How easy is it to get prescribed decent painkillers for gallstones?

[IDontKnowMargot]

Been having classic gallstone pain for about two years but attacks fairly infrequent. A few bad attacks last November led to an ultrasound but despite calling the GPs, I never got the results. Since then I've been fine. Until last night when I had the worst one ever. Fortunately a friend had given me some codeine tablets at Christmas in case I got a bad attack over the festive period, so I took one at 2am which relieved the pain. I know it's my own fault for not chasing it up with the Drs, I guess I was burying my head and hoping it would go away. I'm still very sore and tender today and am planning on phoning the surgery tomorrow to see what the next steps are. I have Buscopan, digestive enzymes, peppermint capsules and apple cider vinegar which I was taking regularly but stopped when the symptoms stopped (yes, I know, I know). What are the chances the GP will prescribe me decent painkillers for the attacks??

They will almost definitely give you something decent. I have gallstones diagnosed august 2022. I had a phase of having awful attacks for around three months. Then they just fizzled out. I don't often get attacks now but I do get that biggle in my right side and tendern as on occasion but they don't cause me to be doubled over and it's manageable. My GP gave me tramadol when it was really bad and super strength cocoadamol for routine pain. So I'd say they will happily give you something stronger. Have they offered surgery? They said I don't need it as my attacks are infrequent.

I take over the counter pain relief but immediately as soon as the pain starts. Thankfully this has worked for me for years. I have 3 or 4 attacks a year. No idea what kicks it off.

It's over 20 years since mine was removed, but at the time the only thing that helped with the pain was morphine (at A&E), and even that was not always helpful. Only having it removed cured the pain for me.

My gp gave me oramorph (on recommendation from hospital). Nothing else touched the sides.

Are you able to describe the pain you get?

Concerned I have something like this.

I would ask to have it removed. There’s a bit of discomfort after the operation but nothing close to a gallbladder attack. Agree with poster re: morphine sometimes not even helping.
I remember the pain being indescribable - a bit like your heart being twisted, some travelling pain and no respite.

EXACTLY the same here. Morphine at A&E plus doctors coming out to give me morphine injections and morphine pills which i had to put under my tongue. My gallstones were caused by rapid weight loss and gall bladder was removed in 2003

I don't know I find it hard to get codeine. I noticed though that they won't give me it for migraine, but they will for back pain and ear ache

Online GP EU meds have it though, they usually will prescribe things like this

The only thing that stopped the pain for me was IV paracetamol, codeine, morphine and buscopan. (Yes at the same time)
I had gallstones for 3 months and had attacks multiple times a week. I lost 4 stone in those three months and then had emergency surgery.
I would definitely recommend getting the surgery 😅 I do not wish gallstones on anyone.

@Sunshineandrainbow - it's a really intense pain upper right side of rib cage, under my boob. Starts as a dull ache and then just gets worse and worse. Radiates around my back. All I can do when it happens is to walk around my house. I find if I drop my shoulders and keep my head upright, I start to feel nauseous sooner and the sickness tends to alleviate the pain but it can take hours for it to happen.

I currently have an infected gallbladder omg the pain is unreal.
Gp has requested a scan. Stupid me didn't ask for extra pain relief and the paracetamol is not helping.
Hopefully the antibiotics will take the edge off soon.