Anyone any experience with gallstone problems?

[MummaInPain]

Went to a&e a while back as I was in significant pain and was worried it was a symptom of pregnancy (pre eclampsia). This was ruled out - thank goodness! But was told it could be my gallbladder. They didn't investigate as they felt I should go back to my gp to get a referral and then head back to the hospital for an ultrasound. Fair enough if they didn't think it was serious or life threatening and wanted my to see my doc who has my records.

Anyway, this pain is getting worse. I'm concerned it may be something other than my gallbladder, however can't get an appointment for two weeks with my gp. If I wasn't pregnant, I wouldn't be so concerned, but I'm a bit of a worried mess!

My pain:

• to the right and slightly above my belly button
• constant sharp pain which is worse when I press down
• very painful if I try and tense my stomach muscles
• definitely not a muscular pain
• comes intermittently. Hard to tell if food related
• keeps me awake at night and often lasts up to 12-24 hours. Then eases off.

Anyone any experience of this? I just want to know what's wrong. Very anxious and in a lot of pain.

I was woken up at 3am by a pain in my right shoulder. It travelled through to the front of my chest and sat about 3 inches above my belly button. Felt like really bad indigestion.

On the advice of our telephone helpline (I’m in Canada) I went to our local ER at 10:30am. After IV fluids, a bit of morphine and an ultrasound they took my gall bladder out that evening at 8pm.

With hindsight I’d had the exact same symptoms about 6 weeks previously but again thought it was indigestion.

@MooseBeTimeForSummer did you find it got gradually worse? I'm not in total agony but it's uncomfortable and enough to catch me when I stand up/stop me from sleeping. My fear is that I don't get it sorted now and I end up with worse problems later in pregnancy/after baby is born.

"textbook" gallstone pain is on that side, but tends to radiate through to your back and up into your right shoulder. However, symptoms may vary. My attacks used to last about 3-4 hours usually until I vomited before easing off. Over 5-6 weeks I had 3 trips to A&E followed by admission for 3-5 days each time due to complications of blocked bile duct, causing jaundice and then pancreatitis, then an inflamed gall bladder. Luckily I had private healthcare though my employer so was able to have my gallbladder out privately a couple of weeks later.
If you're worried during your next bout, and can't get into your GP for a routine appt, could you try to get an out of hours referral via 111? Most of my attacks were overnight so wouldn't have been able to get to my usual GP anyway.

@APermanentlyExhaustedPigeon I have no pain in my shoulder or back at all. Just to the right of and above my belly button. It's driving me a bit loopy. When I went before to a&e my bloods all came back normal but they said it could still be my gallbladder. I think my anxiety stems from being in a lot of pain but not knowing why. It's unnerving

Well I did have a lot of complications with mine. My mum also has gallstones (really mother, you couldn’t let me have ONE thing!) hers is much less painful, and she had been managing for a year now.

Both of us needed an ultrasound to diagnose (I also needed an MRI but I’m generally a pain in the arse, and don’t think you can have one while you’re pregnant?).

Even if it takes a while, I’d get back to the GP, and get referred for an ultrasound - at least get the process started. If it flares up badly in the meantime, you could try A&E, depending on updated blood tests/facilities they may be able to fast-track your ultrasound.

You may find a very low fat diet helpful, some people do, but that may not be appropriate if you are pregnant. So ask your midwife before making any drastic dietary changes.