General Chat

Hi, does anybody out there have gallstones? I had a scan on Friday, for abdo pain. I was expecting it to be gynae related, but everything there is fine. The radiologist then tells me I have 2 gallstones, 1 small one and 1 chunky one of 4cm!! This seems huge to me, does anybody know anything about them? In addition to this, he has told me to inform my GP that I have a "bright" liver. I though he was commenting on my liver being very intelligent!! Seriously though, he says that this can indicate liver disease, and that mine looks like the liver of an alcoholic!! I rarely drink, every couple of months at most, so cannot understand this. Anybody else had this problem? Best wishes, Carol.

I had mine removed 30 years ago no problems since Before removal I had referred shoulder pain from the gallstone and also I couldn't eat Chips or cream becaause they caused pain I still don't eat Chips or Cream Bren

Hi Carol, I had my gall bladder removed 5 years ago at the grand old age of 29!!! I sympathise as the pain is dreadful - the first time I had an attack I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. It got to the stage that I was afraid to eat as even an egg would trigger an attack. I lost over a stone in weight. A scan revealed 13 stones! I had the gall bladder removed through laporoscopy (spelling?) and have not had any trouble since. Apparently the most common to get gall stones are the 5 "F"s Female, Fair, Forty Fertile Fat!! At that time I was only fertile and female - now I think I would fit into the fat category too!!! LOL Until I had surgery I had a lot of painkilling drugs and thankfully a sympathetic doctor who advised me that oif the pain got too bad to call her for morphine! Managed without that though! Let us kmnow how you get on. Take care Carole

Thanks for all your replies. Carole, unfortunately, I fall into all of those categories: fair, fat, female, fertile and forty (exactly)! no hope for me then!!

LOL Bless you! Well, you are a text book case then!! At least your gall bladder wasn't old before its time like mine!!! I hope you get it sorted before you get any further attacks. Are you planning on surgery? Take care, Carole

had mine took out 17yrs ago left with big scar but they don't it that way now mine where loads of small ones no prob since. They found mine when I was pregnant as I was in pain and could not breath but had to wait a year before had it done

Carol - I'm new here so bear with me on this, but have been reading the boards on and off for a couple of months. I also have at least one gallstone, and no problems, but as to the remark about the 'bright liver' looking like an alcoholic liver, I wonder if and when you go to see your GP you would perhaps ask for liver function tests to rule out hepatitis? Five years ago I was diagnosed with hepatitis C after being told by my doc in the early 90's I had the liver of an alcoholic, but she didn't do anything at that point. I was only a very occasional drinker so knew the problem wasn't due to drink. The Government is beginning to start an awareness campaign around now as there are hundreds of thousands of people in this country that will have this and be totally unaware. Good luck. Gill PS Can I say hi to everyone here!

Had gallstones removed 6 years ago at the age of 45 via keyhole surgery. The whole bladder had to be removed due to disease, and I have never felt better. Christine x

Very interesting but here is another tale........ My husband had his gall bladder removed 18 years ago, the stones had caused septicaemia. Over the following years he suffered very poor health due to some more stones that he made later and were lodged in the bile duct behind the liver, resulting in regular bouts of jaundice. Lazer treatment via a laporoscopy failed to remove the last stone which was successfully removed this summer via normal surgery, the hospital has kept it as proof, as it was so large. So please all who have had their gall bladders removed take note you can STILL make gall stones, so please watch your diet and have another scan if you have similar symptoms again Anne

I am really wondering if I have them. I have had a problem on/off for 8 years, doesn't happen often, but when it does it's acute pain just under the ribs. My mum started getting the same thing, but much worse and over a shorter time, she was diagnosed with gallstones and had her gallbladder out a couple of months ago. I did go to the doc's about 8 years ago, he just said it was stress.

Hi Cazzie, I had gallstones over 25yrs ago now. Had them removed the 'old' way - major surgery! The sort of pain you truly wouldn't wish on your worst enemy!! Have been fine since, except like Brenda, one of the things that set mine off was ice cream. Still get the same pains if I eat more than a very little, in one go! Any fatty foods are the worst, eggs being one of the most common, I was told. Not strictly hereditary, but does tend to follow in families, apparently. My mum had the whole lot (gall stones, gall bladder & bile duct) removed same as me, a few years before me. Her sister and my cousin both had inflamed gall bladders, but required no surgery. Debbie

Anne - your post has really shocked me!! I was led to believe that once the gall bladder was removed then you couldn't get any more stones. Obviously that is not the case. Looks like I might have to rethink my diet - might just be the kick up the back side I needed as I couldn't go through all that pain again - thank you! Carole PS After Christmas, though!! LOL

have emailed you Cazzie Kathleen

Hi Cazzie I was told 30 years ago that I needed my Gallbladder removed and was told to come back when I had lost weight for it to be done. Still have not lost weight, increases every year now 67. Only had two bad upsets once I ate 3 doughnuts and last week ate too much stilton and ended up in hospital for the night. Just be carefull and dont eat fatty foods and you may not need surgery. All the best Margaret