General Chat

Has anyone here had them or had a family member had them.
I am now on a diet of water and dry bread lol
I am allowed no dairy and a very low fat diet. They are concerned I have billary collic and i have to go for a MRI scan to see if there are any stones in the billary duct. If there are any I will have to have a camera down there and it has something attached to it that which will shatter the stones. Then I still have to have my gall bladder out.
It doestn't matter what I eat I am in agony. I am so low at the moment. Imagine being hungry and no matter what you eat you end up in immense pain, then throwing up to the extent you burst blood vessels in your eyes, face and I think my throat as I had blood in my mouth last night.
I am so unhappy at the moment and worried.
Not looking forward to the camera down my throat at all.
I wish it was all over, but how for how long I don't know.

I am sorry to hear how unwell you are. I have an inkling of what you are going through. Among other things I had my gallbladder removed last November but before the operation I couldn't eat without having terrible pains and then being sick.

Please try not to worry about the camera investigation. It is nowhere near as bad as you think it is going to be. You will be given a mild sedative before hand and although it doesn't send you to sleep it makes you very relaxed.

I hope you don't have to wait too long for the investigations and that things go well for you.

Jean x.

Yes Hobbity, but every one is different I think. In my case the pain had been going on for so long, I was always going into hospital as an emergency, because the paramedics had to give me morphine for the extreme pain, whilst the ambulance crew gave me some more and Entinox (gas and air). Eventually, in February this year, I had the Gall Bladder out. However, within a couple of weeks I was back in hospital with the same pain. I have had all the scans there is to have, and last Wednesday I had the Gastroscopy, (camera down the throat to take pictures). It showed that there was no residual stones lurking around in any 'tubing', which my consultant had thought, but it did show there was a slight kink in my tubing and bile gathered in it. I am now waiting to hear from the consultant.
I have, since Easter 2008, been in hospital 30 times, and have had the pain again today. Luckily,by dosing myself up with Codiene, I have not rung for the paramedics.
You have my entire sympathy, and I hope you get some answers and the correct treatment soon.
Julia in Derbyshire

Thank you so much Jean, It is not pleasent at all is it.
I am not a happy patient or a quiet one lol.
I do tend to dwell on the dark side of things and worry it could be something much worse and i get told off by my family for being so morbid...lol
I know many peeps are far worse off than myself.
I am going for a MRI scan on wednesday to see if there are any in my billary duct.. In a way I am hoping there aren't any but then if there aren't any what is causing this pain.
Pasta seemed to be the thing I could eat ok ,but then I had it last night and I was in agony...I am not exaggerationg (sp) but child birth and this are no comparrison.
I am sorry I am complaining but I don't want to worry my family.

Thank you Julia... I was in hospital from Saturday last, till tuesday night.
How awful is that pain?
The woman in the next bed had hers removed 2 weeks before but she had a leak of bile in her abdoman, I have never seen a person so poorly in my life.
Plain bread and water seem to be the most pain relief for me. How boring is that lol

Hobbity, I have very often said in the ambulance that the pain is worse than childbirth, and at least you get an end product for all your suffering. My stays in hospital are anything from 24hrs to 4/5days, and aswell as the morphine, I also get put on fluids with added potassium, and once had to have a catheter in, so that I did not have to get out of bed to spend a penny. I also sometimes have oxygen.
I manage most foods, but a slice of roast beef for dinner last Sunday, has made me suffer all week. And, although I am not on the bread and water diet as such, I am usually on the fluids, with nothing to eat or drink except water, most of the time I am in hospital. It is only when they propose to let me go home, that I am allowed anything, just to make sure I can go to the toilet properly.
When I had my MRI scan, I was allowed to take my own CD in with me, so took Spirit of the Glen Part 2, and cried all the way through it. The CD is so emotional for me, but it took my mind of other things. All my test had come back as negative with regard to cancer and tumours, so that is a blessing.
I hope your scan goes well for you on Wednesday. Please let me know how you get on.
Julia in Derbyshire

Thank you again Julia...I can eat something one day which seems ok so I think I will have it another day but no way...lol
I will I imagine have to wait for the results for the MRI scan.
I feel such a fraud as |I know there are many worse off then myself...but I just want to feel better and to resume my every day life.
I am on holiday at the mo...last week and this week comming but what do I do when I go back to work...9 hour shifts...its hard to do without eating.
I will be given a verbal warning as I was absent on the last shift before my hols. I was absent for one shift in January as I had flu then in May as I had an ashtma attack...my employers only do 2 shifts ill then you are given a disciplinary then you are given a verbal warning. It is worrying me so sick. But then again I keep thinking there are worse off than myself and I shouldn't make such a fuss. I do a heavy Job and I cannot do it without keeping regular meal times.

