Gallstones?

[peki31 37]

I am a little over 5 months out. About a month ago I started having sever pain in my upper/right abdomen. The pain would go the my back and under my right shoulder blade. I would be nauseous, belching excessively, headache, hard to breathe and talk. All my attacks (6) lasted from 30-60 minutes, then would just go away. I thought it was just bad gas pains. On Sunday late morning another one started and lasted throughout most of the day. SO much awful, awful pain. After lots of tears, and not knowing what to do it finally went away. I did some research and the symptoms sounded like maybe my gallbladder. I had an Ultrasound yesterday. Came back today that I have gallstones, but there is no blockage and no inflammation. The nurse said they usually don't do anything if it's just gallstones (the dr. is not in and she is waiting for the covering dr. to take a look). What do I do? I am terrified of another attack. The last one took everything out of me.

[nursonegreat 3]

Don't take that nurses word for it. I am a nurse and I work in the OR. We take out gallbladder all the time for gallstones. There's different sizes and if one escapes it's a problem. It they just grow it becomes a problem. I've seen gallstones the size of a golfball create a hole in the wall and fistula into the intestines requiring bowel resection. Just saying gall stones can most certainly be a problem. Best advise is to ask your bariatric surgeon. I have not had wls yet (july) but I work with my surgeon (in the OR) and him and his colleagues remove on the post wls patients. Yours may too. Plz don't let this go on and call your surgeon hope this helps! I have had the attacks. They are horrendous. Truly. I had mine removed a few yes ago. I've seen patients in the hospital who let theirs go for a long time and get so ill...Plz call

[peki31 37]

Thank you! The nurse called me a couple hours later and said the Dr. Looked at my tests and wants my gallbladder out ASAP. Going to see the surgeon tomorrow! Scared, but happy that there will be an end to that awful pain.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

In 1973, when I was only 21 and thin, I was experiencing the same symptoms you described. It felt like someone was stabbing me under the right shoulder blade and twisting it. I sufffered for a couple of weeks, and finally went to a doctor. He sent me over to the ER, and they mis-diagnosed the problem as ulcer pains, and gave me something creamy to calm the pain.

Well, what happened was that creamy liquid sent my gallbladder into spasms and it ruptured right then and there. While I was in radiology, I hyperventilated and passed out from the pain. The images showed the whole mess and I was sent right off to the operating room. The surgeon said he had to go fish because there were gallstones everywhere. That was back when they cut you half in two. I was in the hospital for eleven days.

I am so glad you ae getting your gallbladder out before it ruptures. These days it is commonly done laparascopically, with an overnight stay or as outpatient surgery. The process has really been streamlined. You should not expect any complications. The sooner - the better. I don't miss mine at all, i wish you good luck and good health.

[stacyg1 136]

I had my gallbladder removed 8 months after my VSG. It was a piece of cake. Surgery at 7 am, home by 1:00 the same day. I felt better immediately and only missed 3 days of work. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great!

[peki31 37]

Just came back from my appointment. I am scheduled to get it removed on June 2. He said if I have another attack that last longer then an hour I should go to the ER and he'll to emergency surgery. Hopefully no more attacks before surgery day or ever.

[nursonegreat 3]

I'm so so glad this is getting taken care of! Fingers and toes crossed no more attacks but June 2nd will be here soon whew!

[Sanstan 25]

years before my sleeve...i lost 90lbs in 8 months. I believe this is what caused my Gallstone. I would have these terrible pain attacks like you describe. It felt like someone was driving a screwdriver into the middle of my back. The only thing that worked for me was 1600 milligrams of Motrin. In 20 mins I'd be totally pain free. My mom had a open scrip for her arthritis. I had stones blocking my bile duct too. I NEVER went anywhere without my Motrin. Had my Gallbladder removed and pain free ever since! My recovery was a piece of cake.