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Gallstones

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
D

Doddy

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
I am wondering if anyone here has suffered from Gallstones. My GP seems to think I might be suffering with them/it. I have to say the pain that I am getting from whatever it is, is gradually getting worse.
GP is sending me for a scan, but meanwhile, I don't know if I can take painkillers or anything.
Has anyone else had this problem, and how did you deal with the pain. At the moment, I can't link the pain to eating anything in particular, but it is definately getting more often now.
 
Several of our members have experienced gallstones Doddy, in fact DizzyDi has just had an operation to remove them! I'm sure that they will be along to share their experiences before too long. 🙂
 
Hi Doddy, I had my gall bladder removed in an emergency op after 3 days of agonising pain. I was fine until then - no symptoms at all - though I dont think this is the norm.

The pain was all around the sternum for me and i couldnt get into a position to make it go away.

Absolutely agonising - I would steer clear of anything fatty or spicy until you know.

Hope it is sorted soon.🙂
 
Hi doddy, I had been getting pains and being violently sick pre April. After posting on here it was suggested it sounds like gallstones.

I went to drs, had scan and get confirmation 1st May and told I was getting an urgent referal for removal. On the 6th May while out cycling i had an attack and ended up in hospital with an infection for a week and then being told I would have to wait 6 - 8 weeks for op.

Definitely stay away from fatty and spicy food, I survived on chicken, turkey and quorn sausage.

Unfortunately if an attack is going to come on it just will. I took paracetamol and buscapan to start with (get gp to prescribe if gall stones are confirmed). I found the quicker I was sick the faster the pain eased (except when I ended up in hospital). Towards the end I was being very sick all the time and felt constantly sick and gp prescribed an anti sickness drug, this was a godsend.

My gallbladder was removed last Monday and all the pain and discomfort I associated with it was gone. Got my key hole operation pain but this will be gone in a few more days. The surgery is quick, i was only on the operating table 30 mins.

I hope I've not scared you and please pm me if you need anymore information or want help etc. I hope you get sorted asap x
 
I am sorry you have been through all this DizzyDi!
The pain is like a stitch pain, but soooo much worse. It had me doubled up when I had it. I wasn't sick with it, but the pain was something else!
I haven't had that same pain again, but I am very tender over the site, and I am getting more and more uncomfortable as the days go on.
The GP seems to think Gallstones...when I hear of others symptoms, I am not so sure, but then this pain isn't going away, and I when i had the worst of the pain...it was excruiating.

Hope you are on the mend now, and the pain from the op doesn't linger on xxx Did it affect your BS control at all??
 
Doddy said:
I am sorry you have been through all this DizzyDi!
The pain is like a stitch pain, but soooo much worse. It had me doubled up when I had it. I wasn't sick with it, but the pain was something else!
I haven't had that same pain again, but I am very tender over the site, and I am getting more and more uncomfortable as the days go on.
The GP seems to think Gallstones...when I hear of others symptoms, I am not so sure, but then this pain isn't going away, and I when i had the worst of the pain...it was excruiating.

Hope you are on the mend now, and the pain from the op doesn't linger on xxx Did it affect your BS control at all??
Click to expand...

Hi Doddy the attack pain for me was out of this world and could last hours. I was felt like I had a crushing sensation on my chest all the time. The pains and symptoms got worse over the weeks.

I suppose you need to try and keep calm until you know for definite (not easy I know).

Let us know how you get on and again if I can help pm me.

Oh sorry nearly forget to answer the bs bit.... Mine has been neon perfect since gall stones diagnosed, but i have been extremely strict with my eating x
 
I have gallstone but have been refused surgery I have to be careful what I eat but they do not give me much trouble although lately I have had the odd occassion
 
Hi. I had my gallbladder removed about 5 years ago. The pain leading up to the op was excruciating as Di has said. It was mostly in my back but spread all around like a girdle. I used to be on all fours as there was no way of alleviating the pain

Whilst I was waiting for a hospital appt, I became very sick and (sorry if this sounds horrible) threw up constantly until there was nothing left but bright yellow bile. My husband rushed me to A&E with me throwing up in a bowl. They kept me in and I had my gallbladder removed.

They found a very large stone the size of a ballbearing which, I thought, was the cause of the problem but they told me that it was an old stone which had given me trouble a few years before but was not the culprit for the current bout as it was too big to cause the problem. The smaller stones were the problems as they were trying to pass through the gallbladder but were getting stuck and everything was getting blocked up. I still have those little (and big) blighters to this day!

As soon as the gallbladder was removed, I never looked back and it hasn't caused me any further problems.

I hope that you get your diagnosis soon and that you can be treated properly for the cause.

Lynn x
 
I had my gallbladder removed by keyhole in April this year after been admitted through A&E. I have to say my gp was useless and through NHS took 3 weeks for a scan! If you are in alot of pain I would just get someone to take you to A&E as you will get treatment alot quicker plus they can give you IV morphine and antibiotics into your system to help. Cheeky to do it that way but that is the only way I got listened too and the job sorted. It is far more common than you think nowadays.

I hope they do fix you soon and just be sure they do not take your insulin off you!

Kim x
 
Kim23 said:
I had my gallbladder removed by keyhole in April this year after been admitted through A&E. I have to say my gp was useless and through NHS took 3 weeks for a scan! If you are in alot of pain I would just get someone to take you to A&E as you will get treatment alot quicker plus they can give you IV morphine and antibiotics into your system to help. Cheeky to do it that way but that is the only way I got listened too and the job sorted. It is far more common than you think nowadays.

I hope they do fix you soon and just be sure they do not take your insulin off you!

