Gallstones

[Kerrie401]

Hi I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones in 2019 still awaiting my op just wanting to know is anyone experiencing really bad pain all over the upper abdomen and chronic diarrhoea each day is getting harder to get through feel alone in this pain

[Hidden]

Hey my OP is on Tuesday and I'm scared stiff lol. Had pain for 8 months daily and A&E kept misdiagnosing as gastritis!! In the end I had zero choice but to pay private simply just to get someone to help me and listen. He said gallstones within 5 mins of me being in his office and I was being scanned that same week under the NHS as he happened to be a consultant at the QE too. Lost a ton of weight and very thin and the pain... well it feels like my insides are rotting in upper central stomach. Even as I type this I am in pain.

Feel so sorry for you and wondering why you have been waiting so long??

[CarpeDiem11 in reply to Hidden]

Please try not to worry about the op. The team at the QE are very experienced & this is for most people a standard op. I have a lot of liver related issues, which made me a bad candidate for the op & I survived!! My risk factors were much higher than for jo public( & I got told this a lot), but not having the op was risky too. I saw other people in hospital who had this op & everything went well ( & they came in as emergencies), so you should be fine. Good luck, the QE team will take good care of you👍

[Hidden in reply to CarpeDiem11]

Thanks. It’s only the knocking a person out with drugs part I’m scared of. I live with severe levels of Anxiety and I just don’t like the idea of it... never have. I’m not at all scared of dying just feeling odd... Glad yours went well. After two weeks on 800 calories per day I’m starving so can’t wait until it’s done so I can eat haha x

[CarpeDiem11 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, the lack of food is a real downer. Added to that, the lack of choice. I'm afraid I can't relate to being knocked out- it doesn't bother me( best chance of a good rest is how I see it haha!). I don't remember going under either, it was all so quick, that I don't even remember going through the theatre doors! I wish you all the very best for your op.🤞

[Hidden in reply to CarpeDiem11]

Thank you. Going under was great... all my worry for nothing, it was lovely and when I woke up I felt happy. Thanks for your kind words it did help x

[CarpeDiem11 in reply to Hidden]

Wow! So glad it all went well for you & you got the op on the day you were given. So glad I was able to help & thank- you for letting me know. I hope things continue to go well. Whilst you recover, you can dream about your first " real meal" for when you can eat normally again. 😋 All the best🙂

[Hidden in reply to CarpeDiem11]

I ate pizza 6 hours after the OP haha..no messing about for me. I eat very healthy anyway and I'm a vegetarian but I'm treating myself this week 😋. Have a great day x

[CarpeDiem11 in reply to Hidden]

Blimey. I had to wait 3 weeks before I stopped getting nightly pain & could eat normal food. Like your attitude- no messing about & treat yourself. Yes, I'm a healthy eater too, but my liver issues complicated things for me. So glad you have it more straightforward. All the best😊

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Hi the pain is so unbearable it’s really horrible really hope your op goes ok I have mine on the 29th feeling the same as you really scared I just don’t feel strong enough I wonder if you feel like that? Not sure how I’m going to get through the week as things have got a lot worse the last few days and the anxiety that you feel it’s awful to deal with please keep us updated on your progress good luck

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

Had my op yesterday and it was great. Being put under was just like falling asleep. I heard her say "there you are asleep already" and that was it. I'd do it again tomorrow lol. The only bad part about it is the pain in my shoulders from gas... like indigestion pain which can last for a few days. I ate a slice of pizza last night after the op lol... two week on 800 calorie diet made me feel I was starving. You can eat normal right away.

I truly am the worlds most anxious and worrier and this has taught me all that worry is a waste of time. I'll never worry about having an operation again.

Let me know if you have any questions and please dont worry... once it's over so is the dreaded pain x

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks for keeping us updated so pleased for you that it all went well and no more pain it must be the best feeling Was you given antibiotics for after ? I’m so worried that I have a stomach infection because I have got really bad pain on the left side hope it doesn’t stop my op from going ahead Monday

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

No they dont give antibiotics. I was in pain and the surgeon came to see me before the OP and asked if i had a pain and I said yes and he still did the OP. If you have infection they would know from the blood you have to have before the op to check the liver enzymes are ok. For me they were all normal range and no infection on bloods. They also take your tempreture. Have you had to have bloods?

Are you on the 800 calorie a day diet? X

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I had my pre op assessment in February apparently it lasts 3 months but I think I have some sort of infection and I won’t get my op Monday feeling worried and also feel unwell because I’ve got new pain in left side lower abdomen and hip also can hardly eat anything only plain food zero fat lost lots of weight my mind keeps thinking I have more then just gallstones

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

Kerrie don’t worry...I lost 6 stone! Couldn’t eat, being sick, blood pressure went to 67/47.... I begged and begged them on the phone to help me and nothing. I told them I wouldn’t treat an animal like this let alone a human. I had to pay private in the end as A&E and doctors kept saying it was gastritis. I went by ambulance twice and they didn’t even scan me. Trust me a blockage is what it is and I’ve been there... I had it for 3 months until the stones passed through... the the pain lessened massively afte that but my bloods were massively deranged. My bloods are all ok now. It don’t matter even if I didn’t eat, the pain was horrendous. I pray that you get your op Monday.. the it’s all over x.

