Gallstones

[Goodsoulette]

I'm not sure whether I should speak to a doctor or not. Early Saturday morning I went into hospital for pain relief after a particularly bad gallstone related problem, the thing is as I was so whacked out on morphine I don't remember anything they told me apart from to see my GP on Monday. I saw the nurse practitioner and she rearranged for me to have an operation as I had canceled the last one, convinced I didn't need it anymore.

Today my abdomen is still tender, I am struggling to take a deep breath because of the pain it causes me, can't lift anything and it hurts to push a buggy. Maybe this is normal for it to hurt for so long after, I don't know, it has only been sore for the following day before but this last attack went on for about 20 hours instead of the usual 4 or 5.

[jen78]

I don't know much about it hon but may be an idea to see the doctor just in case and to make sure you at least have proper pain control meds to help you through.

Take care and feel better soon xxx

[cazzz1975]

I have had gallstone attacks "after pain" and tenderness for a couple of days after the event, not nice! I hope you are okay, they wont do anything with mine either :S

what triggers yours?

[Llani]

I have gallstones, and was due to have my gallbladder out two weeks ago, but operation was cancelled by hospital. A day before my scheduled op, I was in casualty with the same kind of pain you describe. I could hardly walk. They gave me a shot of Volterol and Buscopan, and sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics. They reckoned I had mild cholecystitis. The pain continued anyway, and is only now just going away. The problem is that in July I was in hospital for 10 days with acute pancreatitis, and I'm scared it will happen again.

[Goodsoulette]

Hi cazz. Anything triggers mine. I am now down to between 800 and 1000 calories a day with about 10 -15 grams of fat. I had had a cup of tea with skimmed milk and that triggered the last episode off. Fortunately Cazz Im down for an op and can have it pretty quickly at the smaller hospitals surrounding town, instead of the main hospital. I wouldn't have a sodding gallbladder to worry about if I hadn't decided I know best and said "no, its ok, I don't want the op anymore". Now I am developing a little fear of eating as I have no desire to be surrounded by wounded drunks cursing as I stumble by in a gown with my arse hanging out the back ever again.

Llani, i hope you have joy soon. Good luck.

[foodluva]

Inflammation of the gallbladder or associated gallstones can vary in intensity on each occasion. Just because your last attack was of a shorter duration does not mean every attack will be the same. Each episode can vary in duration and intensity of pain. The pain is usually caused by the gallstone(s) becoming lodged in the bile duct. The location of the blockage and size of the stone determines the extent of the attack. Sometimes, the gallstone will sink back into the gallbladder (from where it originated) which will cause a temporary relief of symptoms. Until, that is, the next trigger which results in it coming out of the gallbladder and back in to the bile duct causing the pain/nausea. The cycle will continue unless you have the surgery. If you don't, your acute attacks will most likely become chronic resulting in scar tissue to you gallbladder which exacerbates the problem. It may be that you have had cholecystitis (infection/inflammation of the gallbladder) but I assume that the hospital would have conducted blood tests to confirm this. In short, have the surgery. You'll be much better off for it!

Good luck!

[spanner7853]

Hi I was the same as you, anything from boiled rice to bread kicked mine off and my last bout of pain was the week it was removed for 3 days. I had my gall bladder removed last week after waiting since about May time. It's great knowing you can eat anything now withiut anything causing you pain.

[Goodsoulette]

Thanks for the answers, the pain went down after about 5 days. So I imagine it was just a residual soreness. I had another attack on saturday evening which was a walk in the park compared to the previous week. I took enough painkillers to make me slightly vegetated and even managed to fall asleep after a couple of hours.