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Original poster

Possible Gallstones

27 replies

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 20:52

Hi I have contiuous stomach for quite sometime now, it is immediately under my right rib cage more towards the centre and is at the right hand side upper part of back sort of in my rib cage, I have had an ultrasound and apparently that was clear should I request another one pr can anyone else think of a possable cause??

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 04/09/2006 20:57

Gallstones don't always show up on scans, and inflammation of the gall bladder isn't always caused by stones - my sister is going through the same thing at the moment, and although her scan was clear they still suspect some kind of gall bladder problem. She was fobbed off for five months before being referred, because the GP was adamant that gallstones always show up on scans - it took a nasty attack and a clued-up doctor in A&E to put him right.

Go back to the GP and ask to be referred to a consultant.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:01

what symptoms did your sister have by the way?? did she seem to have almost constant pain, I am worrying that it could be something more serious!

OP posts:

Glassofwine · 04/09/2006 21:02

Also consider kidney stones, I had a pain similar to yours that went undiagnosed for 18 months, didn't show up in first scan, blood tests etc. Only because it became v painfull and I kept on at Dr did I find out that I had a small stone. The small ones can be more painful as they move about.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:03

Out of interest glassofwine what other symptoms did you have if any? also how did they treat it?

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 04/09/2006 21:04

She's been really poorly with it. Almost constant pain, and sometimes completely doubled up by it, particularly after she's eaten. She thought she was having a heart attack the time she went to A&E.

She's been following a fat-free diet for a couple of months, which has really helped - she's not completely pain-free but it's a big improvement. And every time she slips up and has something fatty she's doubled up in pain for a week again.

Flossam · 04/09/2006 21:04

You need to go back to GP and see if something called an ERCP is plausable - TBH I think they only tend to do it if it is very likely and no knowing what shows up on your bloods I wouldn't know the answer. If you are still in pain with it certainly further tests need to be done.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:09

I don't think it is aggrevated by fatty foods thats the only thing, I have one small are of my stomach that hurst and I would say the rest of the pain is in my back and is radiated accross

OP posts:

Glassofwine · 04/09/2006 21:25

Janbo - sound like kidney stones to me. The best way to describe where the pain is, is to imagine putting your hand around you waist, but a tiny bit higher, so the pain is both sides of the body. As the front a little, but mostly at the back.

it's not so much a sharpe pain, but starts off as a nagging ache that just gets worse and worse untill you just can't bear it.

If it's is kidney stones I find that a hot water bottle, nice DH's warm hands or similar helps. The consultant also swears by drinking lots and lots of water as aapreventative and to relieve the pain. You are supposed to drink so much that your urine has no colour whatsever.

the treatment usually is lithotripsy if your in London or nearby the best unit is at Guy's. It's basically sound waves that shatter the stone so you pee it out - it doesn't hurt a lot of people and wosses like me are given a painkiller and kept in for a couple of hours. I have had a operation too - but it's all long and boring.

I would go back to the dr and say you think it may be kidney stones, if you have to over play the pain - do it to be taken seriously as it can get v v painful. My consultant recently got a stone and he was shocked even as an expert how painfull it was.

Oh yes, and there is some thought that stones can start after pg, my DD was 10 weeks old when i first went into A&E wih the pain.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:28

well that would ring true because I have had the pain some time on and off but only after the birth of my son, is it common to have a pain in the front right hand side under my ribs though?

OP posts:

Glassofwine · 04/09/2006 21:33

Entirely possible - and also stones can and do move so the pain can move. If it is a stone, you may pass it, which can be a painfull, but not always - I've never passed one so don't know.

Drink loads and loads of water. there are some dietry things too, but my consultant (who is v high up in the kidney stone world) says that the dietry things are irrelevant - just drink water. Some people recommend cranberry juice.

I have also been prescribed painkillers - v heavy duty ones as paractamol just makes no difference. I was also messed about by gp on this for a while, but the best ones are known as Voltarol. They are antinflamatory and work in a preventative way as well as pain relieving - but do knock you out.

Poor you. I have a stone at the moment, but it's behaving itself.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:35

Well I am going to the doc's on wednesday and going to ask for a full blood count as well just for peace of mind, am I entitled to do that?

