Any advice re gallbladder pain

[kitty1209]

Has anyone experienced gallbladder issues? I have HG and so when my liver function blood tests came back elevated the hospital was quite sure this was the reason but had to rule other things out. I had mentioned that I was getting frequent intense pain in my shoulder blade after some episodes of sickness but no one said what this could be. I then had an abdominal scan to look at my liver and other organs. All okay with my liver however I have gallstones which they now attribute to my elevated blood results which I have monitored weekly. The pain I get from the gallbladder is honestly the worst thing I’ve yet to experience. I’ve been told nothing can be done until babies are here and I’ll likely need surgery to remove it. Has anyone gone through anything similar? GP has prescribed codeine to help with the pain. I had an episode both last night and tonight, but tonight’s was the worst as it really hurt to breathe (I was confident it was only gallbladder related) but took almost 4 hours to pass. Hoping someone has some advice in relation to coping with this. Thanks x

I’m sorry you are in such pain. You need to be careful what you eat and avoid fatty foods.

I never experienced gallbladder issues in pregnancy but I did have elevated liver enzymes and was diagnosed with Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) and developed HELLP syndrome during my induction. How far along are you? Have you been monitored for pre-eclampsia? I had upper right abdominal pain for weeks, as well as many other pre-eclampsia symptoms, and they ignored it. It can potentially be very dangerous to mother and baby if left untreated. I would push for further testing if I were you.

Gallbladder pain is the worst, especially if the stones are lodged. I've had mine removed. I wasn't pregnant when I had the pain but it took them years to diagnose because I wasn't the typical candidate for gallbladder issues!
The first time I experienced it, I thought I was having a heart attack!
Once it's removed (normally keyhole surgery) the pain instantly goes. I was in and out of hospital within about 8 hours.
I know it's not helpful but nothing helped me when I had the pain, hopefully the codeine helps you.

My gallbladder started to play up during pregnancy but the pain wasn't diagnosed as my gallbladder until after I had dd
That was a good few years ago now 2014 and I was lucky enough to get it removed when she was 3 months

Keep a food diary to try and figure out what sets you off.

Avoid fatty foods, caffine, high sugar, highly processed.

I also couldn't manage low fat versions eg cream cheese, yogurt, lettuce for some reason was trigger for me.

Oh OP, massive sympathies from me, I've been through the exact same thing.

I had my first attack when I was 8 months pregant, I actually only had one attack while pregnant, however when I had my baby (now 4 months) the attacks became much more frequent and I ended up at the OOH, walk in centre, GP, A&E etc as nobody was telling me what it was. I knew it was gallstones from my own research but professionals were telling me it was acid reflux, gastroenteritis, gastritis etc despite me describing the levels of intense pain.

I ended up hospitalised when my baby was 3 months old due to getting a stone stuck and having pancreatitis and jaundice, a week later I had an operation to have my gallbladder removed. When I was in hospital there was also a lady who was pregnant, pregnancy can cause gallstones unfortunately.

Honestly, nothing helped the pain for me, in the end I was on zapain, antisickness tablets, buscopan, omeprazole and naproxen and it didn't help. I also read that drinking apple cider vinegar helps so I was doing that daily (absolutely vile stuff) I was also having peppermint tea and taking daily magnesium capsules, again, it didn't help.

The general advice is to follow a low fat diet, I ate things like salad, tuna, sweet potato, olives, wholemeal bread, pasta and rice, salmon, other fish. There's also a gallstone support group on FB where people share food ideas etc.

Can your name be put down for surgery now? I would ask for it to be put down and then once you've given birth ring the surgeons PA and beg for an early appointment, a cancellation slot etc.

If you experience a blocked duct you need to go to A&E immediately, signs are pale stools, dark urine, yellowing of the skin/eyes, abdominal pain that doesn't go away, sickness, high temperature etc. When I had pancreatitis and jaundice I presented at A&E and was in a bed with a drip within 2 hours so they do take it very seriously.

Please let me know if you have any further questions, I am not yet even 2 weeks post op so it's all very fresh. The operation was fine, no issues at all. The good news is you will absolutely smash labour, as to me, the pains were very similar intensity wise, during an attack I often thought I'd rather give birth, and I did that with no pain relief at all, which highlights how horrendous the attacks are.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it really ruined my life and newborn experience for a while, I was terrified and anxious of an attack, wasn't eating etc. Please, please make yourself a nuisance once you've given birth and make sure you're operated on ASAP. Good luck x

I completely empathise, and completely agree with all of this! It's like you wrote my exact experience. Grim!!

I'm many years down the line now. And I still get pains/discomfort/dodgy tummy after very fatty/greasy foods, can't gorge on cheese like I used to or drink proper coffee... but I've gotten away lightly compared to some others.

Hugs. It's an awful situation and the pain is worse than labour. Get that thing out - you'll feel so much better.

Thank you all so much! I'm over 30 weeks pregnant with twins so hoping once they're here I'll be able to get it sorted.

The pain is unlike anything I've ever experienced and it is difficult to pinpoint what causes each episode.

I am asking the hospital to let the GP know about my scan results so they can start the referral process for surgery as God knows how long the waiting list is.

I am taking omeprazole for a condition with my oesophagus which I've heard is meant to help but it hasn't yet with me.

What do you do to cope with the pain? Last night when it happened I couldn't sit in the same position for more than a couple of minutes, felt clammy and light headed due to the pain (this sensation passed but had it multiple times in the 4 hour period). The GP had told me to go to Triage if I got the pain, had a temp or the area felt tender. The area was tender but my temp was fine and I was confident it was gallbladder rather than pregnancy related but I honestly wouldn't have been able to sit in the car to get to the hospital, and then I'm not sure they can do anything due to the pregnancy!x

I found the only thing that remotely comforted me was to be curled up in the fetal position!
I also struggled to find a link between the food I was eating and the episodes, I could have it start and I hadn't eaten in hours.

