Could this be Gall Stones?

Question

Every couple of months I get really bad indigestion, including really bad pain in the middle of my back and pain just under my right rib cage. Sometimes it's so severe I have to lie in a hot bath for hours. Normal pain killers don't even take the edge of the pain and indigestion remedies don't work either. It can be so bad that I get really hot and sweat a lot.

I haven't been to the doctors because up until recently I haven't had it for months and I thought it was just bad indigestion. I'm scared of surgery, because last time I had surgery I got a bad infection and was really ill for weeks.

What Should I be eating and not eating? What pain killers work the best?

Answer 1

My mum had gall stones for 10 years because the doctor kept telling her it was nerves. It was only when she offered to go private that they found she had it.

Her symptons were acute pain, she said it was worse than labour pains. Severe vomitting, which caused a lot of weight loss and like you said the symtons would come and go. She could be symptom free for months, then she would have a really bad attack.

She found greasy and creamy foods were the worst.

The symptoms you describe are very similar, pain in middle of back and under right side of ribs. You should get it checked out because by the time my mum had her operation her gall bladder had a tumour and was twice it's normal size.

Answer 2

I have had gallstones for 30 odd years and not suffered pain in 28 years by watching my diet, avoid fatty food, spicy food and dairy products, it is better to eat chicken, fish and vegetables - I don't always stick to this diet but have to be careful - it sounds like gallstones but I never got the operation, there is a thing that can blast them away I think its called lythotripsy and there is pills from doctor that can help - put gallstones into search engine and get more info. To much milk can set mine off so cut down milk, doctor gives you a diet sheet, it tells you skimmed milk 1qt pint per day

Answer 3

your symptoms sound all to familiar.  and really you should see a Doctor anyway, no matter how good you may feel now.  Stay away from fatty foods. Such as bacon, fried pork, any thing that is greasy or very spicy foods. Beans, cabbage,  broccoli, anything that will cause gas.  Eat more fresh fruits, drink milk,  eat soda crackers.  now pain relievers is another subject.  I found only a heating pad and laying on my stomach with pillows embedded in my chest only helped unless you can find morphine (jokingly speaking).  Find yourself a doc. and get the help you need from a professional.

Answer 4

Most certainly I feel for you & know what you are going through.The Dr will send you off for a ultra sound to confirm.Then book you in for surgery,which is straight forward,I had key hole surgery & I was home the next day.I was left with 3 small scars.The healing period takes a week or 2 as your stomach feels you've been kicked by a horse.Pain killers are likely to upset your stomach more than relieve the pain,the Dr will prescribe something until you have the surgery.

Answer 5

It sounds as though it could be gallstones but you will need to consult a doctor so they can send you for a scan to confirm it. It is a very simple operation to remove the gall bladder usually done with keyhole surgery. It is best to try to avoid fatty foods and overeating as that nearly always triggered my attacks. I had mine removed about 7 years ago and it was the best thing I have ever done. I don't know about you but every time I had an attack I would never get any peace from the pain and was quite often up most of the night I tried some Kolanticon Gel and found it helped quite a lot as it is an anti spasmodic and helped move the stone through the gall bladder. Good luck but do go to your doctor