Ibs and gallstones

[Booth29]

Does anyone have gallstones along with their ibs? I’m waiting to get my gallbladder removed, I have been getting flare ups every 2 to 3 weeks. Not eating any fat so not sure what sets it off, but pain horrendous and lasts for days. My ibs worsens at the same time so I end up being in pain everywhere, does anyone else find it worsens their ibs? Desperate for operation, really struggling to cope with the pain. Pain killers only take the edge off, it’s just a nightmare😢

[Viklou]

I did have but it went 2015. Bile aids all digestion not just fats it excretes stored bile as part of this process. It's like Russian roulette if it happens to pop a stone out while doing this. My gallbladder was full of stones. I really wanted them back too but they don't do that anymore.

[pinky75]

I’m currently suffering with my ibs and gallstones. I get the attacks from my gallstones every 1-3 weeks and I am taking buscopan 2 tablets 4 times a day as advised by a&e.

I have found my ibs has become much worse during this time. Either with diarrhoea occasionally or the fact that I just need to poo often (average 4 times a day). The surgeon advised the gallstones would not affect my bowels at all but it seems too much of a coincidence to me that my ibs has never been this bad.

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Hi there I’m amazed consultant said that !! The whole of digestion system is connected if one part is dysfunctional it affects the rest of it lol I’m sure we are not making it up !! I would argue the toss x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply.

I find it so hard, I got a copy of the letter he sent to my gp and he said I was fixated with the problem being my gallbladder. He even said the pain I was getting wasn’t gallstones even though I had the ultrasound to show them as he said that as they didn’t cause bowel changes I must have something else wrong. He then advised he would not treat the gallstones until I had a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, saw gynaecology etc.

[pinky75 in reply to pinky75]

Forgot to say I have since been to a&e as I fainted with the last bad attack that I had a cut my head. They said it was gallstones and that gallbladder inflamed.

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Sure I’ve just messaged u did u get it ? Dunno where that’s gone lol x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

No not received a message x

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Your consultant is shite ,get another opinion you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get an op for it . It’s obviously gallbladder it needs to come out ASAP the small stones are buggers they move around and get stuck in bile duct . Keep on to your gp and keep going a and e when you get bad attacks I’m really fuming about this ! 😖

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I have to say it’s really getting me down. It’s not only affecting what I eat as scared to eat everything but also effecting day to day life with trips to the toilet.

I contacted my gp to discuss but all they would do is send a copy of the letter and said the surgeon thinks it’s not the gallstones. I asked for a call back from the gp but they would only online message.

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Do you get the runs cos a faulty gallbladder can cause that something to do with bile . Not surprised it’s making you miserable . If I eat fatty foods like pizza get attack of the trots x drinking lots water supposed to help x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I also ended up in a and e thought was having heart attack the sweat was pouring off me they said I’d pulled a muscle or indigestion lmao turns out to be gallstones x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean about it feeling like a heart attack. On the worst one I’ve had I really struggled to breathe as it hurt so much.

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Don’t take colpermin peppermint oil either that aggravated gallbladder x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

I did get prescribed that by gp but it gave me bad stomach pains so stopped taking after 1 day. I miss McDonald’s too and have lost around 3 stone in the last few months x

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Same. With the Omeprazole horrendous pain and bloating . During the first lockdown had a few attacks don’t think stress helped either . If I ever went out to eat had to rush to toilet after never dawned on me it was the gallbladder x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Remember eating a pyramid of fresh cream profiteroles they were lovely but the pain I had after omg !! Now just plain food salad , soup , marshmallows are fat free used to eat lots of them . X

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

Jelly babies are my treat at the moment.

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Do you have to rush to toilet after eating ? I used to get that a lot x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

Not after eating but every morning have to have several trips to the toilet. A&e advised to have 2 buscopan tablets 4 times a day so not sure if this is affecting my bowels also?