@kitty1209 I'm so sorry, not much helps with the pain. This is what I did, I got my exercise ball and a hot water bottle, I would sit on the toilet (I would have a bad stomach during my episodes) and I would press a boiling hot water bottle against my chest area and lean onto the exercise ball with my head/face resting on it too. I've just realised that may not be possible with your pregnant stomach though 😪I've read that laying down with your right arm above your head provides relief for some people, didn't work for me but may be worth a try. When you're referred make sure you chase yourself, my referral was supposedly done and the GPs had supposedly chased it when I saw them for help with the pain, unfortunately the referral was not done and the GP couldn't chase it, as there was nothing to chase! So as soon as its done mither, mither, mither for the surgery ASAP after birth x

@CustardCream31 I'm so sorry you've had the same experience. I wish people could understand the pain, I was completely disregarded by so many health professionals until the GP 'believed me.' I literally got laughed and shrugged at in A&E when I explicitly said I had given birth unmedicated weeks ago and this is worse than that. I'm glad yours is gone now too! X

It's such a horrific thing and so few people know about it. It really ruined my newborn experience and I am "lucky" I was hospitalised and got the surgery quickly. It feels like people are made to wait until something goes seriously wrong!

about two years ago, I started experiencing recurring pain under my ribs that radiated to my back. At the time, I didn’t know I had gallstones, so I Googled my symptoms and saw a doctor. They initially thought it was acid reflux, but as time went on, the pain got worse, especially whenever I ate anything. I became so afraid of eating that I started losing weight rapidly, and even painkillers weren’t helping. Eventually, I was referred to a specialist, who discovered that I had gallstones.
Unfortunately, by the time I was diagnosed, I was already pregnant, which meant nothing could be done until after I gave birth. I had to severely restrict my diet during pregnancy, and it was one of the hardest times of my life. The pain was excruciating, and every episode felt worse than the last, but I managed to get through it. After my C-section, the pain became even more intense. Sometimes, even drinking water would trigger a gallstone attack. I went back to my doctor, who referred me to a specialist again, but I had to wait three months for the appointment.
Desperate for relief, I started looking for anything that might help. That’s when I tried a combination of magnesium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin C. To my surprise, it worked. I used to have episodes almost every other day, relying heavily on paracetamol and ibuprofen just to function, but now I’ve gone almost two weeks without any pain or attacks. It feels like a breakthrough after such a long and painful journey. but its only two weeks and i have not used a single pain killer in almost two weeks, i feel like i need to tell someone

i am not saying my gallstone is gone,but i dont have gallstone episode that hurt right now, i had chips today first time in a year and i was waiting for the pain that comes with it so far nothing

I didn't have gallbladder pain in pregnancy but did have kidney stones, so can sympathise with your pain.

A lovely anaesthetist explained to me that the stress of pain in pregnancy was worse for the baby than the painkillers, and put me on morphine. Dd2 was fine as I only took the painkillers when I had to so no addiction issues. I hope you get the pain relief you need x

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. Its reassuring hearing your experiences x

I feel your pain. I had numerous gallstones attacks when pregnant with my eldest. The contractions nearly caused pre term labour a few times. And the pain was surreal. Unfortunately they got infected 2 months PP and I got sepsis. I was basically fobbed off and told it can wait etc, even though my white blood cell count was any high. I had a planned C-section which was healing well but suffered scar adhesions and issues to the sepsis and gallbladder surgery.

I had another attack in the middle of the night lasting from 1-5am. It was just as bad as the one I had on Friday evening but I felt calmer knowing it would pass.

The pain is unbearable and I debated going to Triage today to ask for help but I'm not sure what they can do? I have been given fortisip drinks (due to Hyperemesis) but I've been trying to eat where I can. I think I'm going to just try to have the drinks as I'm so worried about having another attack and I can't work out what is causing it. The problem is it could be Twin 2s position perhaps and not related to food? I have no idea.

Can anyone advise what they ate or did when experiencing attacks? X

I have so much empathy for you. I suffered all through my pregnancy with gallstones. One evening it got so bad I went to A&E screaming in pain. I was 37 weeks pregnant so was seen straight away. Had to convince about 20 people I wasn't in labour (it was my second I knew the difference).
Unfortunately they were unable to get my pain under control, morphine would take the edge off put I couldn't eat or drink anything. After 4 days in hospital it was decided to induce me 16 days early. I delivered my little boy with gallstone pain and full blown labour, that is not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy.
Once my little boy was delivered safely I refused to leave the hospital until a plan was put in place for pain management and arrangements made to have my gallbladder removed.
1 month later within 2 weeks I had an MRI, pre op and whipped the bastard out. The recovery isn't too bad, wasn't easy with a new born though but was so worth it. I can honestly say it has changed my life (even if I have gained weight because I can't eat what I like!!)
I do recommend A&E if you are suffering so bad. I do think you will be seen quite quick during pregnancy (I went to the hospital I was having my baby in) I was given morphine and the baby was monitored throughout. Honestly hope you get sorted soon xx

I read online that magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin C can help with gallstones. While waiting for my referral in two months, I went to the pharmacy and got all three. Within two days, I noticed a difference when eating. The vitamins seem to work, especially when I leave intervals between meals. I’ve also been trying to reducing my portion sizes which i have been doing dor two years even while pregnant .Before, even just drinking water would trigger an attack. I'm also breastfeeding and have stopped taking painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. It’s now been two weeks without an attack. Before, I never knew what foods could trigger an attack, but now I take all three vitamins regularly.