Gallstones - your experience please!

[Moose46]

I had an episode of severe pain this week, that led to an ambulance being sent, as I was on my own looking after 2 young kids. I had taken paracetamol and Buscopan but nothing helped. Ended up having morphine.

Been back for an ultrasound today which confirmed gallstones. Consultant left the decision totally up to me as to whether I opted for surgery or wanted to manage it with a low fat diet. I opted to go on the waiting list (8 months) but it’s difficult to know what to do at this point as we have no idea if or how often i’ll get more flare ups.

I’d be grateful for anyone’s general experience or any advice please.

Did anyone ever just get one flare up and then never again? Or how often after your first flare up did you get further ones?

How have you found managing a low fat diet? Do you ever eat anything like chocolate or takeaways ever?

Does anyone have any useful links for good recipes for low fat family meals?

If you only get 1 flare up, would you still consider surgery?

Might it be worth me looking into private to get it done sooner anyway?

Is it worth me contacting my GP for more advice?

For further info, i’m in my 30s, i have 2 children aged 3, and 4 months (currently on mat leave). And my flare up did happen on a day when I admittedly ate a high amount of fatty food, including indian takeaway.

TIA :)

I had mine out. I couldn’t handle the attacks. They were frequent. Low fat didn’t work for me. I couldn’t work out what triggered mine so I was walking on egg shells all the time. Best thing I did was having my gallbladder taken out.

I had a GS end of January and nothing since. My private consultant was far to keen to operate but I’ve decided to wait and see.

If I were you I’d go on the waiting list and see how you feel when the time comes.

I wish I could have kept my gallbladder, there are reported negative effects of its removal. I had cholecystitis and was jaundiced. It can be very dangerous and mine was whipped out. Following surgery it took my bowels a time to settle and I couldn’t eat fat. The pain I experienced was recurring and excruciating, I think you’ve done the right thing going on the waiting list for surgery. However there must be a forum or Facebook group specific to gallbladder issues and I’d look there for further advice. Good luck!

Thank you. May I ask how often you had attacks please?

I was ill on and off for years and my gall bladder diagnosis came quite late. I was very ill in hospital with pancreatitis at one point. My friends mum died fairly young at about 60, because of pancreatitis from a dislodged gall stone.

I had mine out as day surgery - in ant 8am and out by 12:30pm and no ill effects. I would not want a sudden attack or pancreatitis while abroad or before an important event for example.

I had one attack then nothing for about 5/6 years. I went to GP then and was referred for surgery.
I then had 2 further attacks whilst on waiting list.
By the time I had surgery I had discomfort in that area each day and I lived in fear of having another attack.
I would barely eat all day whilst at work as I really didn't want a full on attack whilst there. And daren't go on holiday or out for a meal.
It was no way to live.
I was so glad to finally get it removed and I've had absolutely no problems after.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience with me.

Based on your experience, in my shoes, would you opt to get the surgery done anyway in 8 months if even without another attack before then?

I had a couple of attacks about 6 months apart and then the following year I had much more regular on/off pain.

I had mine out via keyhole surgery. Very straightforward. Never had an issue since.

Based on your experience, in my shoes, would you opt to get the surgery done anyway in 8 months if even without another attack before then?

If you've had one attack and have diagnosed gallstones I'd definitely get on the waiting list to have it removed.
I couldn't imagine going on holiday or enjoying life knowing you may have another terrifying attack.
I didn't know I had gallstones when I had my first attack so did nothing. But as soon as I knew I wanted it out.

Surgery is keyhole, day surgery. Recovery was quick and the knowledge that I would never feel that pain again definitely made it worth while.

I had one attack like you, but developed cholecystitis and jaundice as a stone had lodged in my bile duct. After having that stone removed I had keyhole surgery a few months later to remove my gallbladder and had no problems since.

