Gallbladder issues - what does having gallstones feel like?

[Thegallofher]

I'm in bed recovering from what I had thought was a nasty case of food poisoning last Sunday. Still feel like I have been kicked in the sides by a horse,

It started by my bloating up quite a lot and having what I could only describe as a trapped wind feeling that kept shifting around to between my shoulders blades, under my rib-cage, right by my kidneys.

Also accompanied by a real tightness that felt like my chest but was probably more at my solar plexus, as if my bra strap was really tight around my ribcage. It was totally, totally uncomfortable, painful-ish but more of a really unpleasant discomfort - no position alleviated it and I ended up pacing around like a mad thing. Eventually I was violently sick. I thought that might alleviate it but I still felt 'blocked'. I felt as though I was going to have diarroeah - but although it was quite lively down there it was more a feeling of wanting to go urgently but not much coming through. I was sick again 4 hours later. Again very forcefully. I actually helped this along because I wanted a release of the pressure in my abdomen - brushing the back of my tongue with my toothbrush did the trick.

The next 24-48 hrs I just drank water and then had a little bit of natural yoghurt. (Thinking it was food poisoning still) Even though I felt 'better' I still didn't feel right and my insides just felt incredibly tender and bruised. I was worried that I might have some sort of infection so got an emergency appointment with a doctor on Wednesday morning (feeling guilty for taking up an emergency appointment).

However, the Dr listened, examined my abdomen, took a load of bloods and said she suspected that it was a gall bladder issue. She's referred me to have an ultrasound. She phoned back todaywith the blood test results and obviously the liver function test has shown something awry and she says it very much backs up the diagnosis that I have had an obstructive gallstone episode.

Now, I've been on MN for years and I've heard about gallstones 'being more painful than childbirth' - I realise the issue flares up around pregnancy and the old adage 'Fair Forty, Fat and Female'. I'm confused because it wasn'tTHAT painful (bad enough though!) and I'm wondering what's to come. Was that some gallstones passing through? Was it a gallstone getting stuck (she used the word 'obstruction'). If it was, where has it gone now? She was clear that if I felt the same sensations again and it was progressing to get myself to A&E.

I am still feeling sore and blocked. I've been told to eat as little fat as possible - this is hard as I tend to eat low-carb and usually have a lot of fat in my diet in the form of eggs, cheese, milk, avocadoe's etc. She talked about me having the gall bladder removed if I have a number of attacks. I just don't know what to do for the best. I'm terrified that I am going to end up writhing around in pain and being blue-lighted to hospital. OR do I simply ask them to remove it now (get on a waiting list am sure that will take FOREVER!) Anyone found any alternative solutions? What had been your experience with gallstones? Am all ears!

My dh is going through this at the moment, although got diagnosed with gallbladder sludge, (after the ultrasound) not stones

He has had four bouts of pain. The third bout, especially was painful, but he had been eating crisps, peanuts, lasagne etc.ie. Fatty foods. He ended up,going to hospital and having morphine.

We saw the consultant this week who recommended that he has his gallbladder out. The wait isn’t actually too long, in the next three months.

I’ve had probably 4 attacks over 4 years. I now watch my diet and generally “manage” it. If i start getting more attack’s I will be back to the GP. I’ve had a scan and i do have gullstones. The pain is incredible. As soon as it starts I take pain relief. Hot water bottle on the area too. Gp advised that if it went upto my shoulder I need to go to A&E. So far it has remained just below the ribs.

Thanks petalflowers. So does your DH normally stick to a very low fat diet? If so what does he eat? I dread having to go in to hospital and be given morphine. That must be hard to see so someone go through and rather scary! I thought if it was that bad they might whip the gallbladder out there and then?!

I hope he manages to avoid any painful attacks before his op. Do you mind me asking whether your DH is overweight? I am but have been working on it in a very slow way - have lost about 2 stone in 18 months. I know that drastic weight loss can bring it on but mine hasn't been drastic at all.

I've got a wedding next weekend and two weeks booked in France, I will be eating rice-crackers and drinking water all way - woo hoo!!

