Gallbladder Issues?

LizzyBlueEyes

Hi everyone! I have had an upset/sore stomach, chest, and right rib area about 25-30 mins after I eat for the past 5 or so days.  I didn't know if this could be my gallbladder or just my stomach acting up.  Did anyone have gallbladder issues when they were pregnant before? What did it feel like?  I am debating calling my dr for an apt. this week, but feel silly if it is just my stomach and nothing else. Sometimes it is fine, but other times it isn't. 

snowflakemom

Mine started when I was pg with #1. It is a very intense pain under my right shoulder. I can feel it start to come on and when it is a full-blown "attack" I need to lie down and it is difficult to breathe. My OB at the time told me it was probably heartburn, but when I went to my regular doctor several months ago (because the attacks have continued even when I've not been pregnant) he said he was 99% sure it was a gallbladder attack but it could be confirmed with an ultrasound. I've decided not to have it removed unless the attacks become more frequent. Right now, I only get an attack maybe 2-3x a year.

Oh, and my doctor said women are more likely to have gallstones and gallbladder issues during or after pregnancy.

reneenearl

I had my gallbladder taken out a few years ago. I was not pregnant, so I can not relate it to what it would be like while pregnant.  But I will share with you what it felt like for me.

The worst pain in the world... (note: I haven't experienced a lot of pain)

with that being said, i suffered with gallbladder problems for 18 months before they took it out. It took them that long to diagnose it as my gallbladder due to my doctor never looking at the ultrasound of my gallbladder. in the beginning I suffered from an attack monthly. I always ended up in the ER, because I would be on the floor screaming in pain. I always described ther pain as not stomach pain, not back pain, and not chest pain, but more of a horrible feeling in between my upper stomach and back, but not specifically my back or stomach. I also did not experience it specific to one side. My personal experience was that I felt it everywhere.

I changed my whole life when they couldn't diagnose me, I ate healthy, cut all greasy foods out of my diet, and worked out. My attacks got more and more frequent, and I ended up in the hospital several times. Since gallbladder had already been ruled out, they never tested me for it again.

Then It got to be a daily thing, and at its worst, several times a day. I could no longer keep meals down, I lsot so much weight because of that. Everything I ate made me suffer and made me scared to eat. After all the pain then I would throw up and the pain would still be there. They finally decided that I wasn't faking and decided to review every test I had. They looked at the ultrasound and put me in the next OR. Based off my ultrasound from 18 months before that day, they decided I needed surgery. After the surgery the surgeon said it was prettybad, and she was not surprised byhow much pain I was in. My gallbladder was so filled with stones that nothing could get get through it.

I never regretted getting it out. I have never experiences that pain since.

 

If your instinct is gallbladder, I reccomended you get it looked at ASAP. Blood tests can also twell if something is up with your gallbladder which is why they sent me for the original ultrasound. The ultrasound I had was quick and simple. Follow your instincts though so your pain doesn't get worse. If anything  you will find out what is causing the pain after you eat. If it isin't your gall bladder then maybe you will be able to find out what it is, and be provided some relief.

LizzyBlueEyes

snowflakemom:

Mine started when I was pg with #1. It is a very intense pain under my right shoulder. I can feel it start to come on and when it is a full-blown "attack" I need to lie down and it is difficult to breathe. My OB at the time told me it was probably heartburn, but when I went to my regular doctor several months ago (because the attacks have continued even when I've not been pregnant) he said he was 99% sure it was a gallbladder attack but it could be confirmed with an ultrasound. I've decided not to have it removed unless the attacks become more frequent. Right now, I only get an attack maybe 2-3x a year.

Oh, and my doctor said women are more likely to have gallstones and gallbladder issues during or after pregnancy.

See I feel like I have heartburn and sometimes feel like I am going to throw-up and also have pain around my right ribs that wraps around to my back, not so much my shoulder, so I am unsure.

reneenearl

That was really long... sorry I didn't realize I rambled!

britglenn9

hm. i had gallstones (not while pregnant) and had my gallbladder removed, worst pain EVER! and the stomach is on the left so if you have pain on the right its more likely to be your gallbladder i think. i think gallbladder pain also refers to the shoulder sometimes, so that could be it. i would call dr just in case. my 'attacks' started out rough but manageable and got worse and worse. good luck!

greengirl0909

I had one gallbladder attack last year at Thanksgiving, then not again. I went ahead and had it removed in June. (read on) Mine was pain just under my right breast.  It didn't get better with tums, laying down, sitting up, water, anything like that. I had really bad heartburn when I was pregnant, so I'm pretty familiar with that feeling. It was a burning uncomfortableness.  When I had my attack, I was still breastfeeding and I had worked really hard to be able to do so.  Since I'd only had 1 attack, I asked if I could wait to have surgery and they allowed me to do so, they said it was my choice if I wanted to chance more attacks.

I really think you should see a doctor, based upon this experience.  This is obviously just my doc's opinion, but I wanted to share.  We had a "surprise" pregnancy in May, right before I was scheduled for surgery.  When I saw the doctor, he said they would only do surgery during the 2nd trimester and I really needed to have surgery. He said some women try to put it off, get into the 3rd trimester and have to have emergency surgery. He said at that point, it can become almost impossible to have surgery without triggering labor and they end up with premature births.  GL

  

clvie123

With DS #1 i had gallbladder issues-  NOT stones, jsut sludge. It started at about 14 weeks with symptoms similar to what you are describing and then got worse until I saw a surgeon and went on a low-fat diet.  They told me it was pg-related and sure enough 6 weeks after delivery i was back to normal. I had almost no issues with #2 and with this one, no attacks but i feel like i am having trouble digesting heavier (fatty) meals.  I haven't had it out.  I think you should def call your doctor and see if they recommend a surgeon or specialist to see who can help you wiht the diet, etc.  Good luck!!!

LizzyBlueEyes

Thanks for the replies.  I have been having really bad heartburn and acid reflux-ish feeling the past week too, but never felt this weird pressure/soreness on my right side ribs around to my back.  Either way, I'll give my PCP a call tomorrow and see if I can get in.

jrcr07

I would get it checked out even if it is not "intense" pain.  I didn't have gallstones, just sludge and a non-functioning gallbladder. (I was not pregnant).  I had back pain after eating and it kept getting worse.  At least you'll know what you are dealing with a little better!

CNadeau85

I had gallbladder problems before I became pregnant but the surgeon that I saw said that pregnant women can have problems.

Mine started shortly after we got stationed in NC. I wasn't able to eat some of my favorite things some days. The pain was on my right side in front and in my upper shoulder. I would get pain after I ate something and sometimes in the middle of no where it would happen. Luckly my dr figured it was my gallbladder from the begining. Went to a specialist and got a special type of ultrasound where they inject special dye into you. Since the regular ultrasounds didn't show any stones they thought it might not be working properly. If it wasn't for another dr taking a look at the results I probally would still have my gallbladder in. But they figured out that it wasn't working right. In the end went to the suregon and he said if I was to get pregnant and not have my gallbaldder taken out I would have the worst experiance ever while pregnant. He said that I probally end up in the hospital hooked up to iv's to get fluids in me.

So, even though you are just having some pain. I highly suggest to talk to your dr asap that way they can keep an eye on everything. Good luck!!