I had mine out in 2014 after having repeated attacks over the course of 2 years. For the majority of that time doctors didn't know what was causing it, my stones were microscopic and not showing on ultrasound. By the time I was diagnosed, I was quite ill with it. I had constant pain under my ribs and back. Turns out that it was very swollen and could potentially have ruptured at any point. Perhaps some people can "live with it" - I certainly couldn't.

The downside is I suffer from bile acid malabsorption as a result, although not everyone gets this. However, I also had this problem before it was removed (presumably as it wasn't functioning as it should). Low fat diet doesn't help with this I'm on binders to help control it. I do still get a lot of pain as a result - although nothing like biliary colic . But ultimately I don't regret having it removed, I just wish there was more research and information available on living without one - the specialists don't really seem to care once it's out - and it's not like an appendix, it does have a function.

I had mine out in 2016, was having attacks approx every 4 months mostly triggered by cheese and spicy food. My absolute favourite food is curry so I knew I couldn't live my whole life never having a curry. Mine were never triggered by things like chocolate so I could still eat that but anything with cheese in was an immediate attack. I was only in my 20s so decided on having my gallbladder out instead of living the majority of my life on a restrictive diet. No regrets

By the time I had surgery probably once a week. I was in agony on the bathroom floor rocking back and forward. Relief only came when I vomited which could take up to an hour. I had a tonne of pain relief from the dr including morphine. I also ended up in hospital in Greece with it which is one of the scariest times ever.

I have just remembered a side effect from it - I can no longer take cocodamol or codeine as it gives me symptoms of an attack.

I had mine out. The low fat diet did help to an extent, but it was still sore. I also got ridiculously dry hair and skin after a while of low fat.

I had mine out in 2019. Like you I ended up in an ambulance to a and e the first time. I then had attacks approx. once a month til I had it removed. I also had 3 little ones at the time. Low fat diet made absolutely no difference to whether I had attacks or not. Only thing I could ever work out affected me was eggs, my last and worst was after a bowl of tomato soup! I have had no problems following removal and am very glad I had it done.

When I had my third attack, I rang the Dr and asked if there was anything better than paracetamol/ibuprofen for the pain. To my amazement, she prescribed morphine which was wonderful. I only had 2 more attacks before my operation. No problems with or since removal.

Thank you. The consultant today spoke to me about getting suppositories from the GP that apparently help! I’d rather have the morphine tbh. It would certainly stop me having to present to a&e as well. Absolutely nothing i did including paracetamol and hot water bottle touched it.

Thanks to everyone so far who has given me advice.

The basic message i’m kind of getting here is that no one so far has managed it without gallbladder removal, and even though i’ve only had one attack, it’s still worth getting it removed because even if i don’t have another attack for a long time, it may still flare up again later and it will be another wait for surgery.

I’m thinking asking to speak to my GP about advice on low fat diets and also about the possibility of stronger prescription painkillers as a back up.

Any further experience or advice still welcome!

Have the surgery ASAP and you'll never regret it. It's very straightforward and you absolutely won't miss your gallbladder!

Pure apple juice. Try this, it breaks down the stones and worked for me. Not had an attack since

And I second those who say don't risk developering other diagnoses. I was dealt with as an emergency as I had cholecystitis, jaundice and pancreatitis. The latter was excruciatingly painful (far worse than the gallstones), and it's a condition which has potential to be quite serious.

Had mine out after 2 extremely bad attacks..worse than Labour. Coffee was the trigger both times as l rarely drink it as it does not agree with me. Absolutely no issue since.

I had one big attack sept 2020 and another feb 2021 while pregnant, so surgery not an option. None since then, and I absolutely do not follow a low fat diet (as much as I should)

I have daily attacks.
Working in a school and with 3 children.
I am consuming about 600 calories a day to try and avoid the pain.

If the NHS don't stop fucking around I'm going to rip it out myself.

Omg how are you coping???

Have you been able to get a prescription for morphine or anything from the GP??