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NE1 had a gallbladder attack?

Michelle110Michelle110 member
in 2nd Trimester

I've had several over the past couple of months - one was so bad that it lasted almost 12 hours. And I'm pretty sure I'm having another one right now - I'm in a lot of pain and seriously thinking of vomiting (but trying so hard not to). I can't think of anything I could have eaten the past couple of days that would have caused this. All I know is that it sucks - it almost hurts as much as labor, but in a much smaller area right below my ribcage on the right side. (BTW: I know it could not be appendicitis because I had my appendix removed 2 1/2 months ago) 

Anyway, if any of you have had one or several gallbladder attacks, what did your doctor say or do about it? One of my friends has to have hers removed this summer due to frequent attacks, but it sounds like I've had worse ones than she's had. Just wondered what your doctor has said/done about them. Thanks.

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Re: NE1 had a gallbladder attack?

  • Lucky428Lucky428

    I've only had 1 attack.  You really should get it taken out.  A woman on SAL had to have hers taken out while preg and she's doing great.

    Gallbladder attacks are brutal.  I hope you feel better quickly!

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  • cindy453cindy453

    Did you have an ultrasound or anything to see how bad the stones were? I had about a month of constant pain (my mom kept telling me I needed to shake it off.. Huh?), went for an Ultrasound on Monday, met with the surgeon on Wednesday and had it removed on Friday!

    The surgery was laproscopic but it was actually painful, IMO. I had a breast reduction and I thought the gallbladder surgery was worse! But, then it never hurt again :) 

    Why did your doctor not just take it out to begin with? I thought once you started having gallstones it generally got worse not better. 

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  • kit443kit443 member

    If it is really bad you can still get your gall bladder removed in your second trimester. I would try and see your doctor as soon as you can. They may want to do an ultrasound to see if and how many gall stones you have. They will probably recommend that you start a low fat diet (fatty foods make gall bladder pain way worse). If that doesn't work then you have an option to get it removed (but not once you are in your third trimester). A lot of pregnant women have similar pains - some can make it through, and sometimes after you give birth it gets better (probably because it is not all squished up anymore).

    I had really bad gall bladder attacks throughout my second trimester (not as bad as yours I dont think). Now that the baby isn't as high up they have become a lot better (and the low fat diet helps too).

    Good luck, I know how much it sucks!

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  • mchopardmchopard
    If you've got actual symptomatic gall stones, I am surprised that your doc did not remove your GB when the appendix had to come out 2.5 months ago... Standard of care is to remove the GB if the stones are symptomatic, if the episodes are becoming more frequent you should talk to your doc about it.
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  • kristin329kristin329
    I had gallstones for many years.  I put off the surgery but finally got mine removed 2 years ago.  Biggest mistake of my life.  Simple laparoscopic surgery I was told.  A week after the day surgery I was taken by ambulance to the hospital and spent over a week in there. I was in horrible pain, screaming the entire ride to the hospital.  I was later told that I could have died from sepsis and other complications.  There are several ducts that are attached to the gallbladder. Apparently one of them, the bile duct was not clamped during surgery or the clamps "popped off" so bile leaked in me for a week.  I had to have a drain put in me and it took 6 days to get all the bile out of my body. I ended up with pancreatitis because of this. I honestly believed I was dying.  I was out of work for months and took about a year to get back to normal.  I have occasional episodes with my pancreas that is far more painful then the gallbladder attacks that I had. I would have left my gallbladder in had I known what would have transpired.  I could have lived with the gallbladder attacks.  SO, sorry to ramble the gallbladder subject gets me going, I just feel any surgery is a risk so try to tough it out and watch what you eat.  Often gallbladder issues occur during pregnancy, you may be fine after.  I would not want to get it out during  pregnancy.
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  • KatieTaylor77KatieTaylor77

    What concerns me is that you have been in pain for so long ... from what I have been told, gall bladder attacks lasting longer than 2 hours or where you turn yellow are cause for a trip to the emergency room.

    Either way, the choice to have surgery while pregnant isn't an easy one.  I was diagnosed with gall stones and found out I was pregnant because of the pre-op labwork.  I have decided to wait until our daughter is born before having surgery to remove my gall bladder.  

    Call your doctor or go to the ER.  12 hours of pain is way too long and you should be checked out.

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