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Horrible pain, can't eat - does this sound like gallstones?

Posted , 8 users are following.

Growlinglucifer
Growlinglucifer

I've had stomach issues for years and years - and always got told by the doctors that it was IBS. I cut wheat and for a while, that seemed to help a lot, but now, two years later, it's back to being bad again! 

These last two weeks in particular have been quiet hellish. Agonising pain after eating - like a stabbing, gnawing sensation right in the centre of my stomach, above my belly button. Plus a wierd kind of stabby / achy pain on my right hand side, just under my ribcage. Occasional 'urgent' need to go to the loo - but not diarhhoea. 

Went to docs on Monday as it was getting ridiculous (I'm still trying to eat but it's getting increasingly difficult) and they straight away said gallstones, so I've been booked in for an ultrasound. 

However, I've been told it's IBS for so many years that I find myself doubting the gallstones vertict - and wondering if it's not a stomach ulcer or something like that. 

Does anyone have any experience of gallstones? Also, while I'm waiting for the ultrasound, is the pain likely to get better? Does it come in 'attacks' or is it just continuous pain until you get it sorted? I'm not sure I want to continue like this - not being able to eat anything - I'm already slim, I'll vanish soon ;-) 

It seems to be everything I eat too - not just fatty foods. E.g. yesterday lunch, I literally had dry-fried courgettes, mushrooms, onion and tofu - all really low-fat, and was still in pain right up until bedtime - 9 hours later! 

 

1 like, 19 replies

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  • LittleMissDolly
    LittleMissDolly Growlinglucifer

    Posted

    You know I actually don't believe in IBS.  I was diagnosed well over 20 years ago and it turned out that it was actually issues with the gallbladder.  In my opinion, IBS is diagnosed and is the lazy option for Doctors to use instead of finding out what is really behind all the issues that are associated. 

    If you had a stomach ulcer, you would experience pain on the left hand side.  Right hand side pain as you describe is in the gallbladder region.

    Good luck.

    • cynthia89958
      cynthia89958 LittleMissDolly

      Posted

      I do have left pain but no ulcers according to scopes. I believe it may be the hiatal hernia that causes some pain and indigestion, however Dr disagrees and as I have gallstones and some of the symptoms I am on list for op. I never really had right side pain, just centre and left, so it has concerned me that they could be wrong but I guess the gallbladder must also be causing some trouble, who knows. As you say, IBS seems to be a catch all for tummy trouble as is reflux nowadays, a few years ago everyone with a cough used to be dx as asthmatic I recall.
    • jay15225
      jay15225 LittleMissDolly

      Posted

      Hi,I too was diagnosed with IBS about 10 months before getting gallbladder problems...had gallbladder out 15 weeks ago and no longer need IBS tablets 😀...x
    • cynthia89958
      cynthia89958 jay15225

      Posted

      I really hope this will be the case for me as I have been wavering about whether the gb removal will be helpful. Fingers xd. I'm glad you feel better x

       

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