How long do attacks last?

Hi dorcas,

    When I start getting an attack, it's a strong tightness, strangling  right under my breast, in the middle and I can't over lap my breath, get sweaty, almost faint  and double over in pain. the longest one I've had lasted 40 or so minutes. but after I am very sore and weak. I notice that I get really burpey and heart burn before it comes on. And I have resorted to just soup, jello , apple juice and a lot of water. Anything else give me an attack within 15 min. Just trying to make it to July 22nd for the surgery. it is so rough and I hope yours calms down a little bit too. when is your surgery? have  you had trouble with constipation too? I think that is where the stabbing pains might come from? Try to drink a lot of water when you fell an attack coming on. Hang in there, I never realized so many people are suffering from gallstones. I have had this for years and just thought it was a nervous stomach or something bad that I ate.  There are so many people saying, " I got for poisoning " or I have a stomach bug, when it's more than that.

 Hope you find some ease till you have your surgery or get scheduled.

Gail

Thanks Gail for the reply. I have been seeing the GP for about a year and a half, although I had been having mild attacks for several years. After first visit to GP when she said it was probably gallstones, the attacks came more spaced out (3 months between attacks, then 1 month etc) then in October last year they became very bad - I would be well one day and down the next and this went on for about 3 months. I went to GP, A&E, GP again and again - was told I had a virus and that was causing the attacks to be more frequent. I was not offered pain relief even after asking. Then suddenly the attacks stopped. By this time I had sonogram which showed gallstone & "Sludge". Went to Consultant and he told me to just take treatment for heartburn that in (forgot the percentage he used) most cases gall bladders were taken out and there was no need. Then went for MRI. Again told large stone & sludge. Back to consultant and he said "the stone is probably too big to be causing your symptoms" and I should just take heartburn meds and cut down on fats. (both of which I had been doing since first visit to GP)

Short period of respite but with several small attacks - which I noted on diary. Back to GP - nothing. Then as I described in first post - I have been in agony for more than a week. THey gave me codeine. OK that helped if I took the maximum dose - although it wore off before next dose due. Then 2 days ago I got a terrible rash that goes from mid back around to mid stomach. It was itching, burning and painful. Went to GP. He said not related to gall bladder and not a reaction to codeine. Said it looks like shingles but isn't shingles because it crosses dermatomes (A dermatome is an area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve). He did however give me a different painkiller that is stronger and another one for breakthrough pain. Meantime, I have no real treatment plan just a lot of "well it isn't this". I am in process of getting appointment with private hospital in Aberdeen because I am sick and tired of not being given an anwer or being told that I am having heartburn (any woman who has been pregnant KNOWS what heartburn is) when I know it is NOT heartburn (or that it is sometimes as well as heartburn).

Hi Gail

I live in the UK.

I think after these last 10 days, I am going to use the private medical that comes with my husband's work. I didn't want to do that because I have paid into the system for many years and think that if you need treatment, it should be done. The pain is awful and I sometimes think if these doctors and consultants experienced the pain themselves, they would not be so slow to get you treatment!

Well, I finally did go to private consultation and they have me scheduled for operation on 17th July. This has been the absolute worst 3 weeks of my life. I started getting pains on 17th June and have had them every day (19 days) for hours at a time since then. I have not left my house except to go to GP/A&E. After they finally gave me codeine for the pain, I had a terrible reaction so that I have the pain of the rash (weeping spots/burning/itching/pain) on top of the pains in my stomach/side/back/shoulder. Even when the pains themselves aren't present, I am sore all around my stomach and middle back - I would assume this is from tensing up so much when the pains happen? I have been taking the tramadol that was prescribed every day now for more than 2 weeks. I am beginning to worry that I will be hooked on the stuff before this pain goes away. Just glad that I finally decided that the NHS was NOT going to help me and went ahead to see private surgeon.

Meant to add to last post:

Since the attacks started, I have not had a proper meal. I can only eat 3 or 4 bites of anything at a time. Some days I don't eat anything at all, because of the nausea. I weighed myself this morning and as much as I needed to lose weight, I think losing 18 lbs in 19 days is a bit too much too fast!!

Hi doracas, just think in less than 11 days , you will be out of pain. 16 more days for me, I can't wait...

Gail

I'm showing same symptoms as what you have described above,,,what did the problem end up being ,was it indeed gall bladder ?