Sounds familiar. Mine started with griping Pain just below and to the right of my breastbone, and the Pain was radiating into my back and shoulders. It felt like a had a vice around my ribs. The pain was bad but not horrific, but it was constant and wasn’t improving. I was taken into hospital, they diagnosed gallstones and discharged me.

That was literally it until about a year later when I felt the same pain. All they did at the hospital was give me painkillers so I tried to manage it at home but it just kept getting worse. After five days I finally saw my GP, and was rushed to hospital with a severe gallbladder infection and pancreatitis. I had to have very strong painkillers and antibiotics and was in for about 10 days. Had my gallbladder out about 2 months later so they were the only two episodes I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t say it was excruciating (I have endometriosis and have had a lot more pain from that), but by the time it progressed to pancreatitis it was certainly extremely painful.

DH has gallstones and gets occasional flare ups related to diet that last about an hour. So it can vary significantly.

BTW I was about 24 and normal weight when mine was diagnosed and nothing I ate ever affected it. They won’t remove an infected gallbladder (unless it’s life or death I assume) so if there’s any infection they have to treat that first and wait for all the inflammation to go down (that’s what they told me anyway when I was begging them to take it out!)

Thanks newsofas. Sympathies to you too for the pain! How strict are you with eating low fat? Do you allow yourself any cheese or butter at all? Do you drink any alcohol or is that a no no?

One thing I'm confused by is how the only option seems to be the total removal of your gallbladder. Is there no way to remove the stones without losing the gallbladder or once you have them will they just keep happening so it's easier to whip it out. I heard that they could be broken down with lazers but maybe that was something from Tomorrow's World (showing my age!)

I feel very much left in limbo although I know I am early days in my diagnosis. The Dr didn't think that having an ultrasound would reveal that much as she's pretty sure that gallstones is the right diagnosis. I suppose they must have a good scan around the area to see if there is anything else untoward?

I suppose the best question I should be asking you is what pain relief would you recommend? I hear that some people have used Pethedine but I'm not sure you can get a prescription for that. Knowing what I know about the potential pain that may be heading my way, I want the finest painkillers known to mankind!!!

I had my gallbladder out last week.

Having gallstones doesn't have to be painful or even a problem. Sometimes they can sit there doing nothing at all. Sometimes it can cause inflammation of the gallbladder and this can be uncomfortable. And then sometimes the gallstones decide to make a break for it and head for the common bile duct. This can hurt a lot. Sometimes the little fuckers get stuck in the entrance between the two, this can hurt, a lot. Sometimes they get stuck in the common bile duct and then everyone you meet in health care asks you if you are an alcoholic until they realise what's happening.

The fact is it can cause a lot of pain. I've had three kids and it's right up there - not quite crowning pain but not far off.

A low fat diet until all is well makes a huge difference.

Was worse than child birth for me, awful, excruciating, think I'm dying type of pain...

Gawd Sinkgirl that all sounds agonising! Pancreatitis scares the shit out of me because I have heard that is beyond the pale - my sympathies to you (and for the endometreosis) It's a tricky one isn't it. So many theories as to why and how eating fat sets it off but then you hear people where there's no rhyme or reason. Health wise I really don't think eating a low fat diet is very good for us but I will certainly eat that way if it avoids me developing pancreatitis! However your weight was fine and what you ate didn't affect it. Do you feel any differently after having your gallbladder out at all?

In my case I had a large amount of tiny stones and sludge so breaking them down wasn’t an option, and if you did have them broken down then I’m sure you could still end up in th mess I was in.

I had gripey pain on and off for a while but never too bad, I put it down to poor diet, IBS and chronic heartburn. But then I had that horrible "obstructed" sensation and pain under my breastbone and around my ribs one night. I was away for work, tossing and turning in agony in a hotel bed wondering what the hell it was. I had green diarrhoea in the morning and was shivery/feverish and nauseous all through my meeting the next day, it was pretty grim (but I was never sick).

I let the pain grumble on for a few weeks, but the constant vice around my ribs ruined the excitement of my house move so I eventually saw a GP. She immediately suspected gallstones and sent me for an ultrasound less than a week later - they found a giant gallstone and referred me to a consultant.

That was last July, and I had my gallbladder - and the stone, which they had to break up first - removed in November.

