Gallstones

[CC1801]

I also got gallstones when pregnant. I found eating or drinking alcohol too close before bed set off an attack. I had my gallbladder removed in 2022 when my little one was 7 months old. I have had no ill effects from it. It has honestly changed my life. For the 8 months I had gallstones I was living in fear after every meal in case I had an attack.

 

[Chocolatelover123]

Yeah there definitely seems to be a connection, I’m on a Gallstones page and there is so many women on there like us too, I wonder if it’s something to do with the hormone imbalance after you have a baby… It’s cruel whatever it is!

Fingers crossed they can whip that gallbladder out asap for you!! Sending you lots of love

I had my gall bladder out last month it was the best thing I have done. I can eat anything now without the worry of an attack. I had my first attack 3 weeks post partum, I asked my consultant about it and he said it’s common after pregnancy! It’s something to do with the extra oestrogen and the gall bladder is slower to empty when pregnant makes it the perfect environment for stones to form. Shame no one mentions this before ha

 

[LuBiLu]

Hi @LuBiLu. Most of what you have described certainly matched what I had, including it being worse at night, but I think I was lucky in that my symptoms appear to be mild compared to others so I may not be the best to compare to! I found the difficulty was, as with most things, the symptoms are very similar to other things, and I was initially diagnosed with indigestion (I guess in the same way you were with reflux). I would suggest it might be a good idea if you’re in pain that you speak to your GP about how you can manage this while you wait for your scan (i needed this towards the latter stages of when I had my gallstones, you may not wish to of course). It certainly sounds like you’re doing all the right things and I hope you don’t have to wait too long for your scan, which will hopefully put your mind at rest.

Hi! Thank you for your reply

My GP examined me last week, and she didn't seem overly concerned. She seems to think it is mainly reflux with possible separate issue of musculoskeletal tenderness from pulling myself? Then she said but the gallbladder is there so we should check for gallstones.

I don't feel I need painkillers, which I guess is good. But if I do feel it is bad enough for them or it doesn't help, I will get checked again. I usually find a hot water bottle eases the aches. But I'm not sure if gallstones cause constant discomfort daily like I have, with the odd severe pain for short periods? Or maybe it does and Google just shows the worst

I do have an ultrasound next Thursday evening, which I'm paying for because I just cannot cope mentally waiting for the NHS one to come through.

 

[ScottishMammy92]

Hello only just discovered this thread, I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones I started with them after having my daughter last year I am assuming that caused them. The attacks weren’t too regular at first but recently have increased more and I feel a dull ache between them I have been referred for surgery to remove it but have heard mixed results on them a lot of people having issues with diarrhoea etc. Has anyone had any success or regrets have it removed? I’ve been told to have a low fat diet which I generally follow although not perfect but the attacks aren’t exclusive to fatty food unfortunately

I had mine removed laparascopically in January 2023. After the initial six week recovery I can eat fine and have no side effects. Can't even see the incision sites anymore. Best thing I could have done - I had a continuous eight week attack and I've never felt pain like it. No issues with diet (although I generally eat well) although mine was caused by delayed gastric emptying and I didn't mean any of the usual criteria (I was 30, black hair and a healthy weight)

 

[JLXRD]

Been thinking of you @JLXRD How you getting on?
---
How’re you? @Helena Sell

Doing really well thank you @pink_lemonade glues finally all come off, wounds are healing well and not hurting much at all now. Still tired and having issues with some food, not been able to drive easily yet, but hopefully in time

How are you getting on? Have you spoken to a surgeon yet?

 

[alittlebitofthebubbly]

Hi all, hope you are all okay
I’ve got my ultrasound tomorrow morning, extremely nervous for it but strangely looking forward to it so I know exactly what is causing the pain.
When I get the pain which I think is a gall bladder attack, I’m not exactly sure what it is but something below my chest bone, in between my ribs gets swollen and I can really feel it, but it only comes up so I can feel it when I get the horrendous pain… does anyone else have that?

Yes, I can feel it during and after an attack, feels about the size of a tennis ball. I only notice it if I lay on my back.

 

[JLXRD]

So nice to hear positive stories! I am so jealous, I can’t wait to have mine out! I can’t cope with the anxiety on an evening in case the pain starts, along with a 6 month old (extremely active!) baby and we’re in the middle of moving house ‍
How long did it take everyone for their GP to get in contact with them after your scan? I’ve not heard anything and now I’m doubting myself that he might of said I should ring him…

I would just ring up and chase if I were you, or do an e consult form maybe if your surgery has that? They will need to refer you to a surgeon and that will be another wait to hear from them for an appointment date so just get the ball rolling asap if you can.

It’s only once you’ve seen a surgeon that they will be able to give you an idea on how soon they can do it for you as all areas seem to have a different length of waiting list atm.

Timeline I had was I was referred to the surgical team directly after my ultrasound as I went via A&E rather than my GP. Ultrasound was 6th July, received letter on 13th July from surgery team for an appointment on 22nd July, however I cancelled this as I already had a surgery date via private healthcare.

 

[Talensandtruths]

Glad to hear you’ve been mostly back to normal! How did you find the op?


So happy I’m not the only one! Such a worry isn’t it and glad they finally listened to you! Have you got the date for you op yet?

I do, beginning of May , although today they moved it from first in the morning to the afternoon! But still will be grateful to see the back of it! It’s horrible living in a perpetual cycle of dreading another attack! I also have a condition which it interacts with and it just all leaves me an anxious/tired mess!

