Community› The Bump Message Boards› 3rd Trimester
3rd Trimester
New Discussion

Gallstones and contractions

jmckeagjmckeag member
in 3rd Trimester
Hi there!  I'm mostly a lurker these days.  This question is for anyone who has had experience with gallstone attacks and also previously been in labor.  As you know with gallstone attacks there is a pretty severe radiating back pain accompanied by a tightness in the belly and difficulty breathing -- combined with a whole other mess of things.  I am a FTM and its my understanding that real labor contractions are different from BH in that they tend to start in the back and come to the front.  Last night I had some BH contractions for a couple hours before bed, or at least that's what I think was going on.  I fell asleep for a little over an hour and woke up in the worst pain ever -- mainly in my back.  Had I not had the BH contractions before I fell asleep I would have automatically assumed that I was having a gallstone attack again.  However, my first inclination was to think it was stronger contractions.  How am I going to know the difference?!?!?!?  TIA!
BFP #1 4/07, 6/07 MMC 9w6d D&C | DX PCOS/annovulatory | BFP #2 (50 mg Clomid) 11/8/10, Natural MC 11/25/10 | Cycle #1 (50 mg Clomid) BFN | Cycle #2 (100 mg Clomid) BFN | Cycle #3 (100 mg Clomid & HCG trigger) BFN | Cycle #4 (100 mg Clomid, HCG trigger, & IUI)= BFN | Cycle #5 (150 mg Clomid, HCG trigger, & IUI) = BFP --> Beta #1 12DPO: 48, Beta #2 14dpo: 171, Progesterone: 105, Beta #3 19dpo: 2,418 BabyFruit Ticker BabyFetus Ticker
Report Reply to Post

Re: Gallstones and contractions

  • andiandlouandiandlou member
    i can tell them apart because a gallstone attack does not go away....even if you move, drink water, put your feet up, or lay on left side. The pain goes on until the attack goes away...for me that can be anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours! Contractions should not be lasting more than a couple of minutes (of course it does vary from woman to woman).  Also a big difference for me is that i feel the pain mostly on my right side for a gallstone attack.  Hope that helps
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • jmckeagjmckeag member

    imageandiandlou:
    i can tell them apart because a gallstone attack does not go away....even if you move, drink water, put your feet up, or lay on left side. The pain goes on until the attack goes away...for me that can be anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours! Contractions should not be lasting more than a couple of minutes (of course it does vary from woman to woman).  Also a big difference for me is that i feel the pain mostly on my right side for a gallstone attack.  Hope that helps

    Thanks!  Quick question, I can see this is your second LO.  Did you start having gallstones with this pregnancy?  Did you have it with your first pregnancy?  I ask because I didn't have problems before I was pregnant and my doctor said sometimes it resolves itself post-pregnancy without having to have the gallbladder removed.  Hoping that's the case for me!

    BFP #1 4/07, 6/07 MMC 9w6d D&C | DX PCOS/annovulatory | BFP #2 (50 mg Clomid) 11/8/10, Natural MC 11/25/10 | Cycle #1 (50 mg Clomid) BFN | Cycle #2 (100 mg Clomid) BFN | Cycle #3 (100 mg Clomid & HCG trigger) BFN | Cycle #4 (100 mg Clomid, HCG trigger, & IUI)= BFN | Cycle #5 (150 mg Clomid, HCG trigger, & IUI) = BFP --> Beta #1 12DPO: 48, Beta #2 14dpo: 171, Progesterone: 105, Beta #3 19dpo: 2,418 BabyFruit Ticker BabyFetus Ticker
    Report Reply
  • andiandlouandiandlou member
    Sadly, that was not my case...I started having attacks when I was around 3 wks along with my first pregnancy. I had one before then, but wasn't aware the pain was caused by gallstones. I had more attacks during the first pregnancy, but mostly towards the end when baby was getting really big. I had planned to get my gallbladder out after I finished breastfeeding but since I never had an attack PP I put it off even more and then got pregnant again (un-planned). It does seem to be that the added pressure during pregnancy makes it worst, not to mentioned the "bad eating" due to cravings!  Good luck to you, I know gallstone attacks are WAY more painful than labor pains,
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • MI-brideMI-bride

    My gallbladder attacks were continuous pain that didn't let up until I threw up the stomach acid.

    Contractions came and went and got worse.  I had back pain with DSs labor, but they mirrored my back cramps when I had my period.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • BrewtowngrlBrewtowngrl member
    I was bored and happened to click on this board. Ditto everyone else and what the difference is.   I had attacks after I had DS1 and didn't realize what it was.  I had them really bad with DS2 till I got Dx with GD.  The GD diet is really gallstone friendly.  They started right back up after I stopped the diet.  I had mine out when DS2 was 8 weeks old.  I barely missed a pumping session so don't let BFing sway you on the time of surgery.  I am so glad mine is out.  
    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker TickerBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Report Reply
  • nopegoatnopegoat member

    I agree with what everyone else said. Contractions are timeable and come and go, while gallbladder attacks are continuous. My longest attack lasted for over 18hrs and put me in PTL it was horrible.

    I had mine removed when my son was about 3 months old. It was the best thing ever. The surgery was really quick and I was able to go home and nurse my son the same day and my recovery was pretty easy. 3 days later I went to school, no big deal. I asked my surgeon if it would ever go away on its own or were there any other option other than having it removed. He said that while being pregnant can make it worse and the attacks more frequent, it will never go away on its own and it can be very dangerous if one of those stones gets lodged in the tubes. If I were you I would go ahead and get it out so you don't have to worry about it.

    My Dr also told me to change my diet to a very low fat, bland diet to help prevent attacks.

    Good luck!! 

    Wife. Boy mom x6. Expecting #7. Wannabe homesteader.
    , 💙💙💙💙💙💙
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"