Gallstone stories?

[Whatisgoingoff2024]

I have been in agony since Saturday now waking up in excruciating pain at 1am, right in my central abdominal that radiates through to my back like a tight band. Nothing relieves the pain and I can’t sleep through it, this has happened every night now for up to 4 hours.

I went to the GP Tuesday, pretty useless saying they couldn’t properly “assess” me as I didn’t have the pain during the appt. They prescribed me codeine which if anything has made me constipated now. I constantly feel sick and I’m so tired as I can’t get any rest. I’m a busy mum and just feel so crap.

Ive been reading online about gallstones and wanted to hear stories/opinions/advice of what to do.

My pain got so bad ( banging my head on the wall) that I rang 111 who advised me to go to a and e, where I was admitted, given morphine, stayed in a couple of days until inflammation gone down ( cholecystitis) then given appointment for gall bladder removal a few weeks later. My gp surgery had misdiagnosed every time I called them previously, suggested IBS etc, which apparently doesn't wake you in the night like gallstone did.

If they suspect gallstones, they should be doing liver bloods and then referring for an ultrasound. I am on list to have my gallbladder removed and have had a couple of hospital visits with it, it’s not pleasant! I’d go back to GP and say you want some blood tests done.

In the meantime, follow a very low fat diet and see if that prevents the pain as that will lend weight to the possibility of it being gallstones. Look for stuff under 3g of fat per 100g where possible. Red meat triggers attacks for me, and heavy dairy, so I’ve cut both out while awaiting surgery. Helpful to keep a food diary and see what trigger foods are.

Can you share with me what your pain felt like? Where abouts it was located?

My pain from gallstones was central. Have you tried buscopan to relieve the pain? That was the only thing that kept me sane whilst I waited on removal. If that works, it points to biliary colic type pain. Agree your GP should be doing bloods and ultrasound referral.
The only other consideration might be indigestion? Have you tried gaviscon?

Hi op, does the radiating stomach pain go into your shoulders by any chance? The pain is unreal. I found that buscopan gave some relief at times but otherwise a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen worked (if you can take those of course and consult a pharmacist about codeine and paracetamol use).

A pain like you are experiencing, could well be gall stones. Either way, it needs investigating. Go back to your GP and say you’ve looked at the NHS web page and you think you are having gall bladder problems.

Once I had my GB removed, I got my life back.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/

I drove to a and e in the middle of the night to get morphine with mine (I’m a die hard hospital / painkiller avoider)
you need an ultrasound / X-ray to find out if it is this (but sounds just like mine) was so relieved to get it out as the attacks where coming more frequently

Mine began at the beginning of March. I ate and my stomach was swollen and aching. The ache went on for some time and then I was vomiting until early the next morning.

It happened again in exactly the same way two weeks later. A couple of days later I was up all night with severe stomach pain.

I saw a Dr who said it's probably gallstones and I'm waiting for an ultrasound.

The pain is in the centre of the stomach and does not radiate to the back or shoulder.

Mine always starts in the upper back between shoulder blades and then moves to the front. It can be different for different people. If it’s happening at the same time every night it’s probably worth looking at what you’re eating for dinner and seeing what happens if you eat a very low fat meal. Mine is mostly diet controlled while I await my operation but it does sometimes flare up randomly which consultant said is just one of those things unfortunately.

You should go to A&E if that level of radiant pain happens. Gallstone could trigger pancreas infection which can be very dangerous.

Thanks for your replies. I’ve got blood work and ultrasound booked for tomorrow.

The most important thing is to go back to your gp ASAP and get the referral started. Tell them you have all the symptoms and need the assessment. It doesn't matter that you didn't have the pain in the appt, that just shows that they don't know about gb pain - it comes and goes depending on shifting sludge or stones, or infection.

Mine started off "small", excruciating pain that took my breath away, but only last 3, 7 then up to 10 min when i thought i was dying. From there it jumped to episodes that could last up to 10 hrs. I was hospitalised with an infection like the above poster. I went private in the end as my local waiting list was too long. The day or two after an episode I felt tender and very bloated. I was missing a lot of work. It was frightening.

Having said all that I don't clearly recall the pain. I know it started central in my chest because the 1st thing my gp did was send me for a heart CT scan, but by the end the pain was under my right ribcage.

My pain didn't respond to even the strongest stuff. I ate the very low fat diet mentioned above, until my surgery. Good luck op.

Oh, brilliant! I took so long replying I didn't see your update!

Sorry, but that sounds like pancreatitis, have you had the blood results? I've had it twice recently due to gallstones. They will fast track you for surgery if that's the case