Argh, I just got a call from my doc confirming that I have gallstones and she wants to schedule a consult with a surgeon next week to see if I need to have surgery before the baby arrives.
I am glad to finally have an answer because this has been some pretty intense pain, but really had hoped it was something that wouldn't involve surgery.
Anyone else? I learned that its more common in pregnant women...
Re: Gallstones anyone?
I have gallstones, but I have not required surgery.
I would notice more back pain and heartburn when I eat meals that are too rich. But I have been able to live with it.
I assume your case is much worse than mine. I have heard of having them removed right after delivery.
Good luck.
I had them and had to have mine out when I was 21. Having it out was a major relief after all that pain. My gastro-specialist also had said that gallbladder problems are super common in pregnant women and in the year postpartum (it came up because he couldn't get over how young I was and was shocked I wasn't pregnant/didn't have children because that would've been a likely explanation).
Honestly, the surgery wasn't too big a deal. Have you had any type of surgery before? I had it laproscopically done and I had some secondary issues (infection) that cropped up, but recovery from the surgery itself wasn't bad. It was easier than my c-section, which I also did not think was bad.
Good luck momma! Hopefully the surgery can wait until after baby comes though!
Thanks, my doc says that gall bladders are not her specialty so she wants to get a more experienced opinion. I hope I don't have to do the surgery before birth either, but if I have another episode like I had 2 weeks ago, I might be wishing for the surgery!
I had my gallbladder remove not too long after second child was born. Doctor said pregnancy causing gallstones is very common. In fact, he said usually, it'll happen while pregnant...but most pregnant people wont feel the symptoms til after they deliver. I also live in the "gallstone" belt (per my of nursing teacher). Midwest. It's our deep fried, fatty home-cookin diet.
It's also most common in the triple f's (Fat, Fair, Forty...meaning you are more likely to get it if white, overweight, and forty or older)
It's a pain I will never forget. They kept misdiagnosing mine...so it got so bad it caused pancreatitis (not uncommon if you have stones blocking your common bile duct, either). Pancreatitis is a pain you NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER forget!
I was told that their hope was to try and control it through diet until after the kid arrives and then if I need to get it out they will do it then. One of my friends and another coworker had theirs out 4-5 weeks after their kids were born.
As of 15 weeks mine is inflamed, but I was told that I may still develop stones b/f the pregnancy was over. Eating sucks, as I get further along the more painful it is to eat anything. I eat an extremely low fat diet but now even that doesn't help much.
I was diagnosed with gallstones during my first trimester when I had severe stomach pain. I hoping to avoid surgery all together but my doctor always reminds me that there is a good chance I will have to have surgery within the first year of giving birth. I am hoping to control it with diet and exercise but it runs in my family.
Hopefully you won't need surgery until after the baby is born. Good luck!