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Think it stops the spasms so could either cause constipation or Diarrhea can’t win x

[pinky75 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks that could explain why I’m getting both those problems then x

[Viklou in reply to Hidden]

Buscapan will do nothing when gallstones are on the move. IBS is what it is gallstones are a reason for pain when they move. You need another opinion. Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Viklou]

Hi there thanks for that never thought buscopan would work for stones it did nothing for me x

[Hidden in reply to pinky75]

Lost a lot of weight cause of gallstones miss having a maccies lol x

[Hidden]

Yes yes and yes I have both and the ibs sets off the gallbladder especially if I’m bunged up the pain is horrendous doc just said take buscopan !! I’m thinking I need a general anaesthetic for this !!!!! The bowel spasms and gallbladder spasms same time are hell on Earth .x

[Matthewr73]

Your Consultant is talking garbage as absolutely 100% your gallbladder plays a large part with your gastrointestinal system. Sounds like a fob off to me.

Anyway good luck as we all need it.

NHS = CLOSED

[Hidden in reply to Matthewr73]

I agree consultant shite ! X

[Matthewr73 in reply to Hidden]

It's Russian roulette of who they can fob off for the longest. I've had Consultants and Surgeons downright lie.

Anyway I could write an essay, but hey one more thing.............. Over 400.000 thousand cancer appts missed and very few being allowed anywhere near an NHS hospital setting for nine months, BUT it's all open now with people flocking for a rushed vaccine for a virus with a 99.79% survival rate!

[Hidden in reply to Matthewr73]

I agree with you ,the gps just as bad not seen one since January managed to see advanced nurse practioner last week after spending most of year in pain , so when they asked me to go in for a flu jab I thought they were taking the piss obviously I refused lol 😂 the cheek of them !!

[Booth29]

Now on antibiotics as suspected kidney or gallbladder infection. So now dealing with horrendous upset stomach, gas, bloating etc. Can’t sleep and still 5 days to go of the tablets. Any advise anyone? 😩

[Finaldiagnosis2022]

I’m not as often as you with gallstone symptoms. I had a severe attack last July 2021. I had serious infection then inpatient for a week with medical cocktails to clear it. Lots of gallstones seen on scan but thankfully the cocktail reduced the swelling and killed infection. Was on the drugs for 3 weeks solid that they typically give people with aids! Been on surgery waiting list since excite I was on hold awhile. But in the meantime with all my other bowel issues with frequent loose bowels and accidents a few times then constipation alternating without taking meds for the d, (that the specialists do not think are related to each other 🤔-really!) I’ve had colonoscopy, blood and stool tests and now the bile acids test -waiting those results next week. Was told I’ve got inflammatory bowel after colonoscopy. Put on steroids (budenosonide) nothing but make me feel same so another specialist. Noooo. You have irritable bowel syndrome not inflammatory. Come off the steroids (thank god cos I had the worst pain in the throat and neck) and get this bile acids test and maybe refer you to dietician. Meanwhile back off hold in gallbladder queue and awaiting surgery. I’ve had no attacks recently of the gallbladder. After hospitalisation though I thought back to when I had similar symptoms. I’ve actually had about 4 attacks years apart that I recall. Not the same good triggering either. I think the stones move around a lot. They’ve probably multiplied over the years and I don’t understand the specialists not connecting the gut to the bowel. Like literally it is. So if you ask little old me. The mucous in stool is from the gallbladder issues. Or just plain related to it. Fat sets me off but honestly some days it’s what I ate a few days ago maybe. One night it was hummus and lentil crisps. I cannot even look at either without feeling ill. Ohhhh and I know this is a novel of an answer sorrryyy but I actually thought I was losing weight but I’ve gained a stone immediately. Although I’m healthy eating. Cannot wait for the dietician referral now cos they said a trial of low FODMAP might help. I did try to get my head around that about 6 months ago with my own research but too much conflicting info in the web. Anyhow, get a referral to a true gastroenterologist that is who I’ve got confidence in now. And I wish you speedy recovery.