Severe upper abdominal pain at 18 weeks: gastritis or gallstones?

[1245TD]

Hello, and thanks in advance if you read this whole message.

I’m currently 18 weeks pregnant and for the past week have had 2 flares of severe upper abdominal pain which has ended up in a hospital visit both times. The pain is intense and makes me vomit. The pain is always central under the breast bone and does not radiate to the right. It feels as if someone is stabbing right through to my back at times; sometimes just my back, sometimes just my front. Drs have said it could be gastritis, it could be gallstones and I am waiting on an ultrasound to help solve what is causing this.
I had blood tests which showed my infection markers were low but my liver function was elevated, 2 days later the tests were repeated and showed that my liver function had went back to normal range. Drs have performed an abdominal assessment and said that my stomach was soft and I had no pain at all to my right side.

I suffer badly from health anxiety and this pregnancy is straight after a MMC so everything seems scarier.

I'm wondering if anyone has had similar and what their outcome was ? Has anyone had gastritis and it be this severe ? I’m well aware both are common in pregnancy but just really hoping it isn’t gallbladder related as I am catastrophising surgery and further pain.

thank you

Reading your post, two symptoms struck a chord with me but I will preface this by saying what I had is very rare and hopefully this is not going to be what’s causing your issues but did they do your blood pressure and test your urine? Whilst pregnant I developed something called HELLP syndrome which is a form of pre-eclampsia. My first symptom was pain in the upper right quadrant so sort of under my ribs which made me so uncomfortable. I assumed it was standard pregnancy aches and pains (I was 37 weeks when I developed it) and at my next appointment I had high blood pressure. A blood test showed increased liver enzymes and I was diagnosed with HELLP. I am sure this won’t be the case and I’m sure the doctor has done all the necessary tests but maybe speak to your midwife too as they’re more familiar with it than GPs etc.

I had this type of pain with vomiting, not until 34 weeks, but it was pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelet count).

Have you also had swelling of your hands, feet and/or face, visual disturbance (blurry/flashing lights), a severe headache and/or unusual bruising or bleeding that is hard to stop? And have they checked your urine for protein recently?

Phone your maternity assessment unit and don't let them fob you off if they haven't considered this diagnosis. I was told to come in 'if you're worried' and it's a good thing I did go. I won't go into detail because of your health anxiety. I really hope you get an answer and can be looked after properly.

Thank you so much for replying and I’m so sorry that happened to you

I have had both my blood pressure taken and urine dipped several times this week & all have been fine; but thank you for highlighting this to me as it’s something I will definitely keep in mind going forward.

I hope you and your little one are doing well x

Thank you so much for replying and I’m so sorry that happened to you

I have had both my blood pressure taken and urine dipped several times this week & all have been fine; but thank you for highlighting this to me as it’s something I will definitely keep in mind going forward and look out for the symptoms you have described.

I hope you and your little one are doing well x

@1245TD yes I did, and about 18 weeks. Nobody was particularly interested. I'd say, with hindsight, that it was gastritis as I had had it in the past and it reared its ugly head two/three times over the next five years.

It subsided over the next week or so but the pg was marked with very strong braxton hicks throughout and I went into labpur at 36.3. With dd it didn't happen, no whisper of braxton hicks and she was induced at 41.5.

It was all fine btw. DS was 7lb 5oz at 36.3 so thank goodness he was early. He's a strapping 31 now but it was memorable; and the midwives were utterly disinterested. Memorable because it came on when I was at work and I had to suppprt myself against lamp posts on the way home, it was so intense. I had two days resting at home and it all passed.

Hey, I had a really bad flare up like this when I was 32 weeks pregnant. It was the WORST pain ive ever felt and it stayed in the middle just under my diaphragm. It turned out to be gallstones. I ended up having to get my gallbladder out when I was a year post partum. The pain is absolutely horrible so it really sympathise with you if this is what it is!!
Are your liver enzymes raised at all?
Sometimes after an attack my wee would be very dark which is a sign of gallstones.
I would ask for an ultrasound scan to rule them out at least and if you do have them then try and stay away from fatty foods!

Hope you feel better soon xx

Sorry I'm blind, I just seen that your liver enzymes WERE elevated and then back to normal two days later. This was exactly the same as me. They always returned to normal after a few days.

Please don't be scared though if it is, the surgery for gallbladder is keyhole and recovery is really quick! I'm back to normal with no pain and not having it hasn't effected me at all :)

I had this. Didn’t realise until years later that it was gallstones. I panicked at first when I had the pain I got when pregnant.

Pregnancy puts you at higher risk of gallstones. I still can’t believe that through two pregnancies no one ever connected the dots. Years later I worked out exactly what it was at about 4am during a particularly severe attack with the help of Dr ChatGPT.