Gallstones or not?

It does sound like gallbladder pain, but the pain I had from gastritis was very similar. Your ultrasound will confirm whether or not it is gallstones. 

After the scan, if gallstones are confirmed, you will be referred to a surgeon to discuss removal. How long that takes seems to depend on area. Some people wait years, others months. Gallbladder surgery is usually Day case, although I was kept in overnight. But my surgery was late afternoon. Surgery is usually keyhole, although you have to sign for open surgery, just in case they can't do the surgery keyhole. There is some pain for a few days, but recovery is fairly quick. 

Watching what you eat might help whilst you are waiting for surgery. Fat is a big no no for most people the gallbladder pain. Simple bland foods seem to be better tolerated. 

Hope this helps. Hopefully you will be referred to see a surgeon quickly and won't wait too long. 

It does sound like gallstones, however, whilst I had attacks that sometimes lasted 3 or 4 days at a time, I was never in constant pain for a week. Usually the fact that I didn't eat anything during attacks calmed down the pains. Difficulty breathing is another common symptom. Have you had any nausea, sickness or diarrhoea, which are other common symptoms? Gallstone pain is usually felt on right side or centrally and in right shoulder blade. I can only liken it to labour pains in severity but without the gap between contractions. I could not eat or sleep during attacks.

It's good advice to eat a low fat diet. Also do not overload your stomach or eat spicy foods or drink alcohol. This will not stop the symptoms but will reduce the intensity, frequency and duration of painful attacks. 

Codeine and paracetamol are the commonly prescribed analgesics for gallbladder pain. Personally, I cannot take codeine as I find it constipates. If the pain is very severe, attend A&E, where they will usually give oral morphine and may be able to bring forward tests and even surgery, but there are long waiting lists all over the UK. My hospital is performing daycase laparoscopic cholecystectomy on Saturdays, as there is such a backlog. I have also  just been sent an appointment for a CT scan at 17:40 in the evening. Husband had endoscopy performed on a Sunday! So they are struggling to cope.

If ultrasound shows presence of gallstones, you will usually be told by a junior member of your surgeon's team. However I doubt if he/she will be able to give you a date for surgery at that point. I waited from September 2016 until February 2017 before I had surgery, despite being admitted in October for a week due to jaundice. I signed up to have any HB surgeon perform my surgery and said I could be available at short notice to quicken the process. In the end, I was lucky, and got a cancellation. Be prepared for a long wait. It's not a good situation I'm afraid.

Thanks everyone for the comments and advice. I'll certainly change my eating habits and monitoring any increase in pain. I'm not looking forward to no spices and I don't eat fish so looks like more fruit and veg .

Update -I had my abdominal scan today and struggled to hold my breath due to pain but the lady doing the scan was lovely and very patient. She told me there were gallstones and once the scan was complete I asked to look. She showed me and there was more than half a dozen stones but I didn't count. I was just relieved to see what was causing the pain.

I've continued to take 60mg of codeine 4 times a day with very little effect but I think the worse of the pain has passed. It constantly hurts to breath and any slight exercise eg gentle walking,just increases the constant niggle pain I have.

I'm going back to the Dr's tomorrow to discuss pain management and returning to work after the weekend. I don't expect the scan results to be there just yet,but I would like some more pain control-if that's ever possible- until the inevitable surgery.

Once again thanks for the replies.

Just go to A&E

I'm glad at least you now have a diagnosis. It's a relief in a way to at least know what's wrong. I went on holiday just before I had my gallbladder removed. It's the only holiday I've ever come back having lost weight!  I lived on lean meat, salad and fruit. It did keep the symptoms under control. 

I do think prescribing of medication is dependent on your GP. There is a FB site, and I have read of people on there being prescribed tramadol or even morphine for pain. I guess they have to realise hat if you're going to have a long wait then they have to help you broth flares. My GP prescribed buscopan for me, that helped a lot during my holidays!  

Hope youw wait isn't too long. I was so lucky as I ad mine one privately. I couldn't imagine having to wait more than six months feeling like I did. 

Update-today I have felt something near my usual self. Well apart from sneezing and feeling like my insides were being ripped out.

I got a phone consultation from a Dr at my GP surgery late afternoon. He couldn't understand why I was still in pain especially after the scan showed no stones stuck in the duct but all in the gall bladder. He said that the codeine I have been prescribed is the top dose but any pain that's unbearable I am to phone the surgery or go to A+E -guess my choice!

Anyway,he said that I will need surgery,which I knew,and if I need anymore time off work then a sick note is there for me.

I am hoping to go back to work on Monday as the pain is just a background pain . My job is quite physical and I'm on my feet for most of the 5 hour shift. Fingers crossed all goes well on Monday.

I still haven't eaten much the last few days due to not being hungry/no appetite/feeling bloated. I know these are all signs associated with gallstones.

I'm not scared of surgery at all. I've had 2 major operations before.

Onwards and upwards and fingers crossed for surgery soon.