Gallstones

[wingingit1987]

Hi all, I’ve became unwell over the last few days and it’s looking like it’s gallstones. I’m limited in what painkillers I can take because I’m breastfeeding so I feel absolutely dire. Any tips on managing this? What to eat/avoid? Just wanted to know other people’s experiences too so I know what to expect.

thank you

Unfortunately you need to avoid all fat - live off chicken and veg and beg your GO to refer you urgently to get it removed. Breastfeeding/ new mum should help your case. If did mine as it claimed it was unbearable to suffer the attack without opioid meds due to breastfeeding

Thank you. I actually ended up admitted to hospital last night. Any tips for foods that are “safe”?

Avoid anything high in fat / deep fried.

If you are having an attack try drinking good quality apple juice and peppermint tea, definitely helped me. Holding your arms above you head also alleviates the pain.

I was fine with rice and white meat and bread. Red meat was a no and potato absolutely killed me

Great tip above. If I was having an attack I'd take two codeine and two buscopan and lie on my bag arms above my head as flat as a pancake and tried hard to fight the urge to hunch over. The codeine snd baucopsn took about 15 mins to kick in but i after
The crushing pain was gone I was sore
For quite a while after

Thanks to you both. I can’t take coedine as I’m breastfeeding but they gave me buscopan. I ended up admitted to hospital overnight but they allowed my wee one to stay thankfully.

Gallstones are horrendous, I had them throughout my pregnancy and it was absolutely awful.

I lived off rice, veg and chicken or fish.

Avoid any fats and eggs.

The only permanent solution is to have the gallbladder out.

Huge sympathy, I suffer with attacks every few months or so and it's just horrific isn't it? I had to have morphine injected by paramedics in my living room last time

My eating habits are roughly the same but something fatty/spicy for tea may or may not set it off at 2am, I just never know. Tend to just use caution and/or moderation but everyone is different. Laying on your left side can help to keep the duct free to expand and contract.

Until I got it sorted (which was over 7 years 🤦‍♀️) I managed on paracetamol and buscopan. The doctors never gave me anything stronger.

Buscopan doesn't do anything- nothing at home does. The only time the pain subsided for me was when I was on morphine when in hospital.
I really feel for you as it's the worst! Thankfully my gall bladder has been removed now so never have to experience that pain again but it's bloody awful!!
As PP said, you need to avoid anything with fat. It's shit cos it's basically anything that tastes good!

Even drinking water brought my pain on, I couldn't eat bread, potatoes, things like tomatoes, salad, onions, couldn't drink tea or coffee despite only having a 5p size spot of skimmed milk. I lost nearly 2 stone from my first attack at the beginning of July until I had my op on 30 August. Ask your GP for a choose & book referral to your nearest private hospital, from my first appointment to my op was about 5 weeks.

Why haven't you had it removed @DuckPancake?

Here are the 9 big boys that were lurking in mine...

You have my sympathies @OP. I never found any food pattern a particular trigger, surgery was only thing that helped. It was a very simple op though, and I have zero after effects, can eat completely normally.

Thanks all. I’m really worried about my milk supply drying up if I go completely fat free out of nowhere so will need to have a wee think about thinks like snacks to keep my calories up but without the fat. I’ve genuinely never known pain like it and I’ve had 5 children!

Buscopan isn't pain relief, it relaxes the smooth muscles to let the stone pass easier. As soon as the stone goes so does the pain - hence why it works for a lot of people. If it isn't working for you it doesn't mean it doesn't work at all a lot of people find it helps them a lot.

@banew I'm aware of how Buscopan works- I practically live on the stuff thanks to IBS! I didn't say it was a pain killer. But like you said- it relaxes the muscles to pass the stone- therefore the pain goes. It didn't work (for me)

And don’t eat ice cream. I honestly thought I was going to die…..

Thank goodness my gall bladder is long gone (over 20 years now) but the pain during attacks was simply unbearable. I too found that only Morphine worked. It was a nightmare having to go to A&E in the middle of attacks and explaining to them that nothing but Morphine would work. I was accused of being a drug-seeker. Fortunately my mother, a nurse, was with me when that happened and told the doctor that wasn't the case. Anyway, nothing helped until I had it removed. For me, btw, any kind of food could bring it on - it didn't need to be fatty. Good luck OP. Get it out!

Everyone is different. I was diagnosed with gallstones in 2020.
I take digestive enzymes before every meal and can eat anything in moderation, even fatty foods.
For flare ups buscopan and peppermint tea generally shortens the attack. Apple cider vinegar also good.

My attacks felt like what I'd imagine a heart attack but on the other side would feel like btw, telltale sign a tightening around my back, around the bra band area, moving to the front, up into right shoulder and jaw. Usually in the night.

Soluble paracetamol is your friend. Being soluble they work quickly.

Rosemary Connelly devised the Hip and Thigh diet to overcome her gallbladder colic isolation that's worth a look.

You missed the 'for me' bit in your first post though didn't you, quite important when declaring a medicine which helps a lot of people with this condition 'doesn't do anything.'

@awrtesdg another one very protective of Buscopan! You 2 are hilarious (for me)

Thanks everyone! Can I ask, does this mean I will 100% need surgery? (Massive wuss- I’ve gave birth 5 times but hate even getting bloods taken let alone surgery!)

Rosemary connelly never had surgery.

I did and that first curry in over a year (I was diagnosed then fell pregnant) was amazing 😊

Don't worry, you'll be asleep!

It's a million times easier than giving birth. Take my advice, get it done when it's not an emergency, it's all keyhole then, and very easy recovery.

Why live your life in fear of attacks, second-guessing every meal and faffing about with cider vinegar when you can just get it out and get in with your life? In my case the actual gallbladder walls had thickened so much it was utterly useless. And those massive stones weren't going anywhere.

Thank you. I think I’m also worrying about being away from the kids for the recovery period but I suppose it’s better that it’s planned than lots of short admissions if were to become unwell like I did the other night.

TMI question so feel free not to answer but is off-coloured stools normal after an attack? A kind of green tinge to them? My bloods were fine before I left the hospital so I’m assuming this is just with the stone passing?