Gallstones found - what to expect next at GP?

[BrightLemonSnail]

Hi, hoping for some advice. I began having intermittent extreme "gut attacks" as I called them about 6 months ago. 1 a month then it started to get more frequent. I had a private ultrasound around 7 months ago due to an uncomfortable full feeling under my right rib but nothing was found besides fatty liver. That was before my first attack which lasted about 5 hours which was the worst pain I've ever had. The attacks since have been lasting about 20 minutes but during that time it's agony. Anyway, day before yesterday I had one, and another yesterday whilst I was driving which was absolutely horrendous l. I booked in a private ultrasound for this morning and my gallbladder is now full of stones, largest 1.8cm and small ones.

I have a GP appointment to discuss this "mystery pain" in 2 weeks (booked 4 weeks ago) but was wondering if I should ring on Monday and try to get one earlier? What can I expect from the first visit? Is there any medications I could be prescribed to help during attacks? will I be referred to a specialist or put on a surgery wait list etc? Told to wait and see?

I'm concerned I've had 2 in 2 days and under my ribs feels overinflated and sore constantly. I tried to drive just now but had stabbing pains there and had to turn back. Ive been to the shop and bought fat free healthy foods, little and often as I understand it.

What is next? And should I be giving the GP a ring Monday?

You know I completely forgot to ask! I had a routine appointment already booked to discuss this "mystery pain" and 2 other health issues, I was 4 weeks into a 6 week wait for it. On my way to the new emergency appointment I got a text from the surgery telling me they had cancelled my routine appointment! So I had 3 things to fit into this one appointment or start from 6 weeks again🤦🏻‍♀️ I bought cocodamol and more Buscopan in the pharmacy

I had an ultrasound 7 months ago that didn't show anything in my gallbladder, but I was there for ongoing pain there, like an overinflated balloon. Between then and now my gallbladder has filled with stones 1.8cm and smaller. The only thing that can explain that is I lost 1.5 stones in 1 month on Mounjaro. I continued Mounjaro for 5 months until these "mystery attacks" as I called them got too scary (I lost no further weight on Mounjaro after that 1st month) The sonographer said the pain I had before must have been stones too tiny to see on ultrasound. So it's worth in my opinion paying for them if you are sure it's gallbladder until they are visible, then doing what I did and presenting that to the GP. Im not sure how common it is to have a gallbladder fill with stones in only 7 months, but I suspect he'd of never believed it would get so bad so quick especially given I put the weight back on!

I would beg, borrow and ok, maybe not steal but borrow even more to get it out and done quickly privately. The frequency of your attacks does not sound liveable to wait for nhs, my est wait time was around 2 years. My friend nearly died from gallbladder rupture they only just got it out in time. There are payment plan options available for private.

I got my life back after having mine out, the relief is overwhelming. I am happy to pass on the details for an excellent surgeon if you’d like me to PM you.

Yes please that would be great. I've been getting quotes this evening going private, it's possible on monthly payments I could afford it. £6450 isn't too bad, I could always trade my car in for an old banger! Sell a kidney? 😅

Circle health do monthly payment plans, I got mine out at one of their hospitals, it’s been life changing and I couldn’t have waited on the nhs (especially after years of misdiagnosis about the gallbladder)

I never had gallbladder pain but did develop pancreatitis because gallstones got stuck in my bile ducts. The pain was grim and I had my gallbladder out immediately.

Pancreatitis pain is on the left side by the ribs. It made me vomit horrible bile and would last for hours. The last episode lasted 48 hours and I ended up in A&E then went onto a hospital ward to await my gallbladder removal.

If you get the pain on the left, get medical advice ASAP.

I'd try and dig a bit with waiting times for your hospital. For example, in my hospital trust, the average wait time for Gastroenterology as a specialty for the first appointment is 11 weeks. But DD2 was seen in 3 weeks as part of her discharge from her acute episode. I was called today to book her EUS for next week, with her pre-op call . That's 5 weeks from discharge. Her MRCP is likely to be soon, then she'll be referred to the surgeons. That's pretty good going, I think.

You need referral but not fast track. It’ll be a long wait so seeing GP this week or next won’t make much difference.

You need a low/as close to zero fat diet as possible.

It becomes urgent if you develop pain with a fever or jaundice - then it’s A&E immediately.

August just gone, I had my gallbladder out privately after NHS ultrasound found a large 13mm gallstone. The Consultant fee was £185 and the operation as a day patient was just under £4,000. My pain beforehand was manageable, but began to have a dragging pain where gallbladder is and back and side pain, I basically just ate lean meat and lots of vegetables. The Consultant showed me photos of my gallbladder afterwards and apparently it was in a very bad state and could have ruptured and caused pancreatitis.

I went to A&E with severe pain, didn't know what it was, then diagnosed with gallstone pancreatitis. Fortunately kept in and operated on within a few days.

I waited 6 weeks in the south east. It's not a long wait with those symptoms.

I was never told that! I had a gallstone stuck in my boldest 15mm and was vomiting bile for a few hours went to a&e and they tried to send me home the next day!

I was back in an out and eventually had it removed privately, but my pain was right side over the years but the acute attacks were left sided.