Gallstone stories?

[Rainbowbaby234]

Hi for those who suffer with gallstones or have undergone surgery to have your gallbladder removed, can you share your experiences?

I’ve been experiencing discomfort for months under my right rib cage/around my back throughout the day. The pain also radiates to my right shoulder. At night time the pain can intensify and takes my breathe away. I had a c-section 1 year ago and I’ve read many stories of gallstones PP. I’m also the only female left in my family not to have my gallbladder removed! I’m feeling nauseas a lot of the time with the pain and I know something isn’t right.

I suffered this for six months two years ago.
One night it was so bad and l was throwing up so much.
I went to A& E next morning and had a CT scan..showed Gallstones.. my Gallbladder was also inflamed and infected.
Next day.. endoscopy..took out stones and so much sludgy bile.
IV drip of antibiotics for 5 days.
2 Weeks later had Gallbladder out... felt great.. unfortunately two weeks later same pain.. another CT scan showed they had left some stones in bile ducts and more sludge .. so they unclipped the ducts and took out stones and sludge again via Endoscopy.. unfortunately that caused liver infection / abssess and was in hospital 3 weeks on IV antibiotics .
Been great since.
Honestly I'd ask to be referred and get to bottom of it.
No one should be in pain with it these days.
Good luck x

Im waiting to see the consultant about having Gallbladder removed.
Have same symptoms as you. The GP sent me for a scan which showed multiple gallstones.

I had a scan which showed gallstones. Op has been moved back a couple of times now.

I suffered for 6 years but only knew it was gallstones for sure start of this year . I was fobbed off initially saying it was heartburn and indigestion but I couldn't believe that would make me be rolling around in agony. As years went by my symptoms got worse and my mum said you got gallstones . She had her gallbladder removed years ago . By the end I couldn't eat anything without getting pain , nibbles and attacks that were making me sick in the end . Luckily we got private health Insurance so got scanned and tested quickly and didn't have to wait long for surgery . Had it removed just over 2 months ago and I feel like a new person . My energy levels came back , no more back pain and can eat normally again . It's the best decision I made .

I was diagnosed with gallstones last march , after over a year of the worst pain back and forth to an and e, hospital stays , I finally had my gallbladder removed this may ! Best thing I ever did , recovery was fairly quick and no pain since

Went to A&E in agony. Was admitted and a few days later they removed it. Glad it's gone.

Had a few attacks after first child was born nearly nine years ago, the pain was absolutely excruciating, gallstones were confirmed by ultrasound then everything settled down so I’ve not had my gall bladder removed. I regularly have discomfort in my right side and I do wonder if this could be the cause but it’s not bad enough to send me back to the doctors

I have been back and forth with bad stomach symptoms for years pretty much medicated and told to go away. Worse on some HRT types. Eventually have had abdominal scan. One large gallstone. No idea if that causes my issues as it's too big to move! Also a distended gallbladder but no infections.

Most recent urgent care visit said my latest nausea and vomiting is not gallbladder so who knows??

Got referral pending.

Had gallstones diagnosed about a year after I had DD. Tried 'diet control' for 6 months and then asked to be put on the surgery list after that failed. Diet control is a myth!

After having a stone stuck in my bile duct, procedures to have that removed causing pancreatitis I said fuck it to the NHS list and went private. 7k and 2 weeks later no more gallbladder and not a single issue since.

Doesn't sound anything like my gallstones tbh. No pain between attacks. Then attacks are sudden and excruciating lasting anything from 10 minutes to 5+ hours.

I've just been diagnosed with gallstones took two months to get a scan to confirm, now referred to a consultant for surgery.
In the meantime I'm managing the pain by eating small healthy meals no processed food or bad saturated fats that's really worked for now.
Before I realised what is was the pain was I getting gallbladder attacks 2-3 times a week, awake all night. With pain in the ribs and back.

Just to give a differing experience. I had the sudden attacks but also 'grumbling' in between which was near constant aches in my side ribs and awful nausea and stomach cramps after I ate anything. Both. It was fun.

The grumbling usually ended with a massive attack but could last for a week or two and sometimes didn't end in an attack, it just went away.

