Gallbladder problems during pregnancy

[MammyG]

Hi all
I had a very bad attack of pain on saturday night. The doctor who was on call thought it was my gallbladder. I have had issues with an on going undiagnosed abdominal complaint but once any doctor hears I do not have gallstones they rule out the gallbladder. The doctor on sat night thought it could be my gallbladder spasming or a low grade infection of the gb. I have been fighting to get a diagnosis for sometime and have always mentioned my gallbladder only to be dismissed. I am now 17 weeks pregnant and the pain I was in during that attack was nothing short of excruciating. Im worried about the effect another attack later in pregnancy might have. The aggravating factor is that I am dealing with a gp that has been listening to me for 16 months and cant diagnose it, a gastroenterologist who doesnt know what he can do as i am pregnant and that rules out half his tests and a gynae who thinks it has nothing to do with the baby! A very complacent system! Im fed up and tired of fighting to be heard but am after sat night more worried than ever. Has anyone any experience of anything similar to share? I need as much advice and information as I can get. Thanks

Hi MammyG
I started getting gallbladder attacks about 3weeks after giving birth to my son 19months ago, and yes its the most excruciating pain, I would rather have full blown contractions any day!
On one occasion I was bluelighted to hospital coz I was passing out with the pain. Anyway, A&E couldnt diagnose me but I was fortunate in that my mum had had her gallbladder out a few months before and she argued that my symptoms were the same, had she not I don't think I would have even thought it was my GB
Im waffling now, but the upshot is I paid for a private scan at a nuffield hospital, the waiting list on the NHS was months and I didn't want to wait and risk another attack. They found a small polyp in the gb which they thought was caused by the hormones of pregnancy and the polyp was irritating the side of the gb causing the pain. I was given some anti spasm pills but fortunately didn't have anymore attacks. Im now pregnant with no 2 and went to the gp straight away about this, she sent me for another scan (only had to wait a week or so) to see if the polyp had grown and it has.
So I am now under a consultant at the hospital, and although there is nothing they can do whilst Im pregnant (although I am told in severe cases they can remove the gb whilst pregnant as its a relatively straight forward keyhole procedure) I am down to have my gb removed after baby arrives.
My advice would be fight for a scan of your abdomen, this will show up stones or polyps then at least if you know they can start a plan of action for you too.
You have my total sympathy coz it really is just the most horrific pain, good luck and I really hope you get something sorted