Gallstones

presh116 · January 2016

I had to go to the ER Saturday morning due to severe pain. It felt like it was my chest, I couldn't breath and the pain and pressure were so bad. They did an ultrasound and found I had multiple gallstones. They told me they wouldn't take it out unless it was life threatening since I'm pregnant. The ER doc explained if it became infected and if I was in my second trimester then they would remove it. But they would rather me change my diet no fatty greasy foods and hopefully this will hold things off until after the baby. Then the would remove my gallbladder. So here's the thing they said if I get another attack all I could do is take pain medication, which he gave me a rx for. He said that if I kept having attacks and had to take the medication my baby would be born addicted to pain medication and could have with draws. I'm already high risk and he told me to follow up with my Dr on Monday. I have surgery scheduled tomorrow to get a cerclage due to incompetent cervix and the nurse told me to tell the dr tomorrow. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this at all. The pain is unreal I thought I was having a heart attack, but there is no way I want to put my baby at risk with the pain meds. Surgery is also scary thinking something could go wrong. I just don't know what to do. I have changed my diet and so far no more attacks. Any advice or experience would be great.

StarLiteKiss · January 2016

I have known people to have gone through this. They managed it by taking meds as needed only and they watched what foods they ate and managed to get through their pregnancy without surgery until after. If you have to have surgery it is safer past 26 weeks. The further along you are the better. Be sure to ask your dr about risks with medication and what foods to avoid.
My last pregnancy I actually ended up with appendicitis. I was 26 weeks along when I had surgery and was prepped with the possibility of going into labor. Luckily she stayed put and I carried her all the way up to 38 weeks before giving birth. She is now 1 and so healthy.

nellybellycat · January 2016

I have chronic pancreatitis and had a flare early in my pg. the pain is unreal! I was given a script for Norco. Class C but can be taken if needed. I start by taking half (250mg) sometimes its enough to keep me some what comfortable. Dont stress. Take as needed

presh116 · January 2016

Thanks you ladies it is very scary and definitely will talk to my mfm tomorrow.
@lgem4 good luck to you and your surgery. @StarLiteKiss thank you for sharing your experience I just want what's good for my baby hoping diet alone will change things. @nellybellycat I will definitely only take if it is bad but this attack scared me so much I couldn't even breath. At least with contractions you get a break lol. Hoping for the best and know that they are there if need be thanks again

jen mayhill · January 2016

Sorry to hear you are going through this. I can tell you, it's not entirely uncommon to have this issue during pregnancy. During my first pregnancy, I had a gallbladder spasm. I did not have gallstones, but same type of pain as you mentioned and vomiting. I was placed on a strict low fat diet. I worked with a nutritionist to make sure what I was eating would still support a growing baby. Certain foods may be triggers for you...for me it was acidic foods like oranges. I'm not sure if you are able to do light exercise, but walking 15-20 minutes after eating helped with the heartburn I developed post attack. Prenatal yoga videos targeted at improving digestion also helped. I did not have another attack during pregnancy. My buddy was tiny but was totally fine, and is now a happy healthy four year old. They insisted that I would have my gallbladder removed after pregnancy. I have not had another attack since, and have not required surgery to remove it. Hang in there

and best of luck with everything.

presh116 · January 2016

@jen mayhill thank you for your response I can not exercise due to my incompetent cervix. I have to be on pelvic rest. I'm hoping the diet change will work and that's good to know you didn't have another attack. Also that you still have your gallbladder. The night I got my attack actually was my birthday and hubby took me to eat beni hanna not sure if that's the correct spelling. I guess that's pretty greasy since they use oil and had cake. Later on that night morning really I got the attack. Well hopefully with diet alone this will work

Neesey · January 2016

Dairy can be a big trigger too. Keeping a food diary really helped me when I was having attacks. Some foods can be specific just to you so it can help to have a full list. Hope you can keep the attacks at bay--I know how awful they can be.

carstekj · January 2016

I totally know your gallbladder pain!!! For me it felt like someone was turning a knife in the middle of my chest. I suffered several attacks during my first pregnancy and first trimester. I also ended up in the ER with a prescription for Vicodin. During the initial gallbladder ultrasound, they also found a mass near my liver so I had a biopsy (first tri) and a stone had gotten out of my gallbladder and was blocking my common bile duct (causing me to have severe jaundice). I needed to have an ERCP (they put a scope down my throat to get it out (first tri). I wasn't fully put under, since I was in the first tri. So, after all that in the first trimester, I had lost 10lbs because I was afraid to eat anything... what actually was my trigger was broccoli, apples and red sauce. I ended up going to the Mayo Hospital (one of the top hospitals) because I wanted the best care possible and I'm from MN. We schedule gallbladder removal surgery the 2nd week of my 2nd trimester. I saw a high risk OB at Mayo who went over everything prior to the surgery. They checked for the babies heartbeat before surgery and right after surgery. During the surgery they also took a larger biopsy of the mass. I was in severe pain after surgery and needed to stay overnight in the hospital. I was given Dilauded for pain relief.

A week after surgery I noticed I was starting to turn jaundice again.... It ended up that they missed a gallstone and it was blocking a duct again. So I had to go back to the hospital and have another ERCP procedure to get the stone out.

I had surgery because the stones getting out was a bigger risk than the surgery for me. Sorry, it's so long, but I just wanted you to know, you're not alone!! I was on several pain killers. All of which I was off by about 20 weeks. My son was born without any complications or addiction. He showed no signs of distress and is now a happy healthy 4yr old.

Good luck!!!

thelyontamer · January 2016

I had an attack in my second trimester was headed to Er but it went away while en route. It flared again 3 weeks post partum and it was literally the worst pain I've ever felt. Child birth and kidney stones had nothing on this. It actually created a huge surge in my panic attacks because I really thought I was dying. I had several stones and an infected gallbladder so I went right into surgery. Even after my surgery I was scared to eat anything for weeks because I was terrified of feeling that again.

I pray you don't have other attacks until you are able to have it removed.

presh116 · January 2016

@carstekj wow that sounds really scary and I'm glad the outcome was amazing. I can't even imagine all of this. So far so good but it hasn't even been a week lol.
@thelyontamer I'm hoping that it will stay away until after baby. I think about what I ate that day and it wasn't really anything real greasy. I don't know what my trigger is yet but I hope I don't find out that pain is so intense. Thank you both for sharing it gives me hope.

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