Gallstones

[Macey1910]

Does anyone know how long the wait is for gallstones surgery? I'm 19 and have been struggling with server pain for over 9 weeks. I have my bloods booked and a ultrasound to confirm as I was first diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. I have a 10 week old baby and I'm terrified to get the pain when he needs me. I really need this to be over with and soon but I know a older lady who has been waiting 2 years.

[BritishLiverTrust5 Moderator British Liver Trust]

Dear Macey1910

If you live in England, information about waiting times in each region can be found at this page: myplannedcare.nhs.uk Wales please see: 111.wales.nhs.uk/Waitingtimes/

For Scotland please see: nhsinform.scot/care-support...

Please consider downloading our booklet, Liver disease: What you should expect from your care – A patient charter, which can be found in the General Advice section on the downloadable publications page of our website. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

You may also benefit from giving our liver nurse helpline a call and asking for some guidance on your path through the healthcare system. The number is: 0800 652 7330 and is open from 10am-3pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays).

For reliable information about Gallstones, please visit this page on the British Liver Trust website: britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Best wishes,

BritishLiverTrust5

[Wordesley]

It really depends where in country you are. I'm in Staffordshire and have had a referral for my liver problems at hepatology and my first appointment is at the beginning of October. I've also had my scan to confirm gallstones and received a letter to book the consultants appointment for that, but when I go online there are no appointments available. So here I'm looking at several months just for first consultant appointment

[Macey1910 in reply to Wordesley]

I really hope something comes up for you and soon. What do you do or have to relive the pain?

[Wordesley in reply to Macey1910]

I'm already on quite a few painkillers as I have arthritis and fibromyalgia so I just make sure I take those on time, do myself a hot water bottle and curl up in bed if it is really bad. General sleeping, I use 2 pillows so I'm not lying completely flat. I try to be careful about eating (but love cheese sooooo much), no alcohol, but a couple of cups of coffee a day.

[Sammyjoe2]

Hi Macey1910,

I must of been really lucky as I only waited 3 months for the operation once I’d seen the consultant. I’m in London.

Really hope you don’t have to wait too long, I was worried and scared about the op but it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. I had key hole so was out the same day, sore for a week but recovered well. Just not having that fear of an attack and all the pain that comes with it is worth it’s weight in gold.

Best of luck and hope you get seen soon.

Sam

[Macey1910 in reply to Sammyjoe2]

Thank you, I'm East Sussex I really hope so too. I'd definitely rather recovery pain at this point. I'm too scared to eat as even after I've changed my diet the pain in so bad. I was given painkillers. Do you know of anything that helped when you were dealing with the pain.

[Sammyjoe2 in reply to Macey1910]

I’m a bit funny about taking painkillers but I had to when the pain got really bad. I was also scared to eat and by the end of it I had so many foods that seemed to be triggers for an attack. I have heard that Buscopan can help but obviously check with your GP first. I found that sleeping upright propped up with a few pillows also helped a bit.

[Macey1910 in reply to Sammyjoe2]

I've been prescribed buscopan and dihydrocodeine but nothing seems to touch the edges. Seems as if we just have to deal with it until it's removed. Thank you for your help!!

[Paintingicons in reply to Macey1910]

With me diet has certainly helped. I was told by the consultant to eat lots of salads and by the GP to eat zero fat. I have been doing this but zero fat in the long term is impossible. I’d Eminem the fat contents in anything I buy and things like yoghurt can now be bought with zero fat. I don’t use oil in cooking nor put butter on my bread or any oily spreads. I have got used to this diet and bought two books on fat free recipes. I enjoy experimenting. The surgeon told me to have the operation to remove the gall-bladder within three months. It is now 7 months from seeing the surgeon and 15 months since the ultra scan. I had the awful pain before that about five times, most excruciating pain. The hospital doctor diagnosed acid stomach, but I told her it wasn’t that. Still she took no notice and wrote a letter to GP to say it was too much acid in my stomach. I was retching and vomiting bile from the pain. It lasted about 14 hours the first time. Since eating this very low fat, no fat diet, I have been free of this awful pain, although I do get twinges every now and again, particularly if I have had a little fat in the diet like an egg etc. But then I have to eat something. I rang the hospital and the admin who make the appointments were quite cross with me since they have a backlog on the waiting list.

[Wordesley in reply to Paintingicons]

Zero fat eating is very difficult. Be careful about zero fat yoghurt as the manufacturers bump up the sugar content

[kensimmons]

Someone posted here about a year ago about the possibility to undergo this procedure linked -

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[Aotea2012]

I’m going to sound like a politician and say....it depends! It depends on where you live and how urgent your referring GP and accepting consultant has treated your referral. It sounds as if they are still assessing you as you still are having bloods and diagnostics being done. Given your age, which is young for gallstones, your pain and your circumstances I would have thought you’d be treated as a priority. It’s a day case procedure and the NHS is trying to clear big backlogs of cases...so it’s possible you’ll be offered a quicker appointment in another hospital if yours has long lists. If your pain is really extreme then talk to your GP to see if there’s anything they can offer. In the meantime, watch your diet. Try to avoid fatty foods and full fat dairy products and switch to more fruit and veg with plenty of fibre. It may help with your symptoms. I hope things resolve quickly.

[Macey1910]

Thank you so much. It's definitely given me a lot of hope, I've been sent to another hospital for my tests as it is so I'm hoping you right.

[Readlots]

Hi Macey, I’m sure you’re a fab Mum and will always be there for your baby when he needs you. Have you got support you can call on when you’re having a flare up? We all need help sometimes - you don’t have to prove you’re superwoman by doing it all. Be specific about what help you need so that people don’t take over completely. I hope you get the operation soon.

[Macey1910]

I'm currently in emergency accommodation and I'm not allowed any one to stay with me or to stay out and it's usally the night that my flare up happens. I'm going to see if I can get my doctor to help me get permission for someone to help me. Thank you so much for your reply. I've been lucky so far and my baby has slept through when Ive been in pain.

[Rainbow22C]

Hi no advice but I also have a 6 month old baby and really struggle when I get an attack, that’s why I am keen on getting it removed. Im 27 but they said with my age they would do it sooner rather than later so hopefully at 19 they will expedite yours.

[Macey1910 in reply to Rainbow22C]

Thank you, hope you get yours removed soon !

[Purplelamp]

Hi Macey, I am also eating a very low fat diet which so far has helped. My GP prescribed Buscopan which I take if pain starts to build. It doesn’t always work but it can stop the painful contractions and bloating xx

[deanw41]

PAINfUL!!! 🥴

[Macey1910]

Thank you all for your lovely messages. I've had my scan and my gallstones have been confirmed I've been on a dairy free fat free diet ect but have been in and out of A&E as it's been getting a lot worse. I've been told to take my usual medication all throughout the day and given diclofenac to take when the pain gets unbareable but it only just takes the edge off. Does anyone know if there's any way to speed up getting surgery or any pain relief that actually works. I'm so tired constantly and spending 8 hours + in a&e to be sent home is so draining.

[Macey1910]

update from my previous post, I'm now in hospital because of my pancreas. My gallstones had caused a blockage after trying to pass out of my gallbladder.... in lots of pain but the plus side is I'll be having surgery within 4-6 weeks now. Atleast there's a light at the end of the tunnel