Gallstones

[Elune]

Anyone had these in pregnancy and got any tips? I didn't have anything like this with my first but I'm 7 weeks and from 4 weeks I've had what I can only think are several gallstone attacks. Last night's episode lasted 8 hours: intense pain in the top middle/right of my stomach under my rib cage that then radiated into my back. Eventually disappeared all of a sudden at 5am but it's left me scared to eat anything!

Waiting on call back from the GP but wondered if anyone had any food or other tips.

Oh ouch. I ended up with gallstones after my first pregnancy and eventually had to have my gallbladder out. Avoid full fat dairy (cream, cheese, etc.). Red meat. Anything fatty. Eat little and often. Lots of green veg. Try and avoid processed foods/takeaway/junk. It's manageable to get through without getting colic (which it sounds like you've had!). Good luck :)

I had them in my first pregnancy but I didn't know that's what it was. I had several attacks nearly always at night time and one so back that I couldn't stop being sick when I was 8/9 weeks. I was taken to hospital because I was so dehydrated and they assumed HG and after some IV fluid was fine in a couple of days. After that episode it went away until my baby was 5/6 months. This time I realised it was gallstones and it was so bad I had to go to a&e and they took my gallbladder out the next day. I suspect I'd had gallstones for about 10 years before they removed it, I just didn't know.

Very low fat diet it recommended so check packets for below 5% fat. And keep drinking water even if you feel poorly.

I really hope you don't get any more!!!

I had gallstones when I wasn’t pregnant and agree that avoiding fat is key. In fact the gallbladder attacks effectively deterred me from eating anything fatty and having a very clean diet. Just a bit of cheese would set one off for me so I stuck to eating dairy free. I ate vegetables, lean protein and good carbs for a few months until I had my gallbladder taken out. (Probably the healthiest diet I’ve ever had!)

Thanks! I feel super unlucky as I've also recently had kidney stones, which were another horribly painful experience! So I was already living in fear of those coming back and now I've got these to worry about too!

Gallbladder pain is really excruciating. I just sip water, and eat only ham sandwich with no butter/spread, fruit and tomato soup and wait for it to go. It usually eases within 24 hours but once I had it for 3 days and I could not hardly move with the pain.

@Elune poor you! That’s terribly unlucky. I’ve heard that kidney stones are more painful. The gallstones were bad enough for me. I hope things settle for you.

@Elune oh I feel for you, I had my gallbladder out in December after having horrendous attacks which eventually led to me being admitted to hospital. I couldn't even imagine having them now when pregnant. Only advise I can give is to eat a low fat diet, eat little and often and have a hot water bottle handy. I would keep pushing your GP. They maybe be able to offer some pain management with any luck. The only thing that used to work for me was liquid morphine, not sure if you're allowed that when pregnant though x

Low fat diet is key and maybe keep a food diary to see if there are any triggers in your diet. Unfortunately they cant remove your gallbladder during pregnancy but speak to your gp about some stronger pain relief