Not horsey - but anyone had gallstone trouble?

Spyda

Spyda

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Sorry it's not horsey but I know you are all a wealth of knowledge out there.

Can anyone who has experienced the pain of gallstones confirm whether or not the pain itself feels like an intense cramp pain (like the cramp pain you get in your calves or arch of the foot.) My pain is on the right side, over my liver, is excruciating and the pain radiates through to my back. Attacks are lasting a few minutes each time but are awful. Could it be gallstones?
 
i had gallstones. at the age of 19 my gallbladder was removed!
the pain is bad. pm me if you want some more advice, but i have to say that my pain lasted alot longer than a few minutes.
we are talking hours! rigid stomach, weight loss , no sleep.
it is extremely painful, but everyone is different and depends on how many gallstones you have. I had alot.
see your doctor and ask for a ultrasound scan as this can detect them!
good luck.
 
I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago, the pain before it was done is how you explained, but you should see a doctor asap as it could be a number of things, all which are best detected early.
 
Sounds like it could be gallstones. The pain tends to be sharp radiating through to the back. Does it come on after eating rich or fatty food? It could jjust be an inflamation of the duodenum and a course of something like lanzoprazol might do the trick.
Get it checked out though cos if you have got gall stones they don't like to leave them. Best to have your gall bladder out, usually done keyhole and you'll be home the same day or at worst the next day.
 
this sounds very like gallstone cramps. the pain is so bad i was crying several times and was even sick when i had a few bad attacks in the end i required surgery to remove my gall bladder. as the attacks where becoming more frequent and i had lost a lotof weight etc.

What causes gallstones?
Bile contains cholesterol, bile salts and waste products like the pigment bilirubin. Gallstones form when the usual balance of these substances is upset.

There are two basic types of gallstones:

cholesterol gallstones are the most common, accounting for more than 80 percent of cases. These are formed when there is too much cholesterol in the bile. Cholesterol gallstones are usually yellowish-green in colour
pigment gallstones are small and dark, and form when there is excess bilirubin in the bile. They tend to develop in people who have liver disease, infections in the bile tubes or hereditary blood disorders such as sickle-cell anaemia
The most common symptom of gallstones is biliary colic. Biliary colic is a very specific type of pain, occurring as the primary or only symptom in 80% of people with gallstones who develop symptoms. Biliary colic occurs when the extrahepatic ducts-cystic, hepatic or common bile-are suddenly blocked by a gallstone. (Slowly-progressing obstruction, as from a tumor, does not cause biliary colic.) Behind the obstruction, fluid accumulates and distends the ducts and gallbladder. In the case of hepatic or common bile duct obstruction, this is due to continued secretion of bile by the liver. In the case of cystic duct obstruction, the wall of the gallbladder secretes fluid into the gallbladder. It is the distention of the ducts or gallbladder that causes biliary colic.

Characteristically, biliary colic comes on suddenly or builds rapidly to a peak over a few minutes.

It is a constant pain, it does not come and go, though it may vary in intensity while it is present.


It lasts for 15 minutes to 4-5 hours. If the pain lasts more than 4-5 hours, it means that a complication - usually cholecystitis - has developed.


The pain usually is severe, but movement does not make the pain worse. In fact, patients experiencing biliary colic often walk about or writhe (twist the body in different positions) in bed trying to find a comfortable position.


Biliary colic often is accompanied by nausea.


Most commonly, biliary colic is felt in the middle of the upper abdomen just below the sternum.


The second most common location for pain is the right upper abdomen just below the margin of the ribs.


Occasionally, the pain also may be felt in the back at the lower tip of the scapula on the right side.


On rare occasions, the pain may be felt beneath the sternum and be mistaken for angina or a heart attack.

sorry if 2 much information but i am a student nurse with first hand exsperience, but hope this helps



 
Mmmm... sounds suspiciously like my gallbladder then. I've been nausious and throwing up for the past four days. Feel crud today, although pain now now a much, much, MUCH duller cramping feeling - and I've thrown up several times already. Doctors Monday I think. Thank you everyone for your wonderful help and advice
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