Has anyone had any experience of gallstones?

[fiwa]

Hi, I'm really suffering at the moment with pain due to gallstones. I'm following a low fat diet but it still hurts after a meal even when the food I'm eating is low fat. I've been to my GP and I'm waiting for blood test results and an ultrasound scan to confirm it is actually gallstones although the doctor agreed that is more than likely that it is. Does anyone have any advice or experience of this? It's making me a bit miserable. Thanks.

[OlsBean]

I have a very diseased gallbladder and have been waiting for what seems a lifetime to have it removed, which is in reality only 18 months since having my first scan, the reason it has been longer for me is that I had ruptured bowel last year which required some quite major emergency surgery, but I am now back waiting for the cholecystectomy and there is a chance it may be done for me during July (fingers crossed).

I have to be very careful about what I eat and drink or I end up feeling quite unwell. Coffee I have found is one such culprit and I now only have 1 mug first thing in the morning and then I switch to Tea for the rest of the day. Obviously avoid fat as you've mentioned, we have skimmed milk which makes a difference. Try to either keep a diary or a mental note of how meals affect you that way you maybe able to narrow it down to certain foods contained within the those meals and then avoid them in the future, for example I've heard Onions can trip a spasm in some people but they don't seem to bother me.

I don't drink but I believe you should avoid alcohol where possible.

I've found that Buscapan really helps, it's an antispasmodic and seems to work very fast at calming things down, if you have not tried it then ask your GP to prescribe it, I believe it can also be purchased over the counter.

Good Luck with it all.

[jane010669]

I had trouble with gallstones a few years ago, but it did settle down. I just ate scrambled eggs I'm afraid that was all I could eat without getting pain. It is awful though I feel for you.

[fiwa]

Thank you.

[Jessuk87]

Hiya yeah and they are sooooo painful, I was having no more than 3 hours sleep a night as it only flared up when I was stationary for a long period of time. Now I have a better diet I haven't experienced much pain however I had onions the other week and they killed me. I have also cut alcohol out.

[OlsBean]

I've just found out that I'm finally booked into have my Gallbladder out next Thursday, can't wait!

[Jessuk87 in reply to OlsBean]

Yay I have to lose weight before they will consider removing mine. Hope all goes well!

[OlsBean in reply to Jessuk87]

Thank you

[rasmusxmel]

I had a bad attack 2 years ago, I suffered with gallstone attacks for years, had the scans and it was confirmed, but the worst attack I had lasted 2 days, I went to my gp in pain and he sent me to Southern General A&E where they tagged and gowned me. I was admitted on the Monday, GallBladder removed on the Tuesday and home on the Wednesday.

[fiwa]

Good luck OlsBean. Let me know how it goes and if you feel any better.