Possible gallstones - awaiting scans
Posted , 7 users are following.
I've had pain in my upper abdomen right side, that goes up to my right chest area and upper bk for 3 weeks now.
The episodes last anything from 4 hrs right through the day or night or both.
It has now started to interfere with my every day activities- I've had to have the last 2 days off work due to it.
My GP is going to arrange a scan to confirm if it is gallstones or not but I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or ideas on what I can do to ease the pain. I'm currently laid on my couch with a hot water bottle under my upper back.
What can I eat, for the past 3 weeks I've been living on water, crackers, salad and a chicken fillet with the odd evening meal of salmon, whole meal pasta but that even seems to start off the pain. I've cut out crisps, biscuits, chocolate, fries, anything fast foody and I'm just at the point of having had enough. I no longer want to go out and socialise due to the fear of it happening when I'm out. Im just hoping someone can help or has some more information for me.
Thanks
1 like, 30 replies
Cwtch13 Nadfran80
Posted
I take it as soon as the uncomfortable griping starts
When I have a full blown attack I can not eat for up to a week . Then I live on cup a solid and rich tea biscuits .
I go to see consultant beginning of April
I started before Christmas with this and have had two attacks but suffer discomfort almost daily . I have a nagging tooth ache type pain just below my front shoulder daily !
Hope you get sorted soon xxx
Nadfran80 Cwtch13
Posted
Hi,
Thank you for responding. I'll definitely have to give the Buscopan a go. Does this help with the aching and the stabbing pains?
Thanks
carol02471 Nadfran80
Posted
Hi
So sorry you are going through this but it' does seem very classic signs of GB issues not just stones it could also be just not working well, A HIDA scan will show that for sure.
Peppermint tea helps my daughter, dairy free & free from foods, it won't stop it but it does help. Also Buscopan gaviscon help. Hot baths electric heated pillow & hot water bottles.
GB is horrible when playing up sincerely hope you get sorted soon. Keep to little and often. X
Nadfran80 carol02471
Posted
Thank you for your help. I'll have to give it a try.
lynda20916 Nadfran80
Posted
Sorry to learn you're dealing with this! Also try small, frequent low fat meals. Avoid drinks with caffine in them, such as coffee, which can stimulate the production of bile and cause you pain as well. I avoided coffee and chocolate, but I could tolerate tea reasonably well. If you can tolerate some fruit juice, try adding water to it, so the drink is 1/2 juice and 1/2 water.
Don't try doing a "liver cleanse" or anything like that, because if you have gallbladder disease, it's already stressing your liver to the max! I suggest that you not go to a health food store, or try herbs or tinctures, or anything that they tell you "dissolves" gallstones. Those "natural remedies" don't work and can be dangerous. Most people in those stores don't have any medical training and are there to sell something!
Try to rest as much as you can, so that the situation doesn't deteriorate, and you have the strength that you need to take care of yourself both before and after, if you have surgery.
Best of luck to you, and please let us know how you get on!
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
Hi, cutting out what you have done is good, you may need to take some anti inflammatories and painkillers, they don't alway work completely but some do take the edge off of the pain, you'll need to speak to your gp if you anything stronger.
Have you got an appointment date for your ultrasound yet?
I'm afraid it does seem to exclude you from socialising, I use to go out for meals regularly but had to stop very quickly as rich foods made me really sick. Unfortunately this process isn't alway a quick one and I know what its like to have had enough of pain and it changing your life.
Keep updating this site with everything as its very good to speak to others that are going through the same.
Let me know how you get on with your ultrasound.
Take care
Nadfran80 katherine42413
Posted
Hi, thank you for your kind words.
I haven't yet had a date for when I'll babe my scan. Hopefully it won't be too long.
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
Hi, let us know when you do or just to chat because of the symptoms you're experiencing and someone will reply.
I've found it invaluable to talk to people that are going through the same thing as they understand how bad it can get, so keep writing.
Take care x
Cwtch13 Nadfran80
Posted
victoria33888 Nadfran80
Posted
Anyhow if you can change diet I promise it helps.
Thanks vickie
Nadfran80 victoria33888
Posted
Thanks for sharing.
I'm waiting for my GP to send me a date for my ultrasound scan. I just hope it's sooner rather than later. This weekend has been a nightmare. Every time I eat I'm in chronic pain, I'm on water biscuits, vegetable soup and water. I don't want to eat because of the pain I'm getting.
