Can gallbladder pain feel like this? I’m so fed up.

[Mykittensmittens]

This might be lengthy but I don’t want to drip feed.

In 2019 I had a 5 day long pain episode. I’d give it 3/10 going up to 5/10 (childbirth back to back being 9/10!). During that time I had one episode of yellowish poo, chills, right hand gnawing pain and it was associated with eating - either ramped from 3/10 to 5/10 about 1-2 hours after eating, or occasionally if I let myself have a very very empty stomach. I also had some gurgling noises. This all happened just after Xmas when I’d had a diet of rich food and booze. In fact the day prior to it starting I’d had a very rich cheese pizza at an Italian.

By the time I got into the GP and then for the scan (6 days) the pain was down to a 1/10 and the findings were as follows: no stones. A slightly prominent common bile duct and some fat on the liver.

They were very dismissive of it being anything gallbladder related (although the sonographer did say I could have passed a stone or had subsiding inflammation).

My BMI was 30 so I lost two stones during that year, ditched booze for 6 weeks (I probably had been drinking above the sensible levels) and was fine….

Until I ate a deep fried dish and some wine in a restaurant and boom - it was back. I was on holiday at the time. By the time I got home, it had passed.

Roll forward to now. Lockdown hasn’t helped me. I’ve put half my lost weight back on. I’ve also had another couple of these bouts and am in the middle of one now.

This time it’s lasted 3 weeks of very low level gnawing pain which is definitely digestion related. I’ve not had alcohol for 3 weeks or fatty food, but it does seem to trigger it. The pain feels like a bruise under my ribs. It’s certainly worse when I eat, shortly afterwards. Things like tea or milk don’t seem to affect it but it’s better when I’ve not eaten (despite growling hunger pains). It just seems uncommon to have this lower level longer pain rather than sudden attacks. I can’t get comfy.

Yesterday I had a slice of brown toast with reduced fat spread - that set it off to about 3/10 which subsided after 3 hours. Then I had some tiny pieces of veg sushi, main remained at 3/10. Much later I had a very small portion of pasta with vegetable sauce - small cereal bowl full, with a couple of teaspoons of 50% reduced fat cheese. The pain started within an hour up to 5/10 and didn’t subside until midnight.

I’m away for the next 3 days (which is going to be interesting, supposed to be out for Italian tomorrow!) but when I get back I KNOW I’ll have to go to the GP. I just don’t like the man frankly and (be gentle please) I already have a degree of health anxiety anyway. I’m one of those stupid people who ‘doesn’t want to know’ and buries my head in the sand. Part of these things for me is feeling out of control.

I guess I’m asking does/can gallbladder issues feel like this as a longer term, lower level pain rather than acute attacks? Feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment. Please be kind.

Maybe try keeping a food diary, it can help to find a pattern in what foods are causing pain. I find myfitnesspal very useful to track what I eat, it's also free which is nice. I have a grumbling gallbladder so find it's easy to track fats in my food there.

Right you lovely lot I thought I’d come back and update you.

Can you tell I’m happy? Or at least happier than I was.

Today I had a scan. I had this done privately after continued issues in even obtaining an appointment with my GP. I called the private hospital and it would appear that I was still technically “in their system” following my scan two years ago. So back I went to see them today.

The upshot is that the radiographer who specialises in hepatic and biliary system issues was able to confirm that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my liver, gallbladder, pancreas, biliary system, or kidneys. Everything looks tiptop normal and healthy including my liver which if you remember was thought to have some diffuse fat a couple of years ago. Clearly my effort to be healthy has paid off because now there is no sign of anything except the tiniest amount of fat consistent with someone that has a BMI of 29.

Whilst clearly this doesn’t solve the problem of the pain, it does reassure me that it is not my gallbladder about to explode or my liver on the brink of failure, or my pancreas in distress or a gallstone stuck. Whatever this pain is it is nothing to do with that.

Sonographer recommended I do go back to the GP, be persistent, and asked to be referred on the back of these results to a gastroenterologist. He said ultrasound isn’t particularly good at identifying gastric issues it may be that I need an endoscopy. We did discuss round some potential ideas such as a small stomach ulcer, sphincter of Oddi, excess stomach acid or IBS all of which have been mentioned here by you all at one stage or other. The other thing they mentioned would was an intolerance.

I can’t say this hasn’t passed my mind before, I am a Vegetarian and my diet does lean towards being heavy on the side of milk and dairy; I do wonder if it is something around an intolerance of that nature.

In any case I wanted to update you and thank you for all the good advice some of which I will be referring back to you for other possible solutions. In the meantime I am forced to go back to the useless GP and ask him for a second referral. Fingers crossed this time they find something more explanatory.

Thanks for updating, and what a relief for you!

Great update! Good luck on your continued quest.

I’m pleased your results were clear (didn’t think it was gallstones as it was different to mine). Having said that, a diagnosis does make things clear and gives a pathway. Must be frustrating not knowing what is causing the pain.

@Mykittensmittens
Hello, I know this is an old thread but just wondering if you ever found out what the pain was. Currently having similar issues for about 3 weeks now. Had my gallbladder checked last year and nothing found. Thanks 🙂

@Firefly18 the most probable answer is a small ulcer or a form of IBS.

we ruled out intolerances, but my GP does have it noted that I also have a narrower than average billiary duct, so it’s possible that if I overwork my gallbladder, the billiary duct gets irritated. Too much spicy food, or buttercream can sometimes (not always) set off the pain.

ulcer does seem to fit with most of the symptoms. They offered an endoscopy if it flares up again (touchwood!)

I have similar abdominal symptoms and was diagnosed with a form of colitis a couple of years ago. I don’t want to take the standard steroid med, so have managed it myself with a low fodmap diet ( no gluten, dairy, no spicy stuff) and a good probiotic ( I take Symprove). You need to continue to have appropriate tests - colonoscopy, endoscopy etc to get a firm diagnosis. Its difficult at first, but worth it not to suffer the constant flare ups.

It sounds like symptoms I had back in the early 00s I was dismissed as was very early 20s. Doctor thought it was probably "stress" I wasn't stressed, couldn't eat any food with any fat content and was in agony on occasion - and would have a decent pain tolerance. Keep pushing or if you can see a another doctor - mine came to a head when I ended up with a very bad infection and seizures due to the temp caused by it - I was so angry for being ignored or dismissed as being a stitch!!

@Mykittensmittens I have never posted before on mumsnet and do not want to worry you but I had the exact same symptoms as you, went back and forth to the GP for 3 years with increasing incidences of painful episodes to be brushed off, prescribed painkillers, told there were no stones visible on ultrasound scans and even diagnosed as diabetic. I went to A&E several times too to again be dismissed as no gallstones evident until last year I was having pain every 10 days or so in the exact same place as you describe, right side under my ribs radiating round to my back/shoulder, accompanied by a constant pain in my stomach triggered by dairy or fatty foods. One day the pain was so bad I went back to A&E where I was eventually listened to. Long story short I was diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer. Request a 2nd opinion, see another dr, push, push, push for further investigation. I was fobbed off for so long and am now in a much worse position than if it had been picked up 3 years ago. Most people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed too late, don’t be like me, demand answers and be that squeaky wheel. I hope I haven’t unnecessarily worried you but am so keen to raise awareness. Good luck x