In agony and fed up!! Looking for coping techniques for gall bladder pain...

[Mistee]

Hey guys, it's been a while since I've posted on here. I had deep nerve root blocks in s1/L5 back in July due to prolapsed discs and osteophytes and it worked really well. I've had a lot of pain relief from them but they're starting to ware off now and despite taking gabapentin and mst, it is agonising!!!!! I wouldn't say the level of pain is necessarily worse than it was before - more that it feels worse because I haven't felt it for so long if that makes sense?

Anyway, as well as my back issues, I have bladder/uranary issues and on Thursday I had a home visit from the bowel and bladder clinic to 'teach' me how to do clean intermittent self catheterisation. Big low blow to the old self esteem and to top it off, I have yet to succeed in managing to do it.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, I have gall stones and the pain I'm having from them this evening is worse than it has ever been!!!! My shoulders and upper arms feel like they're burning, my upper abdomen hurts from front to back, I've been sick and my mouth is watering like hell!!! I've tried everything, I take omeprazol every morning, I'm taking peptac or whatever it's called, I've lain face down on a freezing cold floor (which usually works a treat but is a nightmare for getting down to and up from with a bad back!!!!) But even that hasn't helped tonight!!!!

I'm currently laying on my settee with face cloths that I've soaked in cold water over my stomach in a bid to get comfortable and to get some relief, which is still not coming!!!! I can't get comfortable but can't bare to move an inch. It's taken me the best part of an hour and a half to write this as I've had to keep putting my phone down for a rest every few minutes!!! I'm ready to tear my hair out!!!!

to top it all off, my husband will be getting up for work in an hour, my 6 yr old will wake up an hour after that then I'm meant to be getting ready to drop her at grandma's while I go to work!!!! Does anyone have any suggestions at all that can ease gall stone pain?????

[Bananas5]

Hello Mistee

Re gall bladder.

As it is now 8 on Sunday morning - call NHS 24 - 111.

I had exactly th same Easter Sunday 9 years ag. The gave me strong pain relief and afyer later spealing with consultant removed my gall blder.

Pat x

[Mistee in reply to Bananas5]

Thanks for your reply Pat, I don't really bother with nhs direct/24 as I've found in the past that they just give me the exact same information that I've Googled before calling and for some reason round here, out of hours services won't give anything stronger than ibuprofen or paracetamol - however I take morphine mst anyway so probs nothing they would be able to give me!!!

I've got to say, it's never ever been as bad as that before and normally laging face down on a cold floor for 10mins does the trick but this went on for 5 or 6 hours last night and every time I moved to try and get more comfortable I was being sick!! Will be trying for an emergency appt with my GP tomorrow but would really appreciate any hints/tips anyone might have for when you're experiencing the pain!!!

[Bananas5 in reply to Mistee]

That's OK.

First time paramedics came, couldn't get needles in so just knocked me out. Nothing from hospital.

Next time about 2 weeks pre op I took 2 of David's DF118. Desperate. Knocked me out, slept for 9 hours and just sore. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Good Luck and hope surgery help.

Pat x

[earthwitch]

You probably do need to be seen by a doctor when you are really bad, so that you can actually get on the list for gall bladder surgery. Gall stones really don't go away on their own. Also, if you don't get them dealt with, you can end up with complications including pancreatitis, which is really not something you want. I'd definitely ring the emergency numbers every time you have a major attack, because even if they just tell you the advice you would do yourself, at least they are recording in your notes how often you are having the attacks and that will give weight to the need for surgery sooner rather than later.

[lesleyann950]

Best thing till you get seen by consultant and put on waiting list for removal is as low fat a diet as possible also fasting helps. You also need to get adequate pain relief when having an attack.

[Hidden]

Indeed the only relief I got from my gall bladder pain was to eat totally fat free, and I mean totally, only then did the pain killers kick in, you must see your G.P and tell him now, call out of hours next time, you need to make a pest of yourself, because as earthwitch says you do not want ,pancreatitis, it is life threatening, the only real solution is have it removed, I was never as happy as the day mine was removed, I was only 30 at the time and had problems for ten years,and no you do not have to have all the five F's to have cholecystitis ( fair,fat,forty,fertile,flatulent).I wish you luck.