I've been up since 4am this morning with the pain, I've got a hot water bottle and a heated mat. I've tried the Buscopan mentioned by others but it doesn't seem to do anything for me. I'm currently on ibuprofen to try and help but my whole upper chest and bk area feels like it's tight and I can't get comfortable.
I don't know how much more I Can take of this. 3 weeks is just getting to me now. I know there are plenty of others who are so much worse off then me but it's just getting me down now.
lynda20916 Nadfran80
Posted
victoria33888 Nadfran80
Posted
Thanks vickie
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
If its chronic pain either phone your gp and let them know how bad the pain is or you might need a trip to a&e where they'll give you something stronger and they'll do the ultrasound then. Don't suffer and get some help.
I didn't find buscopan worked either, my gp gave me cocodamol and I'm now on naproxen as I've got some additional problems. Don't forget you can take paracetamol with the ibruprofen but you can confirm this with your pharmacist. Make sure you take your ibruprofen with food as it can irritate your stomach and give you additional problems that you don't need at the moment. I don't really think there's much that takes the pain away mine just took the edge off of it which made life a bit easier but I totally understand how it can get you down so keep writing on here or to me and I'll write back.
Sleeping can be a real problem as well as the waking up in the night, I was generally curled up in a ball. I could only manage to go into work for a couple of hours when things got really bad.
Remember with food to eat small amounts of low fat food as you're already doing and keep your fluids up.
send me a message when you hear from your doctor. x
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
Hi, I was wondering if you've heard anything about when your scan is yet?
If you decide to take any additional medication that you should speak to your doctor first, I certainly wouldn't try anything until you've been diagnosed. Gallstones can lay silent for weeks/months before another attack which is why not everyone needs to go down the surgery route. My mum has gallstones but they don't cause her any problems so they don't bother doing anything.
Did the doctor give you anything for the pain? If it gets really bad then go back to your doctor and perhaps they can rush things along.
Let me know how you're getting on.
Take care
Nadfran80 katherine42413
Posted
No I've not heard a anything yet. It's the pain that's starting to get to me. Constant aching for weeks on end. I get no relief when I'm in bed either, sleeping just feels uncomfortable at times.
I can't seem to find anything to eat that helps. I'm living on water, water biscuits, salad, and a little fish. I ate salmon the other night and had pain, I've had vegetable soup for lunch and now I'm in agony. GP hasn't prescribed anything for the pain, I'm trying not to have to bother them knowing how busy they already are but it's starting to get to me now. I can't enjoy anything and because of my pain I find I'm snapping at my partner and the kids. I just want to be in less pain.
victoria33888 Nadfran80
Posted
I struggled with sleeping... You must contact your doctor do not worry that you think you're bothering them ... It doesn't matter if you visit every week until you get seen to and on road to recovery. Do not worry,call them, who cares what the reception thinks , or the doctor is busy ..it is your life ..
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
You must contact them, unfortunately even eating low/ non fat helps as you still get pain, mine's the same. Don't hesitate to go to a&e if the pain is unbearable, you shouldn't be suffering like this. Is it homemade soup or tinned as salt content can make it worse.
please go to a&e if things don't improve, if it is your gallbladder you don't want it to rupure or the pain could be a gallstone in transit so get seen.
Nadfran80 katherine42413
Posted
It was tinned soup.
If the pain does get worse it will be A&E I make a trip to as I don't think I can continue like this for much longer.
Thanks for your help.
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
Yes don't hesitate to go if it gets worse. They;ll at least be able to give you some strong pain relief.
I usually make my own soup and cake so I know whats in it since all this started, I don't know the levels in the soups that they put in the refridgerated area so you may want to check those and see how many ingredients are in them. also salt and fat content they maybe more/less than you think.
Fish I find very good, even fish fingers!, I find I can eat hot x buns but not all of it at the time.Baked beans, a small amount of toast, Scrambled egg with some salmon is ok but we're all different so it may not suit you at the moment.
Take care x
Nadfran80 katherine42413
Posted
What about nuts? Peanuts for example? Again I've read from some you can eat them and your fine? With others they say to stay clear. I was ok with popcorn the other week but the. Last weekend I seemed to get the pain within 30 mins of eating it.
katherine42413 Nadfran80
Posted
Don't forget that nuts have their own natural fats which your body at the moment may not be able to digest very well. I haven't tried them personally so I don't know, it may well be a case of trial and error, if you do then only have a few and perhaps stay away from coated peanuts.
Yes the pain you're experiencing within a short period of time after eating is very common with gallbladder problems.