Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

After I had my dd, I had what I chalked up to be a gallbladder attack. It wasnt a severe one but I did go to the hospital. But when I found out they wanted to put me through tons of bloodwork and a series of tests, 2 weeks after my c section, I wound up walking out. I felt fine the next day.

Ever since then, on and off, I get these weird attacks. They usually hit in the middle of the night. I get a tightening in my back and it hurts to even roll over. I get nasueous and although I havent thrown up (thank god!) it stretches around to my stomach and makes me feel sick.

Hot baths or a shower is the only thing that seems to help for the time being. I took 3 ibuprofin this morning and although it takes the edge off, it doesnt totally take it away. TMI..but I also feel as if I need to use the bathroom. But nothing ever happens, it just feels like if I was able to go, I would feel better. I have to mention too, I have been doing weight watchers, watching what I am eating. But wednesday nights are my cheat night, and this happened last wed. night as well....when I ate some things maybe I shouldnt have.

Was just wondering what other peoples experiences are. My mom needs to have her gallbladder taken out..she has been putting it off for years, she never eats any fat at all because shes scared of an attack. But when she describes them, it sounds a bit different from my pain. Anyone??

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

I had the same symptoms you are having. It was always in the middle of the night, for a while baths would help to ease the pain, and then I would be so tired that I would eventually fall asleep.
One night about 2 1/2 years ago, I had a horrible attack and they found out I had 2 large gallstones and I was admitted to the hospital. I had the surgery, and it was the best thing I ever did. I was in pain for the first weeke or so after it, and I would say within 2 weeks, I was almost back to normal. The pain of surgery was worth never having to have another attack.
Get it checked out, it can cause more serious problems if you leave it alone.

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

I had the same exact pains. ALWAYS in the middle of the night when I was sleeping. I could never find a comfortable position. It would take a few hours for the pain to go away.

I decided to have mine taken out. I couldn't deal with the pain anymore. It was the best decision. I was back to my old self in a week.

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

I am actually having mine out tomorrow morning.

The pain I experience is intense pressure right under the rib cage, like a 900 lb man is standing on my chest, I get shortness of breath ---- like agida (heart burn) times a million, like you have to go to the bathroom but can't, like you cannot sit down or lie down without it getting worse.

If you have gall stones the stone will move and block the duct from the gall bladder to the small instestine and your gall bladder contracts until the stones move --- either into the duct (DANGEROUS) or away from the duct but still inside the bladder.

You can stay away from fatty foods, since your gall bladder will most likely be more active when eating fat by releasing stored bile to break down the fat .. but the truth is ANYTHING can set it off. If those stones move in front of the duct you get an attack. And if the stones leave the gall bladder you an get an infection (pancreatitus or other danerous infections)

So my advice is to go see your doctor or a General Surgeon and get the appropriate tests done (blood work and sono) to see if you have stones or an infected bladder and then see what your options are.

Both my doctor and surgeon said that the only option is to take it out. The stones will never disolve or go away and it's only a matter of time before you have another attack (we eat fat every day (even lean meats have fat right?) so diet really isn't an option, although a low fat diet may make you have less attacks) --- it just depends how long you want to put it off and live with the possibility of another attack.

You also do not want to have an attack and go to the ER. They cannot operate on an infected gall bladder so if it gets really bad to send you to the ER you have to suffer until you feel better anyway. So you might as well get and answer and options now before you really get sick and have no options. At minimum you will know and make an educated decision about what path you want to take (diet verse surgery).

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

Thank you everyone!

Does anyone know what tests they order? Is it a basic sonogram?

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

Blood Work and a sonogram. My doctor did a full abdominal sono (kidneys, spleen, gall bladder, etc ...) so I would request that to your doctor. It's simple and since you are not sick right now you can take your time and schedule the doctor and sono at your leisure to work with your schedule. The day I went (the day after superbowl sunday) I ran around like a crazy person to get to the doctor and radiologist place. Thank God my DH stayed home from work that day otherwise it would have been a nightmare with the baby.

Re: Anyone who has had a gallbladder attack?

my first attack was when I was on vacation in Florida....after a steak dinner! I felt so sick to my stomach. I was doubled over in pain.

my 2nd attack was after eating chinese food and 1/2 pint of Ben and Jerry's. That night, I was throwing up, had fever/chills, couldn't sit, lay down, or stand up straight. My dad thought maybe food poisoning. I thought I was going to DIE.

They were gallbladder attacks....I had stones. WebMD helped me sort of self diagnose in between doctor visits.