Living with gallstones

[Lees83]

Hello
I've been diagnosed with gallstones. My symptoms are discomfort upper right side, lots of gas and floating mushy stools.
I don't have typical gallbladder attacks which I hear about, I just get some mild discomfort under right ribs if I eat a fatty meal.
Because I am not in pain and my liver panel blood, FBC etc are all normal, I have been told to adopt a watch and wait approach.
Is anyone out there also living with gallstones (I.e. has anyone been told they don't need surgery for now)? My bowel movements are frustrating me, I feel like I have IBS with floating stools!

That's annoying that they haven't been useful, I hope you get some proper answers @MadameOvary81.

I've spoken to my GP as I'm feeling a little 'forgotten about'! But he is saying that if the consultants are advising I watch and wait, that's what I should do. TBH I'm not in any pain, sometimes I get a mild discomfort under right rib but lately, that and the flaoting stool has gone/eased.

I'd love to hear from people who are taking a watch and wait approach as I feel I am on the only one with gallstones who is doing that! :(

Has anyone had lightheadedness with gallstones? I don’t know if it’s that or my antidepressants!

@lees83 Completely understand feeling forgotten. You need to keep pushing or nothing gets done.

Don't be fooled by not being in too much pain. I've read a few things on a Gallstones group on facebook this week that would put the fear of god into you, all from people whose gallbladder seemed to be behaving! The general consensus is don't watch and wait...get the bugger out as soon as possible.

@Rainbow2116 I am lightheaded but i think it's because i'm not eating the same way I used to and it's causing low blood sugar.

@madameovary81 did you have any further checks privately?

I've been ok for the past few weeks, aside for being gassy sometimes, and about 2 days of floating stool in 3 weeks.

But I listened to advice and made a private appointment for an ultrasound and consultation. They were very thorough. Ultrasound confirmed stones. Consultant did say that while I have stones, my gallbladder looks normal and considering that my symptoms are so mild, he would not advise removal for now! Guess I'm stuck with it for the moment!

But I feel like everyone who has gallstones gets their gallbladder removed! Anyone else out there in this situation?!

@mayaknew sorry to jump on this thread - just seen that you had endoscopy which showed bile in your stomach - I have the same….what symptoms are you dealing with?

I have gallstones and was also advised to watch and see. Tried changing diet but if I do overindulge , I can get bad stomach pain right up under rib. I believe that unnecessary surgery is best avoided as there are always side effects to everything.

Where do you get Digestive Enzymes ?

Bit late this one but I have had gallstones for years too. Had a spell of attacks a few years ago but not had a proper one for ages now. I do get lots of discomfort and I had cholestasis in pregnancy which is linked.

All the women in my family have / had them so I'm used to it as a norm really. In our experience they don't take them out until things are really dire, it's never occurred to me that I would need them to unless I really couldn't cope but I think that's probably because I've grown up with it as a norm and so it doesn't worry me at all - but it isn't nice feeling so uncomfortable and the attacks really are agony - if they come back I'll be rushing back to my GP!

@stillfunny @cakeandslippers Thank you, it's good to hear from others in a similar situation. I'm also ok for now, and I am trying to eat well, so they don't bother me. Sometimes I can eat a full fat creamy dessert and I won't have any symptoms, so it's very confusing.

I've had this for over 10 years & my gallstones haven't got any bigger or caused me any real pain. Digestive enzymes are great in helping you to digest fat better - I went to a naturopath who said if you take plant based ones your body doesn't come to rely on them. He recommended Udo's Choice (Amazon). I also have some with betaine and lipase for when I feel I need them. Beetroot is good too and also bitter herb-type liquids.

I should say I also went through the NHS system. My GP thought I'd be having my gallbladder out but the consultant said not to as the stones were too big to get stuck in my bile duct, so it was only about whether I had pain or not.

Hi I have found my people!

The last 4 years I’ve had right sided low level gallstone pain. I had an ultrasound which didn’t find any stones but I’ve had two proper ‘attacks’ where I thought I was dying.

Most of the time I have the gnawing right sided ache in my side and down into my groin / hip - I also thought I had a gynae issue.

Biggest issue for me is bowel problems, morning urgency, lots of loose orange stools, gas, burping and general digestive discomfort.

The bowel issues are getting worse with occasional incontinence, stools always loose and I can go anything up to 10 times on a bad morning.

GP has arranged bloods and a fecal test pack has been delivered. I suspect I have bile acid malabsorption from my symptoms.

I’ll let you know how I get on with the tests..

@MadameOvary81

It's weird isn't it? I thought I had: ovarian big C, ovarian cysts, (in fact last November, before my abdo scan, I went for a private gynae scan convinced it was gynaecological) the pain was right where ovaries etc are.
Then I decided it was my appendix, then my hip itself.
Apparently an inflamed GB pushes on a nerve that goes along abdomen and down into hip area.

@Lamping, welcome! Let us know how you get on.

Thank you for everyone's response, it's so good to hear other experiences and that I'm not alone in this.
When I push just under my right ribs, the area feels sore, but only the day after I've eaten something fatty. Does that happen to anyone else? My stools are also normal now but occasionally float (although I think that happens to quite a few people without stones).

I'm so glad I found this forum! I also have an ache in my upper right abdomen, it only bothers me when I press the area. Dx with gallstones in 2018, but not had any real attacks, just indigestion

@stillfunny, can I ask when you were diagnosed please? I had a pretty fatty meal on the weekend (ice cream, pastry etc) and as a result, I've had upper right belly pain and some floating stools. I really should be watching my diet more...

@Els82 .Ironically , I was just in hospital overnight on Thursday .Had terrible pain with vomiting and black stools .Doctor sent me to A & E .I had Xray of chest and stomach , bloods done . Given pain relief, gastric neutralise, enema ? !,fluids on a drip . Released with a follow up appointment for ultrasound and scope . Will be interesting to see what is the outcome .

I was diagnosed with gallstones and a fatty liver following a scan to find out why I was continuing to gain weight despite not eating much in the way of calories. My diet was at that point fairly medium carb/medium fat, it wasn't the most obviously unhealthy.

On the advice of my dr and following the theory I've linked below, I have changed to LCHF and lost two stone so far, as well as noticed an improvement in my digestive symptoms.

www.dietdoctor.com/gallstones-and-low-carb

@stillfunny I am so sorry to hear that. How do you feel now? Do they think it's gallstone related? Please keep us updated

I am fine now. Think it is gastric related which could mean more or larger gallstones. Got strong antacid tablets for it.

@Stillfunny, did you ever find out what caused your bleed? I hope you're OK now

@lamping how did you get on with your tests? I still have the same issues

@Abs811, I also get pain when I press my upper right area. Does that ever go away? Do you have any other symptoms?

@Elsa82 . No , not really . Had a scope and no sign of ulcer or any visible damage. Just one of those things I have to watch.

@stillfunny, glad to hear there was no ulcer or damage. My issues are still there. They are no worse but no better. Sometime I can go 2 weeks feeling fine and then sometimes I will get the floating stool or pain under right ribs/shoulder. I think I am just so aware of these symptoms. I try to stick to a low fat diet but it's hard sometimes...

Hi there sorry, I know this post is a few months old. I’m booked in for a scan next week to confirm if I do indeed have gallstones. Symptoms and bloods suggest that I do. How long until you had the scan results? Can you ask the person doing the scan there and then. My scan is on a Friday so I can see myself stressing myself silly waiting . Thank you