Hobbity, you pain is real right enough, just do not feel a fraud. It is a pity you can't go onto a lighter job or cut your hours, whilst you are like this.
Good Luck
Julia in Derbyshire

Julia...thank you for being so understanding about this...as you have prior knowledge.
I wish my employers would be so understanding about this.
Time will tell when I go back to work a week from next.
I do a heavy job for 9 hours.... eek!

Dear Ladies

Hello

I am very sorry to hear about your problems with gallstones.

I have two kidney stones. When they move, they really hurt.
Passing urine is extremely painful and difficult.

The prescibed painkillers were useless.

Maybe these two websites may help with some info:

www.corecharity.org.uk

www.britishlivertrust.org

Both have section all about gallstones.

I hope you all have can have a peaceful night and get some rest.

Gentle thoughts to you all.

Very best wishes
xxx

Thirty or more years ago my Mother was in hospital with gall stones
They removed her gall bladder

Our daughter (21) ended up in the Emergency last Sunday morning with excrutiating pain.

After a few several tests and drugged with percocet she was released.
They gave her a diagnosis of gall stones. To confirm it, she has an ultra sound last Monday. She hasn't had an attack since. She is going to our GP tomorrow for the results.

Talking to our GP during the week, he figures that if it is gall stones, it is due to her weight loss.
We will find out more tomorrow.

Deb

I too suffered for about 18 months with gallstones. and yes the pain is worse than labour. it used to wake me up about 2.30 in the morning, and the only thing that used to releive my pain was to walk about. I had the pains for about 6 months before I was diaognosed with the stones, kept thinking it was just colic. Had 2 really bad attacks, but luckly never got hospitalised with it. Had most of the pain towards the end in my back and used to use a hot water bottle to help as well as codeine phosphate tablets. Had keyhole surgery to remove gallbladder. Dr said the bladder itself was in a bad way and was surprised that I hadn't had any stones go into the bile duct.

I hope that you soon get it sorted out.
Take care.

Helen

Sorry I missed your replies. I was lying down.
Falkirkbairn...I have been using polo mints...extra strong mints are not as effective...funny that lol.

What food do I eat? Seems the dry bread and water diet is the only safe thing at the moment. Tried pasta on friday night...great success so had the same for saturday evening....agony for about 2 hours.
I know its a no dairy and very low fat diet but no matter what I try, dairy free and low fat I always end up in agony. Its a trial and error thingy I know as some peeps can have some things whereas other peeps cannot but the pain really puts me off trying anything other than the old prison diet...lol

Thankyou for your replies, Now I know I am not just being a wussy.

I know that in Northumberland I shouldn't wait too long for the operation, maybe 3 months...fingers crossed.

Helen...Yep its in the back where the pain starts...I feel as tho my spine is being snapped...then it comes around the front...like a huge leather belt is being forcefully tightened around my middle till I'm sick.
How come something as small as a gallbladder can cause so much pain.

I first had this 15 years ago when I was 7 months pregnant and was told by my doctor it was indigestion. I have maybe had the pain about once or twice a year since then, usually after a greasy meal. Since a week past last Wednesday the pain has been everyday which eventually got too bad last Saturday and I went to hospital where I was told it was the gallbladder.

Gonna stop moaning now...for a while at least : ))
Thanks for taking the time to listen to me whinge. xxx

Hello hoobity boobity.♥

Just wondering how you were feeling? Hope you are ok.

Helen

Well ladies and David...I am going in for my op tomorrow...no camera down the throat...thank god.
I'm having hopefuly keyhole surgery when they remove my gallbladder and they are making a small incission in the bile duct to remove the stones stuck in there...I say hopefuly as they can be tricky to get out of the bile duct sometimes and they may have to get the big knives and marigold gloves out.

I have been havin nigtmares for the past few nights and I can honestly say I am caking myself. I have visions of me runing like hell when they come for me tomorrw but then I don't want this pain anymore so will I be brave enough, only time will tell.

I know there are lot of brave peeps on here but sadly I am not one of them...I am chicken thru and thru and not afraid to admit it.

So if you are in Northumberland tomorrow and a wild woman in a nighty runs past you screaming her head off....it will just be me...please take the time to gently coax me back to the hospital..I really need this op.

Love SSS ( Shirley silently sweating ) cos shes pathetic.

shirley, wishing you all the best for tomorrow, you'll have 4 tiny incisions on your tummy and the pain will be all gone. hopefully you'll be out by Wednesday. good luck
Helen

Thanks Helen....Will you come in with me and hold my hand...lol

Sorry Shirley but I shall be starting my holiday tomorrow. Off to Ashford tomorrow to a B&B for the night then off to Disneyland Paris on Tuesday for my birthday.