Gallstones?

[ceeveg]

I am overweight and have recently started dieting. Last night, I ate a fairly large meal, and woke about half-an-hour ago with severe upper back pain and upper right abdominal pain. This has happened before. The abdominal pain has mostly subsided, but the back pain is still intense. I searched for the symptoms, and came up with gallbladder/gallstones issues.

If this is truly the problem, what should I be doing? Can I do anything to relieve this? Should I be going to the doctor?

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by ceeveg 

I am overweight and have recently started dieting. Last night, I ate a fairly large meal, and woke about half-an-hour ago with severe upper back pain and upper right abdominal pain. This has happened before. The abdominal pain has mostly subsided, but the back pain is still intense. I searched for the symptoms, and came up with gallbladder/gallstones issues.

If this is truly the problem, what should I be doing? Can I do anything to relieve this? Should I be going to the doctor?

I just had my gallbladder taken out November 23rd 2010.  I had mild gallbladder pain for about a year, but as soon as I started trying to lose weight, that's when the real problems kicked in (I have NO idea why!).  I ended up going on a diet of less than 5 grams of fat per meal, and less than 20 grams of fat per day.  I HAD to do that to keep the gallbladder attacks to a minimum.  I still had a lot of nausea, and I still had gallbladder attacks but they werent as severe as when I was eating whatever.  The only thing that helped me was percoset and gravol, and I really hate taking meds.  I went to the naturopath but it opened up about 10 different windows that I couldn't handle, emotionally.  I tried accupuncture, nothing.  I tried going to the chiropractor, and was in more pain than ever!  So I did the surgical route and I don't regret it.  I still have occasional nausea when I eat something that's too high in fat or a very large meal, and if I eat french fries I get REALLY bad acid reflux, so I stay away from deep fried anything which is better for me anyways!  But if I could go back, I would still have the surgery.  No regrets.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Since gall stones can get stuck and be life threatening you should go to the Dr. and have u/s to see how many and what size they are. I to had my gallbladder out back in 07 I had 6 episodes of pain each worse than the last and though I am terrified of GA I was so happy the day they removed my gallbladder.

[ceeveg]

Thank you for these responses. I will be certain to call my doctor! I had no idea that it could be life threatening. It was definitely the worst pain I've had in memory, however.

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by ceeveg 

Thank you for these responses. I will be certain to call my doctor! I had no idea that it could be life threatening. It was definitely the worst pain I've had in memory, however.

I believe they can also travel into the pancreatic duct and from what I've heard, pancreatitis is way worse than a gallbladder attack.  OUCH!

[ceeveg]

I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound this morning. I do have gallstones. My doctor said he would recommend removal. I am waiting to hear back from him today or Monday about the results of my blood work (he's checking for inflammation of the liver or infection). But it sounds like I'll be having it out laparoscopically.

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by ceeveg 

I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound this morning. I do have gallstones. My doctor said he would recommend removal. I am waiting to hear back from him today or Monday about the results of my blood work (he's checking for inflammation of the liver or infection). But it sounds like I'll be having it out laparoscopically.

It's a pretty easy surgery IMO.  The first 5 days were rough for me, lots and lots of gas pains in my shoulders (they inflate the abdomen for the surgery).  But day 5 I was shovelling snow and walking a few kilometers.  

[ceeveg]

This is good to hear -- a co-worker told me today that she'd had shoulder pain as well! I am set to go for surgery next Friday.

How is your diet now after the surgery, babygrant? You mention that french fries are sometimes problematic -- have you had to alter your diet in other ways? Just trial and error?

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by ceeveg 

This is good to hear -- a co-worker told me today that she'd had shoulder pain as well! I am set to go for surgery next Friday.

How is your diet now after the surgery, babygrant? You mention that french fries are sometimes problematic -- have you had to alter your diet in other ways? Just trial and error?

Diet after surgery is normal.  It's not all french fries that set me off...only the curly fries from Arby's.  Which I shouldn't be eating anyways.  lol.  The day after my surgery I was eating everything...cheese, venison, etc etc.  All things I couldn't eat when I was having the gallbladder troubles.

[PNCTink]

How did the surgery go?

I am just posting to warn that although it's rare sometimes gallstones can be left behind with a laproscopic cholestectomy. I had my gallbladder out in March 2009 and that year had similar symptoms to a gallbladder flare. I just figured they were caused by eating something with too much fat so I tried to avoid fatty foods, but in February 2010 I was hospitalized for three days. I had acute pancreatitis caused by a rogue gallstone being lodged in my common bile duct. I had a ERCP done, but over the course of this last year I've had three flares. I'm heading to see a specialist in March to make sure I don't have chronic pancreatitis, but i just wanted to warn you that if you have any similar pains after the gallbladder is out, make sure you call the doctor immediately. I didn't and now the situation is much worse.

[ceeveg]

Oh my gosh, PNCTink!  I am sending good thoughts your way!  The surgery was really quick, and I was actually back at work today.  I feel pretty sore and tired overall, though.  Still a lot of bloating and constipation, but I don't feel the pain that I had with my gallbladder.  I do feel a "catch" in my side where it was, however -- maybe just getting used to the absence of it?  I've had problems with dairy since the surgery, I've noticed, and haven't really had any hunger at all.  Thank you so much for asking!