Gall stones?

[~ Mylitta ~]

if the stones become lodged in the lower part of the duct you can develop much more severe pancreatic disease (that can kill you).

I was told the same as this. They didn't know that my gall stone was just one huge one to begin with and were worried that the major pain I was in was caused by a complication of a stone shifting past my cystic duct, which could be life threatening.

[~CrazyMumOf3~]

My pain was exactly as MN described too. I suggest go to your GP for an ultrasound and blood test and see what the outcome is. It took 8mths to have my gall bladder removed. In the end I cut ALL fats out if my diet and lived off chicken, salad and steamed/boiled vegetables.

I vomited with my attacks and most of the time I couldn't even talk I was in that much pain (my first one lasting 12hours) I've been one who has been left sitting in the waiting room for hours on end with not even panadol for pain relief.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

The GP is def the best way to go, unless you have faith in your loca ED - mine i was taken in by ambulance, my friend followed with DD (only a couple of weeks old) and i sat in pain in a wheelchair in the waiting room for nearly 3hrs with a nearly new baby and no bra only to get in, be checked over and finally at 10pm at night told they couldn't do anything they suspect it's gallstones but to go to my GP, get an ultrasound and go from there.
I could have gone to my GP and had an ultrasound by 5pm that day if i had of skipped out on the hospital.
I was on the waiting list for a couple of months, i had it out when DD was about 5mths old so possibly a 3-4mth wait down here.

[Mother Goose]

My experience was much different to all of yours in regards to treatment.

I had my first attack when DD was 6 wks old. We were out shopping and I felt nauseated and fidgety. DD needed a feed but I couldn't hold her - DH did it (FF). As soon as she was fed I said we were going home (we'd only just gotten to the centre). DH knew I was not well because I was getting pale and starting to sweat. In the car, I couldn't get comfortable. I was doubled over. I was worse than when I was in labour. He wanted to call an Ambulance but I was convinced if I just went home and went to bed that I would be ok. DH tried to pull over and call an ambulance and I yelled at him to get me the F home. 200m down the road I saw a large GP clinic and told him to pull in. I wasn't convinced they'd be open given that it was a weekend.

He dropped me at the door then went to find a park and get DD out. I gingerly walked into the centre and lined up at the reception counter. Yes, I lined up. Thankfully the receptionist took one look at me and asked if I was ok. When I said no, she rushed me straight to the treatment room (despite my protests that I wanted to wait for me husband and baby) and yelling at the nurses on her way past their office to help me. I later learnt they all thought I was having a heart attack.

I was slapped on the oxygen hooked up to ECG and they pulled the senior GP out of his consultation with another patient (I'm so sorry to that patient!). They called an ambulance and tried to get a medical history out of DH who was petrified at this point. The GP ruled out heart attack based on my ECG, said "Gall stones. She needs them out" ordered pain relief (tramadol) and I promptly threw up all over him. And then filled two sick bags.

Ambulance came, by which time I was in MUCH less pain. But couldn't stay awake. All I kept saying was I wanted my baby. Make sure they follow me. Of course they did. The ambo's were great. Spoke to DH and said "we can take you to XYZ (major public hospital) and you can wait for 5 hours, or we can take you to ABC (private hospital) where you pay $250 and will be seen right away. We know they have a no wait time right now". DH said to take me to the Private.

Got to the hospital, they put me in a room that doubled as their plaster room. Gave me a gown, asked me to pee in a cup and freaked because there was microscopic blood in my urine (blood you can't see but is picked up in a test). Then they saw DH and DD and relaxed, realising it was post partum bleeding. I had a heap of bloods done and was sent for X-Ray. Confirmed stones and that it was too risky to leave. I was given a referal to see a surgeon and a letter sent to MY GP.

4 days later I saw my surgeon. He looked at my history, my images, my baby, the fact we have NO family in Vic and said, lets do it when bubs is 8 weeks. He booked me into a small private hospital close to home and said he would organise for bubs to stay with me overnight if I wanted.

