Gallstones Support Group

Gallstones (choleliths) are crystalline bodies formed within the body by accretion or concretion of normal or abnormal bile components. Risk factors for pigment stones include cirrhosis, biliary tract infections, and hereditary blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia. Stones of mixed origin also occur.

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deleted_user 11/25/2007

Hi all, just after some advice really!
I have been suffering from pains for nearly 2months, the pain comes on a few hours after eating and is one of the most painful things ever (next to labour obviously but not far off!) I feel it mainly in my back and cannot get comfortable at all and am normally up all night, this happens at least once or twice a week and some times are worse than others, sometimes i have literally felt like i was going to pass out and all i can do is lay on the floor in the foetal position! it normally wears off 8- 12 hours after it starts.
Well the doc thinks it is gallstones (& id be inclined to agree after reading other peoples symptoms!) I am still waiting for an ultrasound, should be in 3weeks (good old NHS!) but has told me virtually nothing else about it, except to cut down on fat. Since then I have got rid of ALL cheese, meat and eggs, processed food etc. but while i know the things not to eat, i was wondering if there were any foods that i can eat that may actually help? I have heard that white wine can help (any excuse lol)
and also conflicting advice about coffee. Also any other advice on gallstones and treatment (operations expected?) would be much appreciated!
oh yes... I am only 26 is it normal for me to be getting these at my age? what brings them on?

deleted_user 11/27/2007

I was told I had gallstones in Sept. I went a full year of getting these attacks before going to the ER about them. They did an ultrasound and offered me surgery the next morning, me being stubborn said no I'll go to my Dr. Well my Dr sent me to a surgeon and I was scheduled for surgery on Oct 5th. Well again me being stubborn and scared of being put to sleep chickened out and decided to try Urso (actigall) to dissolve them. Bad choice, the Urso madde everything worse. Before I was getting maybe 2 attack a month and I was fine in between, well the Urso caused an almost constant pain in my stomach. I stayed on the medicine though until about 2 weeks ago the pain just got so annoying( like i wanted to just rip my gut out) I went to the ER. Well they did another ultrasound and I have more stones than I did before but I wasnt having a regular attack and he could find no reason except the med for the pain i was having. So once again I'm scheduled for surgery this coming Friday the 30th. I'm scared but I think now I know I need to do this for me and for my kids because they hate seeing me in so much pain and it makes me so crabby. So anyway good luck to you, and let us all know whats going on after you see the surgeon. My prayers are with you.

deleted_user 11/27/2007

I got my first attacks when i was 20 all the way through a pregnancy ........i eventually got the darn thing out last week......after 2 years of pain and a couple of months of severe pain......age doesn't seem to have that much to do with it.....I got medication from the doc and it did work really well, took it 4 times a day, helped me until i went into surgery; I tried all kinds of food, sugar i think is bad ......alcoho was a no, no for me, anything with vinegar in it also. I had to wait a week here in france for the surgery, how about going through the ER, you may skip up the line? it's a terrible pain and they should do something for it.

MSM24 12/02/2007

First, I was 16 when my gallbladder "went out." I was sick for about 3 months before they figured out what it was. They never found gallstones but at the time there was a new test that they did and found that my gallbladder wasnt functioning properly and that was causing the pain. What helped me was to eat a low fat diet. Basically dont eat fried foods. One suggestion is baked chicken. Baasically anything baked should help. hang in there! You will make it through it! It sucks to be young and sick but just be optomistic about at least they can fix this and things will be better. It wont effect the rest of your life. A year after all this is over with it will just be a bad memory. lol

deleted_user 12/16/2007

Thanks for all replies, very helpful!! good to know its not unusual to have them young.have finally had ultrasound, and it wasnt pretty! apparently I have a gallstone the size of a golfball!! ouch! am seeing doctor next week to go through my options, but I guess surgery is my only option. I should count myself lucky really, theres no way it can block the ducts if its that size! Have been really good the past few weeks and only had a few attacks (although im not looking forward to christmas as the temptations will be too much!) have also discovered codeine which is helping me sleep anyway! oh, and have lost a stone already so i guess every cloud has a silver lining

MSM24 12/18/2007

Well it is rare to have it really young is what my doctor told me but not unheard of.

deleted_user 01/06/2008

NSH is rubbish. Try getting surgery as soon as poss. I had gallstones and im only 21. My pain started Jan 2006 and the docs didnt know wat it was till Nov 2006 and ended up with pancreatitus and was in the hospital for 3 months before i was well enough for surgery! You just have to pressure them into getting things done lol

deleted_user 01/08/2008

I'm 37, and I just found out this morning during an ultrasound that for sure I've got gallstones. I had suspected, and I've dealt with attacks since about mid-to-late November 2007. I have a book called "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," and it suggested the following for when you're having a painful attack: 1 Tablespoon of organic apple cider in a glass of organic apple juice. I have tried this, and it's stopped the pain in its tracks! Apparently apple juice aids in softening gallstones. Needless to say, I've kept both in my fridge ever since.

Also, try this site for info: http://gallbladderattack.com/index.shtml

deleted_user 01/30/2008

I was 24 when I had mine taken out. I was experiencing the same pain even in the same areas as you reported. I had suffered for years before I fought the right doctor who decided to give me an ultrasound. I to wondered if I was to young for such a diagnose. In surgery my doctor had to crush the stones just to remove my gallbladder. He said it was completely full of stones the size of golf balls. Which explains the pain I was in.

As far as diet, coffee bothers the stomach. Any thing with caffeine triggers it. I found that tea is not to bad...just watch the sugar. Meat is really hard on the stomach, that is until you get your gallbladder removed. Even after than poultry will be the only thing that wont bother you to much.

I hope this helps! Feel free to im me if you need to chat.

Take care

SophiePnut 03/28/2008

I was 27 when had it removed! I heard it happens a lot around this age...Good luck!

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