Gallstones

[String Man]

I had one, massive gallstone and the pain was unreal. I've given birth twice and been run over by a car - gallstone pain beats those experiences hands down.

I've since had my gallbladder removed (keyhole surgery, discharged same day) so haven't had to suffer that kind of pain again.

Downside is that bile is constantly dripping into your stomach. If I'm ill and lose my appetite then I get a really bad acid stomach as there's no food for the bile to act on. This causes me nausea and I throw up the bile - and it feels/tastes like battery acid on it's way out!

This might sound weird, but the only thing that relieved the pain from the gallstone was to position my body so my stomach was higher than my head. The pain is often caused by the gallstone(s) blocking the bile duct which prevents the bile from draining. If you can position your body so that the gallstone(s) move back away from the duct then then pain goes away very quickly.

Obviously you won't have this contraption lying around, but this is the sort of position you want to be in. Might not work for you, but it worked like a charm for me - pain free within 5 minutes or less. It's worth a try.

 

[Rose91]

I got gallstones after loosing weight too quickly. Had it removed via keyhole 5/6 years ago (I went back to work after 4 weeks, but that’s because I was going to milk as much time off as possible).

The only issue I now have is severe IBS, as you don’t have anything to break down the fat in food so it goes straight through, however other people I know who’ve had their removed are fine

 

[Cjh78]

I had a scan and diagnosed with gallstones at the beginning of this year. I was offered keyhole surgery but decided to wait as I feel I am able to control it at the moment (and I have a young child, being out of action isn’t an option!) I swear by peppermint tea. If I feel any sort of bloating or pain starting I drink cups of peppermint tea until it eases. Fatty foods such as fish & chips, take aways are my triggers!

Oh and I totally agree about the pain being worse that child birth!

 

[MeanGirl97]

I’m having my gallbladder out next month. As soon as it was confirmed as gallstones (ultrasound scan) the GP referred me. Probably 6 months since my initial appointment about it. It will be such a relief. Done via keyhole surgery (3/4 incisions) and you can go home later the same day apparently.

I cannot wait to be at your stage! I’m still awaiting my ultrasound scan but I’m certain it’s gallstones xx

 

[Lynseyp]

2 years ago I woke up with unbearable pain in the right side of my stomach. Dr said it was gallstones and had to have a scan to confirm it was lots of little stones. I was taking cocodamol as and when needed. I had my op last October which was a success. I was a day patient and was very scared (not of hospitals as I've had 3 children) but because i was under general anesthetic and was frightened i wouldn't wake up - I know it sounds silly but that's what im like, I always over think.
I came home same day and the care i received in hospital was excellent. I was in pain for at least a week however it was less and less painful as days go by.
You have 4 incisions, and the scars heal really well. Took me at least a week before i could bring myself to take off the dressing.
Didn't help on Day 2 that my daughter told me a funny joke and i couldnt have a proper belly laugh.

Please note you may have a sore throat for a day or two after the op thats because of the tube thats inserted in your throat when having the op. By day 4/5 that's when you can finally go for a number 2.

The surgeon said my liver was very fatty and needed a low fat diet, have i stuck to it.....nope - some days i do some i dont. I can still have takeaways but in moderation.

The hospital will write you out a sicknote for 2 weeks but if you need longer then contact your GP. Don't be afraid to milk it a little like i did, i wasn't ready to go back only because my job involves heavy lifting and my employer couldn't accomodate me so took as much time off as i needed.

The one thing I've noticed since having my op is you are having to go toilet alot more.

Sorry that this is long, feel free to ask me anything or have any concerns pre op.

 

[disneyfan]

I had my gallbladder removed 5 years ago and can eat fatty foods as normal now. At the time I was getting attacks several times a week so it was definitely worth it for me.

If you do choose to go down the surgical route make sure you see a sympathetic GP for a referral. The first GP I saw said I was too young at 24 to have surgery! She reckoned I had to go on a fat free diet for the rest of my life and that taking codeine every week for my attacks was normal.

I saw a different doctor a month later who was more sympathetic and instantly referred me.

 

[Amieee]

I’m having my gallbladder out next month. As soon as it was confirmed as gallstones (ultrasound scan) the GP referred me. Probably 6 months since my initial appointment about it. It will be such a relief. Done via keyhole surgery (3/4 incisions) and you can go home later the same day apparently.

 

[Hellsbells63]

Anybody here ever have gallstones?? Any advice, other than avoiding fatty foods, which I am doing. Cocodamol and buscopan seem to make the pain go within an hour or so now. But I’m always on edge now , struggle to sleep scared I’ll awake in the pain. Terrified to eat in case it sets the pain off. It’s controlling my life and making me miserable. I’m sure anyone who’s had them knows the pain, for me it’s a million times worse than childbirth (and my little one is only 12 weeks so that’s still fresh in my mind too). Anyone had gallbladder out? Did it help? Can you now eat what you like again for example a kfc or Nando’s as a treat every now and again etc. Xx

Apples, apple cider vinegar in apple juice helps to relieve the pain along with a hot water bottle...

 

[SoManyLiars]

I can eat fatty foods since I had mine taken out 5 years ago, in fact I gained a bit too much weight, initially, because I was eating all the lovely foods I had missed out on while I waited a year to get the op.