 

[Annie65]

I am having my surgery this weds , my bmi is 35 and also no mention of liver reducing diet. Just that I can’t eat 6 hrs before

 

[teatalks]

Had a really bad attack last night, I’m almost 18 months after having my baby but I also had an attack the night I found out I was pregnant.
I didn’t know it was gallstones until I researched it this morning and it’s 1000% what I had
I would say the pain was 10/10 severe at my upper abdomen I was thrashing around in pain I nearly fainted I couldn’t see my ears were ringing and I was sweating this went on for about 2 hours, told the doc all this and he said it was diarrhoea? Anyone had trouble being diagnosed or been palmed off about it?

 

[opintionatedperson]

I had my gall bladder out last month it was the best thing I have done. I can eat anything now without the worry of an attack. I had my first attack 3 weeks post partum, I asked my consultant about it and he said it’s common after pregnancy! It’s something to do with the extra oestrogen and the gall bladder is slower to empty when pregnant makes it the perfect environment for stones to form. Shame no one mentions this before ha

Fascinating, to be fair i wouldn't change having my son even though it's given me gallstones
As if we don't have enough to be dealing with this as well..

 

[JLXRD]

So I’ve got definitely got gallstones, doctor said my gall bladder is full to the brim, the stones are more like specks but they’re are lots, makes me feel sick to think about it. He said from what he can see, it’s from where I was bringing up so much bile when I was being sick whilst pregnant, it was staying and crystallising in my gallbladder ‍ how vile is that! He has sent all that to my GP and recommends me getting my gall bladder removed!

Glad you got an answer! That’s exactly what they said to me too, lots of tiny ones full to the brim

I don’t know if your work offers a private healthcare plan but if so I’d recommend going via that - I’ve done that and it will be 4 weeks from me being diagnosed to getting it removed next week whereas dependent on area you could be waiting a while via the nhs.

 

[Quarrantinemadness]

Worst thing I did getting my GB removed!

 

[floggersunited]

That’s mental, I’m in Ireland and with private healthcare if you went to private a&e they would take you in and do it that day/the next day. As a fellow sufferer I feel sorry for anyone having to put up with that for so long x

 

[rainbowlemon]

I've had gallstones since my 20s, apparently 'packed tight' with tiny stones. I'm lucky in that I've never had any pain whatsoever, although some foods make me feel a little odd.
Yesterday I noticed a yellowing around my cheekbones Dr Google suggests this is a gallstones thing? Will this pass? Again not in any pain. Thanks

Yellowing of the skin is jaundice. You need to be seen.

 

[Helena Sell]

I feel pretty back to normal now! Todays the first day I actually went out, popped to see family and then did the food shop with husband and baby. It was lovely to go out and I don’t actually feel that tired now. I only had to take codeine twice today, once I woke up and just then before I got in bed instead of every so many hours. And I was happy to looked after the baby on my own for the first time and not having someone pick him up for me for a little bit!
The cuts are quite itchy but I guess that’s them healing! But overall, doing great

How’re you? How you feeling? Any news on your op?

Glad you’re doing much better! Crazy to think an organ so small can cause so much pain and worry about attacks!

yeah doing okay, haven’t heard anything about my op yet. Not sure how in advance you receive a date for an op tbh!
Had more attacks recently but then I haven’t been too great with the diet because getting a bit bored and fed up!

 

[Falkor]

Near your belly button is a bit too low for your pancreas, I think - for me it's about 2 inches below my bra strap, between my ribs, central and left side.

 

[unidentified]

Ooh thank you I will look to get some

They’re expensive (about £8) but help. I took them as a precaution and made my dad and neither of us had issues. If you can manage a peppermint tea that does the same but I don’t drink tea of any kind

 

[NorthernBramble]

Thanks for replying @Helena Sell @NorthernBramble

I was a bit overwhelmed when I came out the appointment, I thought I would of just needed an ultra sound so having to do a stool sample and a blood test is a bit daunting as you just never know what they’ll find!

With the omeprazole, I’m not exactly sure why they’d prescribe that, I always thought it was for heart burn

@NorthernBramble - I haven’t had my pain for 2 weeks now, did you use to get it every day? I couldn’t imagine having that constant pain

Yeah it was pretty much constant aching and back pain for months, especially when I ate. I had to take tramadol to eat and it didn’t really help, I lost a lot of weight in a short space of time as I couldn’t bare the pain eating caused. I stopped the Omeprazole I was prescribed after my first attack and it eased off significantly and then disappeared. I was kicking myself for suffering for so long, but I never would have thought Omeprazole was prolonging the pain as the GP said it would help!

 

[unidentified]

Thanks for the well wishes all I am home, had my surgery at 8.30 am and woke up about 10ish.

I won’t lie, I currently feel really awful - not in pain as I’ve had quite a bit of morphine but the tiredness from the GA is something else. I’d had general once 9 years ago but apparently my body handled that much better because I felt fine whereas today I am taking a long time coming out of it.

For some reason my reaction upon waking was to burst into tears every 5-10 minutes for the first 2 hours. No reason as to why just couldn’t not… very odd.

Incisions don’t hurt right now but whole stomach very swollen and already large bruises have appeared. I have been prescribed morphine and have managed to eat a biscuit and a very small amount of mashed potato.

Fingers crossed tomorrow is better

Goad you’re home safe and well.

start taking the peppermint capsules/tea as a precaution now. It will help.

A GA takes time to recover from just doze. To make you feel better when I had a minor op about 5 years ago I was hysterical from the GA. I kept crying and shouting I’m alive I wanted my dad in to see me and they wouldn’t let him because he was a male and it was a woman only ward. I kept crying but I can’t have my mum because she died. Then went back to crying I’m alive. The GA does come crazy shit at times