OP posts:

Glassofwine · 04/09/2006 21:45

You are entitled to ask for blood test, but be aware it won't always show up. Ask to be referred to a renal clinic for a scan or xray.

toofatmum · 04/09/2006 21:53

You should ask for a full range of blood tests including liver function and a CRP which is an indicator of inflammation in the body. You should also have a urine test to see if you have any blood in your urine if you have kidney stones blood often shows up as an indicator of a problem. Does your pain ever radiate to your shoulder tip? If it does it is an indicator of possible gallstone problems as the nerve the diaphgram is connected to runs to the shoulder and if there is a liver or gallbladder problem this becomes inflamed. I am a nurse and 2 yrs ago I had a pain in my right shoulder tip for a few days thought I had slept in an awkward position until I collapsed with a sudden pain under my ribs on the right hand side. I did not have gallstones but a gallbladder full of sludge which is the precursor to gallstones and this had become infected and I needed an emergency op as I was in septic shock. If you have a constant pain your body is telling you something is wrong. Do not allow a doctor to fob you off keep asking for tests and if not happy you can change your GP or see another on in your practice if possible. The ERCP test carries risks of inflamming your pancreas and should not be done until you have had other less invasive tests, CT scan is alot safer. Hope that helps

Original poster

Janbo25 · 04/09/2006 21:56

many thanks toof, your info is very helpful, what would be the likely cost if I decided to have all these tests done privately, to ensure they are done quickly and I won't get fobbed off?

OP posts:

Flossam · 04/09/2006 22:04

No idea RE cost. You would need to get a consultation to establish this. One word about voltoral - it is an non steriodal and can cause stomach ulcers. It is not often a first alternative to paracetamol - codeine and tramadol have less risk associated with them. You need to go back to GP's really and see about relevent refferals.

toofatmum · 04/09/2006 22:07

There should be no problem in getting the blood tests done through your GP as they are routine ones that are done every day as far as a CT scan is concerned I would be guessing at approx £500-£600 pound mark as the rates are set by insurance companies and there are no discounts for paying cash! But you would still need a dr's letter for this to happen that is why I suggested seeing another dr in the practice or changing as it is now very easy to do that if you are dissatisfied with your current GP.

harrisey · 05/09/2006 02:56

If it is a kidney stone then you will know all about it, beleive me - I have a long history of them. Vomiting with the pain, unable to stay still, youcant concentrate on anything but getting the next dose of painkillers, and if non-steroidal ones dont work (as they dont in about 25% of cases) then you end up needing the very strong stuff - morphone or pethedine.
It is the most ghastly thing I have ever experienced - very like childbirth only with nothing to show for it at the end.
Even CT scan will not show up all kidney stones if they are very small, though my scan showed loads of them. You can also have a test called a IVU (intravenous urogram) which involves you having die injected and it can show up yourr stones.
Drink loads, and I mean like 8-10 pints of plain water a day. Dont grin and bear it - well, you wont be able to. There are no blood tests for kidney stones although they might want to check your kidney function. Whoever said it can be linked to pregnancy is right - my stones were all pregnancy related.
Hope youdont have this, as it is excruciating. Hope you feel better soon

Glassofwine · 05/09/2006 10:33

Agree with flossam about the voltarol - I only take it when the pain is extreme and as little as possible, but it does work for me and often I only need to take it once.

also my stones can 'rumble' for a good few months before getting as severe as Harrisey is talking about, so even if the pain is not as bad as she describes, don't discount kidney stones IYSWIM

Original poster

Janbo25 · 05/09/2006 11:50

If i go to A&E do you think i will get thoroughly check out there??

OP posts:

toofatmum · 05/09/2006 12:21

As an A+E nurse I can tell you without a doubt that you will not get what you want. Unless your blood or urine tests are abnormal you will be treated for your pain and sent home to be seen in outpatients. If there is blood in your urine and you have back pain you may get an IVU but it very much depends on your hospital and there is no guarntee you will get on as an A+E pt. This is a chronic problem that may become acute in the future but unless you are in severe pain do not bother as you will be wasting your time. Ask the GP for the tests I told you about and see what these results show. Get a copy of the results and let me know if you would rather do this privately my mail address is [email protected]

jackieglyn · 05/09/2006 12:35

Hi janbo25,

is sounds like gallstones to me, i got gallstones after having my first child, the pain was so bad i though i was having a heart attack. the pain is on the right hand side of you chest and goes all around to your back.

When i had the ultra sound done they couldnt see my gallstones, but whrn i had the operation (which was about 3 months ago now) there were between 50 and 100 stones. they gave me some stones to keep.

hope this helps.

Glassofwine · 05/09/2006 13:50

Don't bother with A&E unless you need some strong pain relief, but even then you'd be better of with GP. I only went because I saw GP when I was in pain and she ordered me to go, they said I had constipation, gave me an enema and sent me home - the was the first of my mis diagnosis. It was so painfull and I believed what the said that I even took the drastic step of colonic irrigation!!! Obviously it didn't work and was not pleasant.

Original poster

Janbo25 · 06/09/2006 16:05

I did go to A&E and it would appear it is gallstones combined with severe constipation this is making the pain unbearable

OP posts:

toofatmum · 06/09/2006 23:31

So what are they doing for you at the moment?

mrsnoah · 07/09/2006 00:07

god this is scary stuff you guys. Is there anything you can do to prevent them or shrink them? Is that what drinking lots of water can do?

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