although were milder than previously, so marched him straight back to consultant to arrange surgery. His worst attack was his very 1st one, and his scan showed his gall bladder had been inflamed.
Go back to GP, push for a scan and then a referral to a gastro consultant if the scan shows gallstones, and get gall bladder removed, even if you don't have any further attacks - because if it is gall bladder, it is like a ticking time bomb and could flare up anytime, any place, anywhere. And if you go yellow, the ring 999 immediately.