They were so quick and efficient, there was no question of "managing" it - the consultant said once you've had an attack, it's best to have it out fast because the next one could mean an obstructed biliary duct, pancreatitis and all manner of liver problems. I was obviously very lucky!

With regard to the pain, I've never experienced childbirth but renal colic was definitely worse than the gallbladder pain. Although it is extremely persistent and draining.

They tend to remove the gallbladder because they tend to come back. However, there is a study that is current which I was invited to participate in where they attempt to control the gallbladder with dietary changes alone saying that some people can go another 10 years before there is another gallbladder attack. I'm not sure if that helps you op?

I can honestly say I felt no different after I’d recovered from the surgery and while some people have issues with fatty foods afterwards, I have no issues at all eating anything.

I ate chocolate for breakfast once after having mine removed. Yeah, big mistake.

elementtree and lanbro thanks for sharing your experiences of the gallbladder. How was the op itself? Probably a walk in the park after all the painful episodes youve been through?! How long a 'journey' have you been on before you got it out elementtree if you don't mind me asking? You've certainly incentivised me to eat low fat! Will I not be able to have a wee bit of butter on my jacket potato?!!

I just can't wait to be 'over' this attack. I can't believe I am still feeling sore internally and have this nagging suspicion that my digestive system still isn't working quite right yet. It's been 5 days since the attack. Is it normal to still feel this wierd inside?

With painkillers, just beware. I already had tramadol and morphine due to my endometriosis and my consultant believed that the tramadol may have been responsible for the gallstones in the first place. It definitely did exacerbate my symptoms when I took it. Unfortunately most GPs aren’t great at prescribing painkillers even when they’re desperately needed, until you’re in A&E screaming the place down. Then they may relent if you’re lucky.

If it’s still available I’d pick up some paramol from the chemist - it’s paracetamol and dihydracodeine and I found it was the most effective OTC painkiller at times when I didn’t have anything on prescription.

Sorry lots of crossposting but thank you so much to everyone for contributing and sharing their experiences so honestly!

Buscopan is quite good - relives the colicky pain. I managed on paracetamol or paramol mostly, before it was removed anyway.

Yes, normal for things to be unsettled and feel weird - essentially, your digestion really isn't working properly. You'll find some foods are fine, and others are triggers - depends on the individual. Full fat yogurt used to set me off!

And I felt completely normal after the op, once recovered. Feels a bit iffy for a week or two then, happy days.

I'm currently waiting to have mine removed, I tend to get pain just below my right boob , but when I get a bad attack it feels like I'm having a heart attack. Having a low-fat diet definitely helps.

Well, I think my gallbladder had been quietly complaining for quite some time and I'd been downplaying it for some time thinking it was indigestion and that I should - but never did- stop eating takeaway.

But at the beginning of march I woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating pain that saw me sweating, shaking and vomiting. I couldn't move for the pain.

I ended up in hospital on oramorph to find I had gallbladder inflammation, gallstones and a gallstone blocking the common bile duct. I had to stay in overnight, have an x-ray to check my lungs hadn't been damaged.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to be fine and discharged with antibiotics and had my gallbladder out last week, so eight weeks later. I think this is hugely dependent on you health authority, some poor people have to wait ages.

A week later and I'm doing ok, not had chocolate for breakfast yet though

Sounds very much like my experience apart from I had excruciating pain (the old 'worse than labour' etc) for about 30 mins which I think was me passing the gallstone. I actually went jaundice due to the obstruction. My liver results were all over the place as well.

I know a lot of people get the uncomfortable feeling and never actually pass a stone. I had the uncomfortable feeling for 6 days (I took codeine for part of it as I thought it was back ache until I went jaundice) and then it passed. I definitely find a low fat diet helps and I'm waiting to have my gallbladder removed now.

I had 52 stones removed a few weeks after giving birth. It felt like I was having a heart attack, a gripping tightening pain under my right rib and in the centre of my chest. I was lucky I was diagnosed and treated quickly. I can't eat fatty food now.

I had a few more attacks in that time. It helped when I cut out all meat and dairy and coffee.

And cooking oil.