I had my surgery and he spoke kindly to DH before I went in. Told him not to worry and to take bubs home where they would be more comfortable. He promised to call as soon as I was out and to tell them when to come back.

I remember waking post op in horrific pain but was dosed up on pain meds. When I was on the ward, I discovered I had a drain tube. DH and DD arrived not long after I was with it. My surgeon had called and told him how I'd gone and that there were a few concerns and I'd need an MRI to rule out a few things which we'd do as an out-patient.

I was given the option of a second night in hospital but refused, I wanted home.

Had post op check and went for MRI. Got MRI results around June (had had op in April) and got the all clear. But day after all clear, I had another attack at a friends house. She called an ambulance. Those ambo's were shocking. Wouldn't tell DH where they were taking me and refused to take me to the private hospital I'd been to previously. I was taken to a major public hospital and had an horrific experience. The Dr who took me through wouldn't listen to my med history and refused to contact my surgeon despite me saying I'd seen him the day prior. I was accused of being a drug addict. I was refused analgesia and antiemetics (anti spew). I wasn't kept informed of anything. I had another massive pain attack and my nurse didn't answer the call bell so DH went looking for someone. A different nurse came in and left straight away. Came back with senior consultant and morphine. This Dr listened to my history, went "Dr S? I know him. He's a senior surgeon here and a good friend. He's not working today but I'll give him a call". He then called my surgeon on his personal mobile.

Surgeon was away visiting family but was very concerned. Told them to admit me immediately at a hospital of my choice (ie public or private) and to get an urgent CT. I later discovered they thought I had a tumour. I asked to go home once the pain was settled and they let me. I was given an appointment for first thing Mon to see surgeon who sent me to see a friend of his for a second opinion. I needed an ERCP and the second Dr did it that Thursday.

On the Monday I was back in hospital with complications from the ERCP and was admitted (private hospital) for 3 days. Here I was accused of having a psychosomatic condition! During this admission I lost a lot of blood and fainted coming back from the toilet. It was after this they decided that maybe my condition WAS real...however the care was still secondary. It wasn't until DH demanded they contact my initial surgeon (who we later found out was royally ****ed the second dr had even done my ERCP as only surgeon was meant to operate on me) that things started happening. I finally got a drip, IV fluids, they checked me over post fall, and started recording my bowel movements. And I got a review procedure for my bleed. After that, any care had to be authorised by my surgeon. And when he told them I was a nurse they took my notes out of the room

If I had gone to my GP, it would have taken weeks to get into a surgeon and I know people who have waited 18 months to get their gall bladder out.

Working in a major public hospital (different to the one I was sent to!), I can assure you that if you present and you need your stones out quickly, they will. We do it frequently at work. Many surgeons will also attempt to do an ERCP (without the extra bit I had done) before they attempt to remove the gall bladder. The ERCP is less invasive and considered to be the safer procedure.

There are heaps of threads on BB about gall stones, they contain lots of good info for anyone who has gall stones.

MG

[*LittleMissSummer*]

MG what a horrific experience!

I am really glad its not gall stones but also not keen on possibly having surgery to correct my "defective sphincter" but seeing the specialst and having the endoscopy will determine if i need that *hopefully*

[nothing2lose]

I really feel for you if they are gallstones. I had attacks over a couple of years in my late 20s, early 30s. It wasn't diagnosed until I had an endoscopy and a CT scan at the hospital. It was just one stone the size of a marble. (I am a sicko and I still have it in a jar 11 or so years later )
The pain was horrific Initially, it was thought to be a hernia.
I agree with the others about keeping to a no/low fat diet. Also, apparently, sleeping/lying on your right side can help ease pain.
I really hope you get it sorted out ASAP!

[Mother Goose]

Lms, they will likely suggest either a sphincterotomy (small cut to the en of the scphincter to make it easier to pass stuff) or a stent. Both are usually done as day surgery and are fairly non-invasive as far as surgery goes.