Gall bladder attacks during pregnancy?

[HelenePA]

I believe I am having them? I have a dr's appointment tomorrow at 9am. But has anyone had to deal with this before? What can be done? I feel really really bad. I thought I was having major indigestion causing back pain seems it could be related to gall bladder attacks its right where most sites describe the pain to be... right between the shoulder blades... Am I just going to have to suck it up til I deliver or are there meds out there to help me? I have read they do ultrasounds to see if you have gallstones I also have an ultrasound scheduled for 9:45am tomorrow (to see how big the giant is) I'm hoping to get some relief... I've never had problems before so this is new to me... I just feel plain old awful this last week.

 

[winkers]

yes, it's possible. I had them with my 3rd pregnancy, early on. I was given the choice of surgery during the first trimester, or waiting it out. I waited it out and had surgery several months after my baby was born.

Something that helps is watching the fat intake in your diet. Have you noticed any 'triger" foods?

 

[HelenePA]

Just one... Pizza OMG I wanna die after eating that.... But I still get them after eating healthy foods too, green peppers, grilled chicken... I really thought it was just really really really bad indigestion... the more and more I read it seems like gall bladder attacks... Yesterday I took 2 baths and 3 showers (I was extra sparkley clean!) and nothing helped that ripping your back apart pain... today it was so bad after eating soup I made Dh come home from work early. I can't live like this for 4 more weeks...

 

[HelenePA]

Oops double post

 

[winkers]

That is what it sounds like. I know things like onions & broccoli can cause it too. Unfortunatly, there isn't anything you can do, that I know of. I hope it does turn out to just be indegestion!

 

[Michelle67]

Ow, are you serious? Poor thing.

I had those kinds of symptoms, and I just actually DID have the world's worst case of indigestion and seemed to get it no matter what I ate. I got a prescription for it, took half a pill twice a day since I was pregnant, and felt 100% better. Once the baby was born it went away.

Definitely one for your doc. I hope whatever it turns out to be, that you will feel better soon.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You need to call your doc today and let them know. Pregnancy is a factor in triggering gallbladder attacks, and there is a risk of having a stone get lose and lodge in your pancreas-- that is not good. They do diagnose with an ultrasound. Not sure how that works while you are pregnant. I would think that the Ultrasound probably won't look at the GB unless a Dr. orders it.

You will most likely be told to keep to a VERY low fat diet until you can have surgery, and will need to arrange for GB surgery fairly soon after the baby comes.

I had mine out just a few months after my first baby was born. I was surprised with how quickly I had to have the surgery-- they actually wanted to do it a few days after the diagnosis but I put it off a week so I could get my mother and MIL to come and help with the baby.

As far as I know there is no medicine that can help. Believe me--I asked! All my doctor could offer was some strong pain meds to use during an attack, obviously not an option for you right now. The best thing that I know of is just for you to stick to low fat and bland for the next few weeks.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Been there done that with my 3rd pregnancy - that cutie DS in my siggie.

I had to have my gall bladder removed when I was 17 weeks pregnant because my gall bladder attacks were so bad.

There is NOTHING you can do to stop a gall bladder attack other than take pain killers and muscle relaxers and the ones that are approved to take during pregnancy don't do much.

Once I was diagnosed I had to wait a couple of weeks for the surgery and followed what my surgeon called a "monk's diet" to keep from having another attack. It was hard but it worked!

I eliminated anything fried including anything like chips, hush puppies, doughnuts, etc.. Also I had to eliminate anything with white flour, white sugar (especially high fructose corn syrup), dairy, artificial sweetners and anything "spicy". I drank nothing but unsweet tea flavored with lemon and water. I ate salads, fresh fruits, veggies, wheat bread, grilled chicken, lean steak and things like that. Once I started that diet I didn't have another attack so it did work but it was very extreme especially with my pregnancy cravings!

With only 4 weeks to go until you deliver I would highly doubt they would be able to remove the gall bladder anyway b/c the baby would be in the way. You will have to wait until after you deliver unless there is an emergency situation and you sure don't want that to happen. Modify the diet to avoid that at all costs!!

Good luck! DS is 15 months old now and my gall bladder scars are practically invisible already.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My last kid killed my gallbladder. So yes it is possible. I was on bedrest for 6 months and had to live with it.

 

[aaronlisar]

I had my first gallbladder attack the night I delivered my second baby. They did not even think of it and thought it was a pulmonary embolism. I still remember the pain very well, it felt like I was having a heart attack and it didn't matter what I did sit, stand or lay nothing helped. The point when you are in that much pain is when the stone is in the common bile duct trying to pass through, so until that happens you are in pain. It was not until a couple of months later and many attacks until I ended up in the ER and found out I had gallstones. I was schedule for surgery a week and a half later because I was already schedule for surgery to have my tonsils and a deviated sputum fix.

Not much you can do expect what everyone else is saying to follow a low fat diet.

 

[skuttle]

My cousin went through this. She had to REALLY limit her diet to get any relief. She could hardly eat anything. Surgery wasn't an option for her during the pregnancy. After she gave birth, she didn't have any more problems with the gall bladder.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

I had severe gallbladder attacks with my first pregnancy. They were so bad that I went to the ER twice about it. I found them in the beginning of my second trimester. I was told there was nothing they could do until I delivered. It was that way for the safety of the baby as well as me. I just tried to watch what I ate during the rest of my pregnancy. Then 6 weeks after I delivered my daughter I was in the hospital to remove my gallbladder. to you. I know they hurt like a %*$#%*$#.

 

[Laura]

A for you, I'm sure that must not be much fun.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

It happened to me, too. Pizza was also the trigger for me. I was told to just watch what I eat (low fat, nothing too spicy or greasy) and I was fine. Good luck. Gallbladder pain is worse than freaking childbirth. I hope you feel better.

 

[HelenePA]

Uh yeah I'm home from my appointment... basically she blew it off and said there was nothing they could do until after they baby was out... she told me to use bengay (yeah like that is gonna help!!) I told her I needed something so she gave me a script for T-3's. Then I had my ultrasound to do a weight check on the baby.. the ultrasound person was rather rude about the whole thing... I dunno maybe its the lack of sleep (I got a whole 45 min last night and about an hour the night before) I'm just VERY VERY moody and not happy with how things went today... The turkey was measuring at 38wks... then she moved it around to make it "fit" my due date... well that helps lady I'm gonna have a huge *** baby and your trying to fib about how big the baby really is right now??? I'm annoyed beyond believe... Anyway DH is home I'm gonna go lay down hopefully nap a little bit... Wish me luck with a nap!!!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Get some sleep. I think the best you can do right now is follow the diet that a PP posted. It may not be much fun, but it sure beats the attack. Also you might call your primary care doctor (I am assuming you saw your OB). My PCP was the one that oversaw my GB issues.


So if they think the baby is at 38 weeks then is there a chance the will induce you in a week or two if you don't go on your own anyway?

 

[nikkistevej]

I had to have mine out after having my DD too, the doctor said that extra estrogen in your body from the pregnancy can cause gallstones. Pizza, spaghetti caused mine, I remember that was so painful.

 

[nikkistevej]

Well, the good news is if you do have to have the surgery, hopefully the lapriscopy(sp?) surgery- it was not bad at all- recovery time was minimal. I was doing line dances at a wedding 2 days later.

 

[clgwli]

Do not let them blow this off. Stomach pain like that can be a symptom something far more serious than just gall bladder attacks. Make sure they check your urine and wouldn't hurt to do a blood work up. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

How did the doctor appointment go? Hope it's not your gallbladder - this is not a good time for that..