backstory:
May 2023, I was a few months post partum and had a very severe gallbladder attack suddenly one evening. Didn’t attend a&e as I didn’t want to leave baby (breastfed with milk allergies and I didn’t express so no way of feeding her in my absence). Instead, saw GP the next morning who did bloods, called me that afternoon and told me to go straight to surgical ward. Ended up not having surgery as things settled and went on a waitlist for gallbladder removal. Had a few flare ups since then but generally manage with painkillers, buscopan and a hot bath.I found out I was pregnant last Dec and haven’t had any issues with gallbladder during pregnancy. I did get a letter through in June for pre-op, called up and explained I was pregnant and could I delay surgery a wee bit longer (already had several complications with pregnancy- cardiac issues, GD etc) but they took me off the list.
I’m 4 weeks post partum today. Wednesday into Thursday I had quite a painful gallbladder attack. First since I fell pregnant with this baby. Since then, I keep getting a niggling pain in my right side. Normally, I’d be fine by now after an attack. However, I keep getting pain in the centre of my stomach and it almost feels like a belt tightening round my ribs (both sides) and stomach on and off. I feel like I can’t lie down and breastfeed comfortably at times with it- mostly during the night. I’m worried it’s my pancreas starting to play up alongside gallbladder now as it feels different to “normal” gallbladder attacks for me. I’m not vomiting, no diarrhoea, no discoloured urine or stools, no fever. So I don’t feel I need a&e. But I’m worried it gets worse and affects me breastfeeding. I’m already struggling a little this time round as baby spent 2 weeks in NICU due to respiratory failure and is needing formula top ups.
I don’t feel acutely unwell just now- so I plan on asking GP to do bloods tomorrow but has anyone had experience of this. What were your early pancreatitis symptoms? I’m really unsure if this is just my gallbladder and I’m over reacting asking to get bloods done but it’s been bothering me for days now.