OMG No one told me how painful it would be...

Sorry to say I had my first official gallstone "attack" last night.

:o No one told me how excruciatingly painful it would be. I fully expected to develop "mild" symptoms before it kicked in like this. It lasted over 5 hours (!) and for at least 2 of those hours I was at moaning-level pain.

Apparently if I'd gone to casualty at it's peak they could've given me some morphine (!) Which fact I find scary and reassuring at the same time.

Just wondering if any one else has suffered and they have any tips to preventing this from coming on. I had an 'episode' last week which might have been gallstones, both times I was really thirsty so maybe not getting dehydrated has something to do with it? Ideas???

:hug: You poor thing! i have never had them but can imagine they would be painfull! Hope it doesnt happen again xx:hug:

Hi Marydean
Gallstones are usually very very painful. Often you do not get a warning that you are about to get an attack the pain just hits full on. Morphine will help with the pain. To help reduce the attacks cut down on fatty foods, drink plenty of water, do not go for too long without eating.

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To help reduce the attacks cut down on fatty foods, drink plenty of water, do not go for too long without eating.

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Thanks Alan for that. It was getting near dinner time and I was really really hungry so maybe that's what tipped me over the edge. I'm guessing a low-GI diet would help too for that reason (if you're not starving hungry then you're not going to get that rush of gastric secretions??)

Hi MD, you poor thing, I've heard some horror stories about gallstones. I watched a medical show on tv once and a grown man was crying in agony. What can be done about them, are they operating to remove them soon?

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Hi MD, you poor thing, I've heard some horror stories about gallstones. I watched a medical show on tv once and a grown man was crying in agony. What can be done about them, are they operating to remove them soon?

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MM after last night and esp if the attacks start occuring frequently they would probably operate sooner rather than later. BUT because we're moving I can't really get anything done until I get to the other end & get a referral to a surgeon/specialist there. Seeing my Dr today to discuss some pain management strategies in the meantime (wouldn't want to be struck down in the middle of our road trip, for eg) but also a bit worried now because DH is away for a couple of days and I don't really have a contingency plan.

Aww MD, you poor thing. Gall stones are not nice. :hug:
As Alan suggested, avoid fatty foods, and eat regularly. To make the gall bladder contract we used to give patients a big milk shake, and suggest some fried food. Used to work a treat, so i'd be steering clear of those things. ;)
Hope you don't have another attack, and get it sorted soon.

Well I've been to see the dr now and I have an entire 4 step pain-management plan, starting with an antinausea drug & umpteen pills and finishing with "if all this doesn't work then go to the emergency room for morphine" LOL.

I'm pretty sure it won't come to that as (thanks Ange) I *will* be steering clear of milkshakes and fries!!