I do get indigestion if I overdo it, but that is the norm for me anyway.

Not everyone is the same, so just try small amounts of things until you are sure it is going to be OK.

Good luck for a swift resolution!

 

[Influenced]

Oh you poor thing, have heard pancreatitis is the absolute pits painwise. Hope it is all past you now...here's to pain free Christmas dinner and all of the nice things

 

[Sp20191]

Anybody here ever have gallstones?? Any advice, other than avoiding fatty foods, which I am doing. Cocodamol and buscopan seem to make the pain go within an hour or so now. But I’m always on edge now , struggle to sleep scared I’ll awake in the pain. Terrified to eat in case it sets the pain off. It’s controlling my life and making me miserable. I’m sure anyone who’s had them knows the pain, for me it’s a million times worse than childbirth (and my little one is only 12 weeks so that’s still fresh in my mind too). Anyone had gallbladder out? Did it help? Can you now eat what you like again for example a kfc or Nando’s as a treat every now and again etc. Xx

I’ve had my gallbladder out, felt instant relief and haven’t had a problem eating anything since (5 years ago!) is always recommend having it out, the pain for me just got worse over time and nothing helped in the end xx

 

[Influenced]

Had my first gall stones attack a couple of months after my twins were born. The worst pain I have ever felt. Truly unbearable. Had it removed 3 months later. Best thing ever. I do now have IBS which doctors said isnt related but I'm sure it must be. While I was waiting for the operation I barely ate as I was so scared of the attacks. Used to have morphine injections to get rid of pain. No regrets having it removed, hospital for 24 hours and back to normal in a couple of days. Hope you manage to sort it, wouldnt wish that pain on anyone.

 

[BoCs2019]

I had mine removed about 5 years ago now and was also the bets thing ive ever done!!
i managed to keep mine at bay for a while but then after i had my daughter it got worse and worse.
I ended up having to stay in overnight as I got an infection but was out the next day, took me about a month to feel OK again - i was sore for quite a while. My IBS most def has flared up since having it taken out and TMI i suffer with an upset belly more than i did before also still get bad hearburn. But its worth it!!

 

[Dragon100]

This might sound weird, but the only thing that relieved the pain from the gallstone was to position my body so my stomach was higher than my head. The pain is often caused by the gallstone(s) blocking the bile duct which prevents the bile from draining. If you can position your body so that the gallstone(s) move back away from the duct then then pain goes away very quickly.

View attachment 36545

Obviously you won't have this contraption lying around, but this is the sort of position you want to be in. Might not work for you, but it worked like a charm for me - pain free within 5 minutes or less. It's worth a try.

View attachment 36544

Not wierd at all. I used to lie on the floor with my feet on the sofa, to relieve gall stone pain!

 

[Mum.est2014]

I also found that drinking a pint or two of water as soon as you felt that first stab pain (which usually starting in my upper back weirdly) helped push it through and helped to manage the pain.

 

[disneyfan]

Yes there is a link between diarrhoea after gallbladder surgery. My GP says it’s to do with bile acid constantly entering your intestines which would normally be stored by your gallbladder.

 

[1001 others]

I had my gallbladder out and it seems to have created a few problems ... a few months after, I was hospitalised with diverticulitis (which comes and goes, and nearly always results in hospital time), and a few months after that, I suddenly felt really unwell ... lots and lots of hospital tests later I still didn't have a diagnosis until one day a thought popped into my head to ask if I'd been tested for coeliac disease (I do not know why I thought that - must've been a guardian angel). Anyway, that's what it was.

Actually getting my gallbladder removal surgery in the first place was a very long and frustrating process ... I saw three surgeons, none of which felt that my condition was bad enough (it most certainly was - I was crouched over in pain, trying to wriggle it out, several times a day). Finally, my GP told me to go the ER next time it happened - which I did - and it was taken out a couple of days later.

Five years later, there are things I just cannot have anymore ... standard milk (I drink lactose free), some types of coffees, milky drinks (even if made with lactose-free milk), fatty foods ... it's a bit of a nightmare. Socially, it's better that I stay home. I still get "phantom" gallstone attacks, which feel like I'm being stabbed. They're so painful that if I'm driving, I have to pull over off the road and stop until the attack passes.

 

[MISSMURDER]

i had mine out around 5 years ago now, it was nice to no longer be in pain but iv now been left with Bile Acid Malabsorbtion

 

[Wambam]

I was following slimming world lost 10lbs in 4 weeks woke up during the night in absolute agony I had had this pain before but never this bad and it wouldn’t go away went to a and e was scanned and admitted surgery the same day as it was infected I don’t suffer no we’re near as bad now but I do get occasional flare ups I’m on omeprazole permanently due to acid I can’t seem to get rid of fatty foods heavy drinking and big meals used to trigger mine off

 

[Cjh78]

I’ve known about my gallstones for around 3 years, I’m on the waiting list for surgery but it keeps getting pushed back because of covid so I can’t see it happening any time soon.
I have a flare up every couple of months I would say.
The thing is...me and my partner are really keen to try for a baby this year. Has anyone had any experience of pregnancy and gallstones? Have you been told to avoid it? Thank you for any advice x