Support thread for anyone who has/had gall stones.

[tortoise]

Hi all fellow sufferers.
I thought it would be nice to have a thread we can all use for support.

Hi Betty, glad its getting sorted quickly - when I went I could see mine, the radiologist actually got me to wriggle a bit whilst being scanned so I could see them moving about. Not quite the same as seeing lo waving at 20 week scan - but very clever all the same . It was bupa mind but I guess its the same wherever you go. They did tell me the scan didn't show gall bladder infection as suspected, but when they took it out dr said it was definately infected and really had needed to come out - so they can't see everything

the radiologist took images and showed me mine - but had to get me to lie in a funny way before he could see it (it was 1cm and hiding!)

BettySpaghetti glad to see you don't have to wait too long for your scan.
i didn't actually see the stones on the scan but before i left she did confirm i had gall stones.
I have been fine despite eating really badly again .

Hi guys, I had my Gallblader removed last Wednesday. I have to say I am fully recovered now. I had a two night stay in hospital, mostly because I was a bit fluey as well. I also had it done private, lovely room, nice food but nursing staff were crap and didnt tell me anything really.
I would say re childcare, you really are not up to much for about a week. You need to rest and sleep.

Sherbert That sounds great. glad you are recovering well.

Chilcare is what i am worrying about the most. i have no-one to care for my DD's. DS's could stay with their dad for a few days easily. DD's dad is an abusive arse and only allowed supervised contact!
My family live in turkey now. They can't afford to travel. looks like foster care would be my only option.

Had to have mine removed as an emergency op and I haven't looked back since. I was 9 weeks pg when the attacks suddenly started and were so severe that within 3 weeks, I had the op. Unfortunately, I miscarried the baby as the pains started BUT I have felt fine ever since and can eat what I like. (also, got pg again a year later and had ds}

Well - it was my birthday yesterday and for a few days I have had a few niggles - it put me off wanting to go and eat - but in the end I did. We had a lovely carvery(not particularly fatty) and lo and behold, another pretty severe attack. I ended up drinking some fizzy water that helped it go quicker than normal, but it was still so upsetting, especially as I had the kids in the car and DH was driving. My surgery are just useless, my results from my scan have never arrived there, and everytime I ring them to remind them to contact the hospital and ask for them to be faxed over, they give me excuse after excuse. So I am no closer to getting this whole thing sorted - I am getting so depressed with it all.

oh sassy. Sorry you had another bad attack. Happy Birthday for yesterday. Hop it was a good day despite the attack.

I don't know what you can do about your surgery. Can you ring the hospital direct and tell them your Drs haven't recieved the results? or just annoy your drs by phoning every day until they sort it

I had some niggles yesterday but had been picking at biscuits etc all day. i don't know why! I am going to try and be better today. Really don't want a bad attack.

Happy Birthday for yesterday Sassy, sorry you had an attack though. I probably would get one from a carvery unless I skipped roast potatoes and gravy.

Mine needs to come out but I want to lose weight first and am not getting very far with that as life is all a bit stressful atm, my MIL is dying over in Spain and we were going to move recently which hasn't helped.

I do find that if I stick to very low fat don't eat much in the evenings I am fine. But I am rubbish at sticking to it. And I find mine gets worse around my period so I end up with bad period pain and a gallstone attack.

My ESR is raised a bit at the moment so I suspect my gallbladder is permanently inflamed.Must really try harder to get some of the weight off.

so sorry about the attacks Sassy. I've also had some over the weekend, 2 quite bad ones and lots of little ones. I seem to always get them in batches over a couple of days!

Only a week to go till I see the dr [taps fingers]

Another attack today at work - went to see my gp as they have now just found my scan results. It showed that I have lots of little stones and fatty liver deposits. All the doctor gave me was co-codomol??????????? He told me to take 2 four times a day????? He then said he would refer me to a gastroenterologist(sp) so more waiting and more attacks.

I am so angry!!!

oh sassy, that's really annoying! Can you get a second opinion or anything?

After a day of codeine, they are having no effect whatsoever!

Sassy Sorry you are still suffering.

