What does a Gallbladder attack feel like?

[Jelly4444]

Decided to treat ourselves to a Chinese last night. Big mistake! Woke up at 4am with excruciating pain under my right ribs! Vomited with the pain for a few hours. Took a difene but it did nothing. Never felt a pain like it before. I intended to get the kids to school at 8.30 and go to A&E but the pain went and I felt fine. Rang the doctors and I can't get an appointment until next week.

Does this sound like a gallbladder attack? I'm so worried!

My gallbladder attacks feel like someone is squeezing a vice around where my bra band sits. It starts under the right boob on my ribs and then spreads all round. It’s awful, makes me feel like I can’t breathe and really nauseated. I fainted the other day from the pain. I’m apparently on the wait list to speak to the surgeons about it, but heard nothing from them.

@BippityBoppity87 I know what you mean about going to the gp a lot as recently I have been contacting them every couple of weeks due to pain and change in bowel movements which they put down to ibs but now since these recent pains I wonder if gallbladder all along.

I was worried about calling the gp but they treated it very seriously, please don’t hesitate to contact them as from some things I’ve read the pains can get worse and it’s easier to sort out earlier on.

When i have the attack, I can go from being unable to speak as I’m so much pain to then being able to take a breath and feel slightly better then a minute or two later the unbearable pain is back.

@TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet yes I felt like that and that is why we started to consider a&e as I really struggled to breath as it felt so tight around my middle. Have you already had a scan for them?

I know I should @lostandfound55 I think it’s just that little bit of paranoia in the back of my mind, ringing up and they’re like ffs what’s wrong with her now..I’ll bring it up at my next blood tests and see what the nurse says and explain how I don’t want to come across like I’m being a hypochondriac, but this has been going on for a long time. About 8 years I would say, not just a few weeks

It wasn’t even that long ago I was referred to the breast clinic either, but thankfully all well. It’s just one thing after the other! I feel like as soon as you hit 30, all these problems come on at once and then put having a baby into the mix and you’re body is just a mess

I think if I’m being honest with myself, a lot of these problems could be resolved if I lost a significant amount of weight. But when I mentioned how much weight I’ve put on in the last few years (I’ve never been overweight before) was just responded with that’s unusual and a shrug from the nurse

@lostandfound55 how did your ultrasound go today?

@BippityBoppity87 I have suspected IBS too. I wonder of its connected to our gallbladder issues? Just an idea (I have zero medical background). Could your weight issue be linked to PCOS?

@Jelly4444 thanks for asking. I went this afternoon and they showed me the screen and I could see 2 gallstones but they said there were multiple. She said they will send electronically to gp advising to make referral so not sure what happens then and how long it may take.

I have also been told by my gp since July that these symptoms I’ve been having are ibs as I have found that I am having to go to the toilet a lot more often.

Delighted that you have an answer! At least you have confirmation what the issue is. A big relief for you. I imagine that they will want to remove your gallbladder?

Isn't it interesting that we all have symptoms of ibs?

@Jelly4444 I will admit that I cried when she told me with the relief of actually knowing. Since June/July I have been having bowel issues and stomach pain etc to only ever be told ibs by gp.

After having few really bad episodes where i thought I was having a heart attack I had an ultra sound last week where it was confirmed i have several large gall stones. I'm now waiting for a follow up consultation with my Dr.
My first attack back in June lasted 4 days , starting under my ribcage and mainly on the right but then spreading across to the left with back pain shoulder pain and even jaw pain. Like others I couldn't catch my breath. I lived on pain killers and pepto bismol which didn't even touch the sides . I thought I was having a heart attack but common sense told me a heart attack wouldn't last for 4 days.
Thinking back I should have called an ambulance but I was terrified of catching Covid . TBH when the pain went away and I felt better I assumed Id had some sort of viral illness and that was it. Unfortunately it wasnt and a visit to a drop in health centre after
almost weekly attacks confirmed I had probably got gall stones.
I'm watching everything I eat now, with my stomach feeling as if its churning all the time and if that isn't happening i get more painful "indigestion" that usually wakes me at night and keeps me awake.
The symptom I have that really worries me though is what feels like constant heart palpitations even though I was told my heart is fine and it can be a symptom of gall stones.? Does anyone else have these palpatations?

