Gallbladder attack??

[Micah's bride]

Just wondering if anyone has ever had a gallbladder attack or had theirs removed? I started having these horrible pains and started investigating a little online and think I may be having gallbladder attacks. Then I talked to a lady at work today whose husband's gallbladder ruptured back before Christmas and she said my symptoms sounded like his.

Basically, it's this horrible stabbing pain in the middle of my chest while I'm eating and shortly afterwards, then it kind of dulls to an ache and goes away for a while. It's making it so I can't sleep at night, because when I lay down it starts throbbing. I also have been burping like crazy, which isn't normal for me at all.

I called the Dr. and couldn't get an appointment til next week. They told me to eat mild foods (that hasn't helped) and try to avoid meat (which I already do because I'm a vegatarian. Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping the pain at bay? I'm going to try and stick it out until I go to the Dr., but I told FH if I have another spell of pain like I had last night, I'm going to have to make a trip to the ER.

Any helpful suggestions or similar experiences would be appreciated!

[WebLady]

I don't have any personal experience, but both my mom and my sister had their gallbladder removed. I don't really know the symptoms other than the pain though.

I heard that not only spicy foods can cause problems, but also fatty or greasy foods. If the pain gets too bad and too frequent I would go to the ER.

All the best :flower:

[Goin2thechapel]

I just had mine removed 3 weeks ago!


No more Greasy foods for me...I'll have Diarrhea in 3 minutes..TMI, I know!

[WebLady]

I just had mine removed 3 weeks ago!


No more Greasy foods for me...I'll have Diarrhea in 3 minutes..TMI, I know!
That's right! So you are ok now as long as you don't eat fatty foods?

I don't think my sister has any problems; my Mom can't eat anything, she is always complaining about stuff "going right through" her.

[emilycake]

I had, well HAVE, the same problem. I had stabbing pains in my abdomen and it kept me up at night. I contemplated going to the ER, but I just toughed it out. My doctor told me to take Gas-X (Simethicone) to make things a little better. Surprisingly, it helps me A LOT. Whenever I feel it starting to hurt, I take some. I also try to drink that Plum Smart juice everyday. It helps with digestive problems that are probably causing your gallbladder to hurt. Hope this helps! I know how awfully bad it hurts! I feel you pain...literally!

[kgvettegirl]

Get yourself to a Dr. My gallbladder is gone now thank goodness but it can cause serious health issues. I had 3 stones blocking my bile duct. Plus sludge it was turning me yellow. Two days after meeting my Surgeon I had laparoscopic surgery. I still have to watch my intakes of fat (the going right through you cause) but I'm able to eat spicy again.

[lillypad]

While you are waiting to get into the doctor try taking some antacids like tums or rolaids and see if that helps. A few years ago they thought they were going to have to remove my gallbladder and it turned about to actually be a stomach ulcer. Apparently the symptoms, or at least the way the symptoms can be described to a doctor are very similar. Defiantly go to the doctor and have yourself checked but it can't hurt to take some tums and see if it makes you feel any better.

[Katiegirl]

My mom, my sister, and I have all had ours out. I had mine out 2 yrs ago this month. The pain started off mild, but within a month or two, I was having 3 hour long episodes where NOTHING would help. I'm talking excruciating pain. The doctor first told me it was indigestion, then an ulcer. Finally I MADE them check for gallstones when I went to the ER during one horrible episode.

I got my gallbladder out a few weeks later, and I'm so glad I did! I have had a hard time with um, the big D now after eating fatty foods, but I'm eating healthier in general and I'm fine now. :o The surgery was a breeze (compared to the pain of the attacks).

[Micah's bride]

Thanks for all the advice. FH got me some Gas-X last night because he thought it might help. It actually has and I don't feel as much pressure now. FH's gramma suggested that it might be ulcers, also...but I had those a few years ago and it felt nothing like this. I've had a terrible cold, so I'm hoping it's just some crazy side effect from that or maybe stress from FH losing his job. I can't wait to get into the Dr. next week just so I'll know what it is and I'll stop worrying and self-diagnosing!

[Katiegirl]

Thanks for all the advice. FH got me some Gas-X last night because he thought it might help. It actually has and I don't feel as much pressure now. FH's gramma suggested that it might be ulcers, also...but I had those a few years ago and it felt nothing like this. I've had a terrible cold, so I'm hoping it's just some crazy side effect from that or maybe stress from FH losing his job. I can't wait to get into the Dr. next week just so I'll know what it is and I'll stop worrying and self-diagnosing!

Oh, I just wanted to add that they're definitely triggered by fatty foods. You can cut out all the fat, but it might get so bad that you'll get an attack without eating any fat. Mine got so bad that my stomach was still hurting the next day! I only had clear fluids that day, which helped. That's when I knew I couldn't put off surgery any longer. Good luck!

[TwoPeasinAPod]

Yes, I've had my removed about four years ago.

[LovingLife]

I had mine removed in 2007. From what I hear there plain rice doesnt cause much pain, but I would say if it gets worse to go in asap.

I went through 4 months of pain, and then my doc schd. me to meet with a surgeon two weeks later. A week later I was in the ER and they had to do surgery asap because my gull bladder was three times its normal size!

I am with the other ladies, I cant eat an greasy foods, and lately I am with Brandis mom. Everything goes through me. haha. (TMI..I KNOW)

[starsthrumysoul]

I had my gall bladder out - it only took two attacks for me to get everything taken care of, because it was excrutiating pain! Both times it happened in the middle of the night after a greasy dinner. I woke up with this band of pain right around my upper belly/lower chest that would extend all the way around to my back. For me it was a very dull pain, but VERY painful. Even now, after years of having my gall bladder out, I still get what they call "phantom gall bladder pangs." They aren't nearly as severe, but still that same dull pain.

When it first happened, my parents called my doctor in the middle of the night and he told me to force myself to throw up. If the problem is gall stones, this should take the pain right away. If it's not stones, then the only relief you'll get is time.

Either way, definitely stay away from any greasy foods.

[starsthrumysoul]

I am with the other ladies, I cant eat an greasy foods, and lately I am with Brandis mom. Everything goes through me. haha. (TMI..I KNOW)

Yea, that happens to about 50% of people who get their gall bladders out (like me). Recently I started taking Iron pills because I found out I'm anemic. The iron is supposed to make you constipated, but for me it finally made me regular :)