Does this sound like a gallbladder issue?

[Sarah93advice]

Hi everyone. You May recognise me from my last post where I said I was worried I had pancreatic cancer/issues.

As a brief background-
I’m in my 20s and had my first son in April of this year.
About a month before he was born, my husband rushed me to the maternity unit as in the middle of the night I began experiencing really strange ‘waves’ of pain in my upper abdomen. I remember mentioning to the midwife that I thought it was strange as the pains were almost contraction like in nature (coming and going in a wave) but I was feeling them in my upper abdomen. I had no idea this sounded like my gallbladder and apparently, the midwives didn’t clock on either and just agreed with me that it sounded strange and sent me home.
This happened twice before my son was born. Each time the waves of pain were so bad I was screaming and crying on our landing floor. Nothing was ever found at the time.

2 months after he was born and I hadn’t had any further waves of pain however my stools were pale and looser than normal and I had some upper abdominal pain on both the left and right. I attended the hospital out of panic more than anything where an on call doctor did an ultrasound and mentioned I had gallbladder sludge.

I then had a SECOND ultrasound on the 1st September and to my utter surprise, the tech didn’t find anything wrong however discovered I was pregnant again (I failed to mention this in my last post on account it was too much info to cram in)
So after that, all my care was focused towards my new sudden pregnancy. I am now 20 weeks pregnant with DS2 with a 7 month old.

So anyway, about 2 weeks ago I began experiencing wicked acid reflux. I put it down to pregnancy hormones but it has to be noted that I have complained of acid issues since May of this year when I was no longer even pregnant with DS1 or any baby for that matter. This is why my GP had suspected gallbladder issues in the first place.

Then a week later, I was laid in bed reading at 1am as I couldn’t sleep and suddenly I got a sharp pain in my upper right side back and between my shoulder blades. This pain subsided and came back 5 minutes later. It kept coming in waves, sharp pain in my back that almost felt like indigestion and then after 45 minutes or so it was gone altogether and I managed to sleep.

I put it down as a one off. Despite my health anxiety I honestly assumed it was just acid reflux or indigestion. But then 2 days later it came back in the night again! Severe, sharp pains in my upper back between my shoulder blades and occasionally I would feel the pain in my lower right ribs too. Again, it went after about 45 minutes.

Last night for me was the final straw.
I woke up to the same pain again at around 4am. It felt like sharp indigestion pains in my back and ribs. Mainly I was feeling it in the back area. I also noticed it was going into my right shoulder slightly. I wasn’t feeling heartburn or any acid reflux at the time.
It occurred to me the pain I had in my first pregnancy with DS1 that had landed me in the maternity unit had been very similar but nobody had figured out what it was. It never occurred to me it could be my gallbladder on account the scan in September said I was fine (however I was only 5 weeks pregnant in September and I’m told pregnancy flares GB issues up)

I’ve since woken up today and noticed my stools are paler than they usually would be. I know this is bad news and I am terrified therefore I have made an emergency appointment to see my GP tomorrow. I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do or think. I just don’t want to be taken away from my husband and children. I’m only 24.

Does this sound gallbladder related? I cannot shake the fear it’s pancreatic cancer and they will find I have a huge mass on my pancreas on a scan. I’ve never been more scared in my life :-(

Hi Sarah. I recently had a baby 6 months ago when I was 28 weeks pregnant I woke up in the night with a terrible pain under my right rib cage and into my back. It was one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced. Anyway I had 5 more episodes of this over the last few months with stabbing type indigestion pains and horrible pain radiating into my back. I also had very pale stools In between these attacks felt fine! Long story short I’ve had my gallbladder removed thank goodness as they found some gallstones. Apparently pregnancy hormones can make it worse. I also was so worried like you when I had a scan but it did turn out to be gallstones and now very grateful to have had it removed! Glad your going to the gp, hope you get to the bottom of it soon

Honestly sounds like gallstones, the pain I had with them was horriffic

I've suffered with my gall bladder on and off for about 6 years. I was meant to have a scan for it but had to cancel and haven't made a new one! Thank you for reminding me.
Anyway. Also in my twenties and the pain is horrific. I'd rather give birth.

The doctors have always said it's a acute cholecystitis. The pain is bloody unbearable. It's all of a sudden too I go all sweaty. Unable to stand or move with horrible intense pain in my upper right area. I also get the shakes. The first time I had an ultrasound with the first time I had it they just said my gall bladder was inflamed.
Antibiotics have touch wood always helped me out but it's honestly up there pain wise it's horrendous and always get scared when I get a twinge of pain from that area. I also have health anxiety so hand hold for you.

It sounds like it to me. I've had 3 similar episodes over about the last year but my health anxiety is blocking me from making an appt. So I completely understand

I think you should pay for a private half-hour ultrasound, tbh. They'll spend more time really investigating the area. It is highly unlikely to be pancreatic cancer, though I can totally understand why you are frightened. I can reassure you that it is still rare to get cancer in the first place at your age and rarer than rare to get pancreatic cancer itself at any age but especially yours. It will likely be gallbladder related.

My brother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, diagnosed in his 40s and the one tip I will give everyone listening is don't take PPIs. Give them the big swerve if you can.

An ultrasound will show up gallbladder abnormalities, OP. I'd see your GP anyway and get a scan booked. But with covid, this may take time to come through. I'd book the private one while waiting, is what I'd do.

Tends to fit with my experience of gallbladder trouble. My gallbladder pain would be aggravated by eating anything fatty. I would get pain. It was so intense and then would suddenly pass. I had my gallbladder removed when my boys were very little. The best thing ever, laparoscopic surgery, recovered quickly. No further problems. Goodluck OP.

Sounds like pancreatitis.

It's surprisingly common in or post pregnancy

Hi everyone.

Spoke to the doctors and they’ve refused to refer me for another ultrasound. I’m disheartened. It has taken me all my confidence to speak to someone and they didn’t even want to see me in person. Apparently the pale stools didn’t concern them at all, despite the fact I know this tends to be a major medical problem.
I’ve been offered a blood test next week to check my liver. That is all.
I don’t know what else to do and I can’t afford a private ultrasound

They also told me that the scan I had back in September showed my GB was fine and then went on to say only PART of my pancreas was visualised however still did not want to repeat the scan or order another scan. So now I’m back to square one fully believing this is a pancreatic issue but they won’t do anything about it.
I can’t just go running off to the A&E on account my son is breast fed and won’t settle without me. I was told under no circumstances would he be allowed into the emergency room due to covid.

@Sarah93advice - please don't worry. The symptoms you have described don't fit with pancreatic cancer, which typically presents with painless jaundice. Also you are completely the wrong age. It sounds like gallstones. If I were you I would go to A&E during an acute attack.

I agree with the shell house to go to a&e during an attack if possible so that they can then assess you.

Agreed x3. They will need to do bloods

I found with gallstones the pain felt like I was in labour, worse in fact and like yours, my stools were loose and pale. I also vomited a bit.
The pain is horrendous, the first time it happened I was a few weeks post partum (c section and had post op infection etc), I honestly thought my scar infection had turned onto something deadly, I crawled downstairs and was telling my husband to look after our baby I the event that I died. That may sound mental but i have never known pain like it.

It does sound like gallbladder. You will need a scan to verify. Gallstones don't go away on their own.

Hi did you get sorted? I'm 22wks pregnant my u/s showed no gallstones but I still have pain when I eat anything fruit or veg...