Oh yes, palpitations - tick.

The first attack I had I thought was probably gallbladder but there was sufficient overlap with heart attack symptoms the NHS helpline sent an ambulance!

Thanks for that CaraDuneRedux . Its quite unnerving isnt it.

@lostandfound55 I'm so glad you have a resolution. Let me know what happens next. I'll make sure to update when I have my scan. Hopefully its the same diagnosis as yours.

@happydaze22 my goodness! I think that I have gotten away lightly despite the pain being horrific. I get awful indigestion/heartburn at night too. I've been blaming bread. Maybe its all related to my gallbladder. My pain was below my right ribcage so I didn't think it was my heart.

I had my first attack 2 years ago and another horrendous one 3 weeks ago. My GP has been amazing, got me in for blood tests to check my liver function and then referred me for a scan which is this Saturday! Not sure if anyone else mentioned that gallstones can also be hereditary? My dad, 2 aunties and nanny all had their gallbladders removed and my sister thinks she has them too. I've had 5 children and give me labour pains any day over gallbladder pain!

I’ve been having stomach pains on and off too. I had an ‘attack’ of horrible pain, nausea etc over Xmas last year but generally it’s a feeling of indigestion, nausea and I burp ALL the time,
I told it was gastritis at Xmas and had a scan but the gallbladder was clear. I’ve also have orangey poo and I go multiple times a day.
My discomfort is almost always right sided, no idea what it can be if it isn’t gallbladder issues

@CrazyFoxLady Thats interesting! My dad had gallstones and kidney stones. Will you keep us updated as to how things go on Saturday? I can picture us all having our gallbladder whipped out in the next few weeks

@Spottydoggy have you been tested for celiac disease? Orangey poo is a sign! I have googled the living daylights out of my symptoms at this stage and I have come across all sorts!

Hope you get an answer. My pain was similar from your description. Because of lockdown I didn't get my operation until August having has my first attack in January. At one point I had a rational conversation with my DH about killing myself after having 5 attacks in 8 days. I decided I couldn't live with the pain anymore even morphine wasn't strong enough. This is how bad the pain can be and these are how covid lockdowns will cause more deaths than it saves.

My sister had hers out years ago when she was in her twenties and i also found out last week that my aunt had hers removed too.
i was told it was hereditary too CrazyFoxLady
Jelly4444 , that would be good but in todays climate I reckon we'll all be still popping the pills and (in my case) still craving a bacon sarnie 6 months from now, lol .

Can I join? Going for a private scan next week as joining the dots (and talking to @lostandfound55) I think (hope, because obviously Dr. Google is freaking me) I've got gallstones too.
The pain going into the jaw at times would have me convinced it was a heart attack if it was on the other side. Invariably in the evening but once in a lesson. Thankfully nice kids and I just had to say "er, I've come over all peculiar could you just get on with something"
GP prodded me and said she couldn't feel anything but to have a scan. Two months wait so will pay.

My mum had gallstones, and I had h.pylori which leaves me often with gastritis.
I just want to say "could you just take out everything I don't need anymore" (am 54 so we can get rid of quite a few of those organs )

Sounds likely to be your gallbladder, it’s horrible pain, like others I found it worse than labour. I was admitted for 11 days when I was 26 weeks pregnant, not fun not being able to take the strong drugs but one thing that did help get on top of the pain was buscopan. You can buy it over the counter, hope you get sorted.

Thanks, yes, I've been taking buscopan thinking it was all bowel stuff. Gah. Cant imagine having this pain and being pregnant. Poor you.

@Jelly4444 yes, please update on your scan and I will let you know what happens next for myself.

@TheSeedsOfADream let us know how you get on next week.

@Jelly4444 yes I'll let you know how it goes thanks 😊

@CrazyFoxLady hope your scan goes ok on Saturday as op said let us know how you get on.

@lostandfound55 thank you 😘

@Spottydoggy yes the burping is horrendous! Most unladylike - proper old man burps! 🤢