Looking for some advicemin

Gallstones are excruciatingly painful. You have had an ultrasound which has confirmed them. If you had cancer it would look different on an ultrasound.

I have suffered from depression for many years. Fifteen months ago I was in agony with pains in my abdomen and a scan revealed it to be seven large gallstones. I saw a consultant at my local hospital and I was given a date last March for gall bladder removal. At the same time because I changed my diet to low fat one I found it difficult to go to the loo.  I was convinced that I also had bowel cancer and so my gallbladder operation was postponed and I had a colonoscopy. This was normal and so my operation was booked for June. During this time I was in such a depressed and anxious state that I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. My consultant arranged for me to have some hypnotherapy to get me through the operation and this helped in the short term. When it came to the day of my operation I went to the hospital. at 7.30 but couldn't go through with it because I was convinced I was going to die. I saw my consultant again and a date was arranged for September.  I went on holiday for a week in August but had an awful time due to the worry and anxiety. The week before my operation I had a urine infection and was relieved because it meant I couldn't have it although I did turn up on the morning of my op and my consultant tried to persuade me to have it. My operation was booked again for last October. I was in a terrible state again and on the morning of my operation I didn't want to turn up at the hospital. I got there at 7.30 and was in tears . My consultant promised that I would be the first to have my op. I was taken down to the operating theatre at 8.45 and came round at 10.30. I was in a lot of pain for the first few days but had painkillers to ease it. Even during the first month after my operation I was convinced that it hadn't been a success and that something had gone wrong. After two months all the discomfort had gone and I am left wth no pain. Looking back over the last year I am so glad that I summoned up enough strength to go through with it. I am still suffering from depression but the physical pains have gone which is some relief.

Hi I had pains on the right hand side but like you I also had pains on the left hand side, front and back. I went to casualty last June because I 'd convinced myself that I was having a heart attack. I had a heart scan and other tests and they found nothing wrong. Since I had my gallbladder removed I have had no pains and so in hindsight the pains I was experiencing were due to gallstones. At the time though nobody could convince me otherwise and like you It took over my life for a year! Hope this helps.

Hi Ian

I forgot to ask if you are having your gallbladder removed. When I had my first attack my GP sent me to the hospital straight away and I was given my first operation date within 6 weeks. How would you feel about having the operation? When I saw the consultant the main things I focused on we're all the things that could go wrong! I was convinced I wouldn't wake up or that they would cut my bowel by mistake! All of these thoughts were totally irrational and none of them were true. At the time I wasn't able to challenge the thoughts successfully which I regret in hindsight. I hope you are able to move forward from this. June

Hi Ian, if you have seen a consultant they have to give you a date for the operation within a certain time. Where I live it was 6 weeks. If I had gone private I would have had the same surgeon that I had on the NHS so it wasn't worth it. I also had an understanding surgeon as he kept re booking the operation even after me not being able to go through with them. Also if you decide to have the operation explain your situation and ask him to put you first on the list. When I finally had mine done there was only an hour from arriving at the hospital to going down to the theatre. Good luck and I hope you make the right decision for you. June