Kim x
Click to expand...

Why would they take the insulin away???
I have been ok today, but yesterday and saturday I was uncomfy. I think if i get the pain like I did before, then I will go to a&e, unless i have had a date thru from the hosp the scan.
 
Hello all,
Just a quickie question for those who had their gallbladder removed.... how did you find the recovery ? As in was it painful for a long time ? Were you soon up on your feet ?
I've been advised to have the op but really am I complete wimp when it comes to hospitals, ops etc and am avoiding it like the plague and watching what I eat very closely. Only had two bad flare ups of pain, so having read the comments on here I am feeling quite lucky (if thats possible!)
 
Pink Blossom said:
Hello all,
Just a quickie question for those who had their gallbladder removed.... how did you find the recovery ? As in was it painful for a long time ? Were you soon up on your feet ?
I've been advised to have the op but really am I complete wimp when it comes to hospitals, ops etc and am avoiding it like the plague and watching what I eat very closely. Only had two bad flare ups of pain, so having read the comments on here I am feeling quite lucky (if thats possible!)
Click to expand...


Hi pink blossom, I had my gall bladder removed Monday, 9 th July. I could not have waited any longer, I was really poorly and had deteriated quite fast.

I stayed in hospital over night and have been quite sore for a week, but moving very well now, but still tender around the belly area (they went in just below my belly button).

I think re removal of gall bladder it depends on how many stones and size and how often you get attacks. I had regular attacks and my gall bladder was full of small stones which kept getting stuck, hence the pain and sickness.

I do think if it has been advised to be removed, then you probably should, cause it could cause an infection //inflammation of the gall bladder, I ended up in hospital for a week in May with this and very ill. Also if the stones passes and go in your Pancras it will cause pancreatitis.

I don't want to scare you. Only you can decide if to have the gall bladder removed and your gp should have explained what could happen. (this is just a what could happen and is in my experience here only).

Speak to your gp again and ask more questions, also do a search on the Internet.

Pm if you want any more info xxx
 
Got my appointment through today for August 16th
 
Doddy said:
Got my appointment through today for August 16th
Click to expand...


Is this for your scan? That's a long wait, my appointment came for a week after seeing gp.
 
Had my gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery some years ago and have never looked back. Suffered with cholecystitis for ages prior to op. pain dreadful - worse that having a baby! Painkillers were prescribed whilst I was waiting for the operation which helped a little. The consultant who did the operation said I had 'a rockery in there' and gave me a phial containing the offending objects. One was the size of a walnut! One day in hospital and all was well again and no trouble since thank God.
 
Dizzydi said:
Is this for your scan? That's a long wait, my appointment came for a week after seeing gp.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's for the scan. I know my local hospital is notorius for having to wait...i guess it's not that urgent!
 
Had mine done by keyhole - no choice really as gallbladder had perforated completely and had been full of stones.

I was back on my feet after about 3 days and back and work just after too.
I guess its important to get the right painkillers. Although I only needed them for 3-4 days.

If you are told you should have the op, go for it - nothing worse than the pain if it perforates!🙂
 
Sorry only just got back online..the anaesthetist asked about my pump as did all the surgical team at Southampton general as they had never seen one before and when I said I will change my site the morning of op to my arm so leaving my abdomen clear for op he said no problem as I will remove it anyway as it will not be sterile and put u onto a sliding scale.

This never happened! I was on 2 hartmann drips (this has 10% glucose) due to not eating and he took my pump off once anaesthetised but didn't put me on a sliding scale and in recovery I took ages as I was 19mmol..soon as I got up to my ward the nurses were horrified and allowed my husband to put my pump back on me. Because of the surgery though and how the body reacts to change and healing process it came down to normal the following morning but for about a week I was in my higher range of 10-13 on occaision.

The pain post op is not pain as such but more soreness. They said to move everyday even for a 5min walk to stop seizing up, which this did help but I was just slow lol! One help though which I would say to get is a bed ladder as this helped so much in getting in and out of bed if like me you don't have luxury of a adjustable bed.

Post op stuff outweighs the pain you must be in now so go for it 🙂 no one should have to suffer. I just wish my work could of done it ( I work in a vets) as I could of got everything done within couple of days but hey that's just how the nhs is.

Kim x
 
If it is my gallbladder, I have a feeling i will just have to put up with it as i have read if you are overweight they will no operate...

To those of you have had the op...are you left feeling bloated after? Don't they put air in your abdomen so they can access the gallbladder more easily?
 
Doddy said:
If it is my gallbladder, I have a feeling i will just have to put up with it as i have read if you are overweight they will no operate...

I am unsure on this one. I am slightly overweight for my height and age but as long as my bm was under 10 on day of op then they were happy to do it.

To those of you have had the op...are you left feeling bloated after? Don't they put air in your abdomen so they can access the gallbladder more easily?
Click to expand...

Yeh they fill your abdomen up with gas to make everything easier to do, they told me they bag your gallbaldder up to finally pull it out. I did ask to see the stones after but apparently it is not allowed nowadays lol I have 4 scars in total..biggest one is in my belly button (2-3cm) , then one directly in middles at top my abdomen (where gallbladder is) then one to the right and last one just over left from that..they are only bout 1cm so tiny. They do try and get all of it out of you and swish you out with a solution(this sometimes oozes in your bandages a bit) and some will sometimes get a pain in your shoulder blade day after op where the remaining gas goes up but nurses get you to drink some sort of gaviscon type drink to help ease this.

Obv the morning after you abdomen is sore and solid feeling but that is the body protecting itself type thing.
 
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