I had an attack today. Often feel sick during an attack but for the 1st time today i was actually sick. Was worried so i contacted my Dr. he wasn't too worried and still feels surgery not the best option because of my situation re; my DD's. He has prescribed some stomach acid reducing tablets to see if they improve anything just in case its not the stones causing the pain.

Where does everyone else feel the pain? Mine seems to generally be right in the middle at the bottom of my ribs. Sometimes across back and shoulders. Dr said normally pain is slightly to the side of that area.

tortoise, my pain seems to be about there as well, though if I'm having a bad attack it will spread up to my ribs & chest

Well.................I had 2 biliary colic attacks(pain in centre of my stomach) at work, they called an ambulance and I ended up being kept in over night at St Thomas's hospital in London. They checked my blood and said I had inflammatory markers but that everything else seemed fine - the emergency doctor said she thought I had Acute Cholecystitis and that I would for sure get surgery. I got moved up to a ward and had to wait till 3am the next morning to see a surgeon, who totally told me that it wasn't an emergency. They starved me from 4pm until today at 3 so obviously I wouldn't get the pain - IT HAPPENS WHEN I EAT so I have been discharged and sent home and told to follow up with my CRAP gp. I got an appt throug the post for the hospital(just to see someone) for 8 October.

I can't wait that long. My poor hubby has had to look after our 3 kids single handedly and missed work so hasn't earnt any money - I feel so bad for him.

I am mega peed off now - one doctor says one thing, then a surgeon says another thing. I did get an U/S which confirmed I had a few small stones in my gallbladder, and one doctor said that they might not even remove my gallbladder - whereas the surgeon said - it is the only way to treat this condition. I swear I should have faked the pain for longer - I JUST WASN'T EMERGENCY ENOUGH.

Sorry for your attacks Tortoise -
and your doctors attitude is exactly the same as mine. I now have to go back to the GP(as I said) and tell him that my appt at the hospital needs to be speeded up - LIKE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!

Oh Sassy i really feel for you. How awful to go through all that to get no where. It sounds like you are having more pain problems than me. At the moment i am happy to carry on as i am. I guess really thats only because of my DD's. If i had family to look after them then i would push for operation.
I was so scared to eat at lunch time today. Had to force myself to take a few mouthfuls. Once i had, i was ok.

I hope you get something sorted soon.

Saw my GP today and she was as helpful as a chocolate teapot, did I just say CHOCOLATE!!

She said that all I could do was ring the hospital and ask if they have any cancellations - obviously they didn't, so looks like I continue to suffer. She said she would write a letter but didn't think it would make any difference.

sassygirl -sorry to hear yu're not being listened to.

GENERAL QUESTION FOR EVERYONE -I've got my ultrasound scan this week and am not allowed to eat for 6 hrs beforehand. Anyone know why this is?

Sassy Sorry to hear that.

Betti I have no idea. I was ok because i had a morning appointment so i just skipped breakfast.Maybe things are clearer with empty tum/gall bladder?

Betty

It seems the gallbladder is easier to see on an empty stomach. My first scan was at 3pm so I couldn't eat all day and my second in hospital was at the same time, but for lots of different reasons I was starved for 24 hours

Sassy, am so sorry they're not listening to you!

I've been to see the GP today, I'm getting blood tests done on Fri & they're also booking a scan for me.

Btw, I've noticed that since I've been watching what I eat I seem to have become a lot more sensitive and am having lots more minor attacks, has anyone else had this happen?

Thanks for the replies about the starving for 6hrs.

My appt is lunchtime so I'll have to set my alarm for stupid o'clock so I can eat lots of porridge before the 6hr deadline! I'm crap if I don't eat regularly so will probably be feeling faint and grumpy all morning

Rosmerta

I have noticed lots of little attacks too, and I am a lot more sensitive too.

I can't believe my gp hasn't even requested blood tests, I only got them done when I was admitted to hospital. The NHS system is just so rubbish. I am going back to the doc tomorrow as I can't live with this constant back pain and stomach pain. I am going to make a nuisance of myself no doubt, but it is ridiculous!

Well, I had my ultrasound today and she couldn't see any gallstones...hmm not sure if that is a good thing or not?

I've got to wait for results to be sent to my GP to find out if there was anything else seen as , of course, they won't tell you there and then as the radiographers are't qualified to diagnose