It made life almost unbearable when it was at it's worst.

I didn't have gallstones, but my gallbladder's functionality was almost zero and it caused the same symptoms as having stones. It was horrendous. Intense, near constant pain, vomiting, etc, etc. Had my gallbladder removed and I'm not exaggerating, the moment I opened my eyes after surgery, I could feel that the pain was gone. I've been back to normal ever since and I'm so grateful.

Had by gallbladder out several years ago.Doctors Found them while looking for something else, so no symptoms but post surgery suffered with horrendous diarrhoea for months before finding something other than 8-10 Imodium every day. Will have to stay on this forever as I can’t leave the house (or toilet) without it

Just had a gallstone attack at 22w pregnant. Usually eat really healthy but did not yesterday… excruciating pain in chest from 2am, couldn’t breathe, pain in back and chest, vomitting.

I’ll be asking for immediate surgery referral due to very long removal waiting lists.

any other advice ladies?

After removal did you manage to eat normally again or is it a case of permanent fat moderation?

thanks xx

Initially thought I had flu, could not get out of bed.

After 2 days, went to GP who did urine test and said I had kidney infection but not presenting typically and sent to A & E, They said my white blood cell count was incredibly high, CT showed gall bladder infection, but wouldn't be removed until infection was cleared up. 5 days in hospital, and on waiting list for surgery.

About 2 weeks later, in incredible pain, and admitted again. Liver function test was high, and had endoscopy due to stuck gallstones in bile duct. Turned weird shade of yellow which fortunately cleared up after a couple of days.

Several weeks later had gall bladder removed and no problems since.

@ilovemydogandmrobama2 do you eat as normal now? Or still careful? Thank you x

i was diagnosed with “3 or 4 gallstones” by a scan (well which is it, it’s not like they are too numerous to count?!)

It was really painful amd after three attacks lasting for hours I went to acupuncture twice in two weeks and all the pain has gone. Im not eating total crap again, Im being reasonably sensible, and touch wood ive been ok. Im still on the list to get it out but it’s nhs so could be years apparently. But I hardly have issues now so that’s ok.

Mostly normal - did low fat diet prior to surgery, and now don't have much fried foods, but don't worry too much about diet.

I only had 2 attacks 1 month apart - I was very lucky that I have private health care as was seen quickly and I had a massive stone stuck in the neck of the gallbladder- both attacks were incredibly painful and left me on all fours vomiting for hours. I ended up in A&E both times. When they took my gallbladder out it was very infected and I was told I was lucky I didn’t have sepsis. I haven’t had any problems since having it taken out apart from I have to be careful with too much cheese or very greasy food - good luck x

DD had gallstones aged 18, perhaps caused by fairly dramatic weight loss (deliberate diet). No pattern to when it happened but after a year of frequent attacks and multiple A&E visits we couldn’t wait any longer and had it removed privately. In and out in 24 hours and no issues since. Hers was so badly inflamed and distorted she was very lucky we hadn’t waited for the nhs (who warned us it could be 6-12 months).

I was diagnosed with gallstones by chance about 15 years ago but rarely had symptoms. Then suddenly two years ago I started having incredible pains every few weeks, nothing seemed to help so I also had it removed, again I was in and out in a day and have had no issues since.

Get yourself checked out ASAP so you can at least join the waiting list. If you can go private then just do it now rather than waiting for it to potentially get worse.

Have them ended up in a and e twice. Had a scan but said they are so small that if dont have any more atfacks then don't put myself through the surgery. It hasn't happened since. Touch wood. If I have a bad one am going to ask for it out though.

Hi seeing surgeon on 22/7 to book gallbladder removal as ultrasound scan showed multiple gallstones at neck of gallbladder plus incredibly high liver enzymes- 6x what they should be. Had to go private as gp didn’t pick it up in last 6 years of showing up in my blood tests. Luckily for me no pain as yet and I am in private health. Had MRCP scan last week as possible blockage. Consultant said I should hopefully have a keyhole removal. Faster recovery I believe.

Do you know your liver enzyme levels ?

I think several blood test have shown as normal.