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you it’s nice to chat with someone who went through the same 😊

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

Keep us updated 👍🏻

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Hey had the op on Monday surgeon said everything went good what was your worse day for pain ?because I’m on day 3 and it’s unbearable at times so stiff and sore and full of gas hope your doing ok after your op

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

Hey, my worse days was the first 4 with pain in both shoulders and back and back of neck... it was awful but it’s gone now 👍. They haven’t done a great job with my belly button area and I have a hard very round lump inside it like a marble. I had a ring in belly button hole for the piercing is now to the far left so I won’t be able to have one anymore.

Other than that I’m healing well and all the bruising is starting to go.

You know where they make a hole in the upper central stomach... that’s sticking out a little too like a thick lump. Looks like I’ve got a third nipple there lol.

Don’t worry that gas pain does go.

Have to say I still have pain and I’m very sad about it. It’s the same pain I had before but milder. I spoke to my consultants secretary (they didn’t know I’d even had the op!) and she said sometimes the pain remains. Nurse at the hospital said to give it time as I’ve been messed with inside and it all needs to settle. I know 100% that my pain was gallbladder as my bloods proved it and I had CT with contrast that showed inflamed gallbladder and stones so hoping this will settle!

[Kerrie401 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks will go and get them will try anything lol my stomach is so swollen went doctors today for check she told me if my bowels don’t open by tomorrow to go hospital to get checked for obstruction I’ve had ops before 2 c sections and appendix never felt pain like this it’s crazy and also I have pain where the gallbladder used to be maybe your body has to adjust to the new normal hope you heal soon and thanks for getting back

[Hidden in reply to Kerrie401]

P.s I used deflatine and it worked for the gas, so if you can anyone to pop to chemist for you x

[janesp in reply to Kerrie401]

Hi,Can relate to this. I’ve had pain for 6 months now, in upper central abdomen plus on left side and right. It’s pretty much daily. Often feel like I have the flu at the end of the day. I’m scared now at the thought of what is going on in there.

Waiting to hear about op. Delayed partly due to covid and partly due to GP insisting it was gastritis. Then a second scan confirmed yes it’s gallstones (and the magic Omeprazole didn’t help!)

Let’s hope we are both free from it soon!

[Kerrie401 in reply to janesp]

Hi it’s just the most horrible of pains some days I’m just like I can’t do this anymore it totally affects every daily task also I was diagnosed in 2019 then mistakes made by my gp referring me to general medicine instead of surgeons so it’s been a long wait I hope you don’t have to wait to long for your op I take co codamol buscopan and lansprazol also have to take immouium some days and best is the hot water bottle it’s good for pain

[janesp in reply to Kerrie401]

Hi there, I take the same but no Imodium. And use a microwave heat pack! I’ve heard that apple cider in water helps with pain so am thinking of trying it as worried about the amount of painkillers I’ve been taking. If anyone has tried this please let us know :)Take care, we’ll get there!

[Hidden in reply to janesp]

Same happend to me, two trips by ambulance to A&E and Months of being fed top dose of lanzoprazole for nothing because they misdiagnosed me. Don’t matter how many times I call docs or 111 I was left in agony. Had to pay private and had a Scan within a week... gallstones and inflamed gall bladder. NHS sent me a customer satisfaction form and I’ve told them in it that they could killed me!

[Woodycat02]

Hi Kerrie I just wanted to let you know you're not alone in this . I was diagnosed in November when my liver levels went up to 780 with a stone stuck in my bile duct . Its a terrible pain to live with on a daily basis and yes you do feel like you're insides are rotting thats just how I would describe it . Im waiting for my op but have frequent visits the last one last Wednesday to A and E when the pain gets unbearable and you never really feel 100% on a daily basis . Hope we all get this sorted as its nasty.

[Kerrie401 in reply to Woodycat02]

Hi it’s just awful the pain is the stone still stuck in the bile duct ? I had a scan 2 weeks ago and it showed that I have a blockage I have attended a+e nearly every week in unbearable pain that I can’t control at home I have tried codeine and tramadols but they just don’t work do you also feel generally unwell in yourself I feel like I constantly have a infection somewhere keep thinking there’s something else wrong

[Kji378]

Hello 🙂

Yes and yes. 😞

It's a pig! it is horrible and I feel for you.

Until you get your operation (which will be fine 💕) can you get some pain relief? Have a chat with your GP if you haven't already.

A very low fat diet, which helps sometimes is worth a go, I'm sure you know this? Do you have a dietician to help with it.

In the meantime try your GP for pain relief. I hope you get pain free soon and get your operation soon also.

Take care 😊

[Worriesalot in reply to Kji378]

Rosemary Conley was like this and this is why she devised the low fat diet. My friend ended up in a&e after eating spicy lamb, she has had op and is great!