craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,619 
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Post by craftymom101 on Mar 15, 2016 7:11:04 GMT
I was diagnosed with gallstones three years ago. I had several painful episodes over the course of a week and went in for an ultrasound. My doctor said that yes, I do have gallstones, but she didn't recommend having my gallbladder removed at that time. I haven't had an attack since.
Fast forward to Sunday morning at 3am when I'm woken up by an attack. I can't sleep and take a dose of ibuprofen and a hot bath. The pain subsides and I'm fine until about 4pm that afternoon. This time, the pain lasts until about midnight. I sleep until 5 or 6am before hit with another wave of pain. Pain off and on Monday, and here we are at 3am Tuesday morning and I can't sleep. It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. I have a Business Law exam in 6 hours, plus I have to get my kids go school at 7:30am and I am going to be exhausted.
Does anyone have experience with this? Do I go to the ER after my test tomorrow? How long can attacks last?
I don't have medical insurance so I want to make sure I only seek medical care if they are going to actually do something.
ETA: I had my gallbladder taken out on Friday and I was discharged that night. I'm feeling so much better! My tummy is bruised and I'm still tired and sore, but I'm so glad they ended up taking it out. During the ultrasound they found my gallbladder full of stones, distended, and the lining of gallbladder was thickened. Best decision ever!
Thanks for all the comments and positive thoughts!
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Post by rhhdk on Mar 15, 2016 8:07:00 GMT
When I had those problems ten years ago an attack lasted normally a couple of hours. When I was diagnosed I got something stronger than normal medicin for headace. (Live in Denmark)
to avoid further attack I was told, no spicy food, no fat food, and no ground beef.
good luck with your test |
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Post by nlwilkins on Mar 15, 2016 9:08:35 GMT
Are you running a temp?
Also, you gotta be careful, as I got eColi in my blood and one doctor suggested it was from the diseased gall bladder. I went to the ER assuming I had pneumonia and ended up in surgery the next day with the gall bladder. I had pneumonia all right with Influenza A (or was it B, can't remember) and with eColi and gall stones. I had only one previous attack which I thought was just a gas pocket. I thought it was a gas pocket that night in the ER too but a doc picked up it when I mentioned it as a minor issue and did a scan.
If you have stones you need to find out if the stones are blocking the bile flow. Backed up bile can cause issues and they do not go away on their own.
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Post by pierkiss on Mar 15, 2016 11:10:43 GMT
When I had them, and I had them so frequently before I had hat hing taken out, I never ever felt like I had an elephant on my chest. ThAt is a classic symptom of a heart attack. That alone would scare me enough to go to the ER.
When I went to the ER for my gallbladder attacks it was only when the Percocet wasn't effective at lessening the pain (I had leftover from my herniated disc problems). 4 weeks after that trip I had it taken out and couldn't be happier with that decision.
I hope you feel better soon!
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Post by elaine on Mar 15, 2016 11:45:07 GMT
Go to the ER. I agree with pierkiss , "elephant on my chest" is a classic heart attack symptom. The minute you tell the triage nurse that they will get you a room immediately. Even if it is your gall bladder, they will most likely first hook you up to an EKG and rule out heart issues. Plan on spending a number of hours at the hospital - get someone to watch the kids. Here's hoping it is something that is easily treated and that you feel better soon! |
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Post by magentapea on Mar 15, 2016 11:49:19 GMT
Go to the ER. I agree with pierkiss , "elephant on my chest" is a classic heart attack symptom. The minute you tell the triage nurse that they will get you a room immediately. Even if it is your gall bladder, they will most likely first hook you up to an EKG and rule out heart issues. Plan on spending a number of hours at the hospital - get someone to watch the kids. Here's hoping it is something that is easily treated and that you feel better soon! I agree. I had terrible gallstones and suffered many years before having it removed. "Elephant on my chest" was NEVER a symptom for me. My attacks lasted a few hours at most. The repeated bouts of pain and the chest discomfort should be a red flag to get yourself to an ER immediately. |
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Post by scrapsuzy on Mar 15, 2016 12:03:06 GMT
I work in the ER, and you saying it feels like "an elephant on my chest" is a HUGE red flag to me. That is a "go to the ER, do not pass Go, do not collect $200" sign. I don't care what else you have going on today, THIS is an emergency.
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Post by lovetodigi on Mar 15, 2016 12:35:42 GMT
I hope that you have gone to the ER by now. The elephant on your chest thing is very concerning. If it is your gallbladder, it sounds like the condition is worsening, so it may need to be removed. My gallbladder was removed a few years ago and I have never felt better. Please check back in and let us know how you are.
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Post by mikklynn on Mar 15, 2016 12:49:14 GMT
I'll just add that gallstones can block your bile duct and cause serious liver problems. DH was in septic shock when we arrived in the ER with a blockage.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Mar 15, 2016 12:52:40 GMT
I'm also hoping you're at the ER.
Even as to gallstones (and like others, I'm not convinced that's the big issue here), if I knew then what I know now, I'd have gone to the ER instead of urgent care w/ mine. I do have insurance, and going to the UC, then ultrasound place, then specialist consult, then surgery - it ended up costing more than if I'd just gone to the ER in the first place, AND instead of surgery that day or the next, I had to wait 2+ weeks. Thankfully I have a job with unlimited sick time, so being off work for a month wasn't impossible. Also, I'd have gotten to have inpatient surgery instead of being kicked to the curb an hour after they started cutting, in horrible pain, unable to move really at all. If DH hadn't been able to take care of me at a "newborn" level those first couple days - and able to take 3 days off from work to do it - I'd have been screwed.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Mar 15, 2016 13:51:25 GMT
It does not sound like Gallbladder to me. But I will tell you what I do with the help of a Naturopath and a doctor.
1. I paid very careful attention to my diet. I avoid fatty foods and almost never eat fried foods.
2. When I was having issues, and it has been about 3 years, for about 6 months I did a weekly cleanse drinking only organic apple juice and apple cider vinegar.
3. If I had anything close to an attack during the 6 months I drank a table spoon of apple cider vinegar. The symptoms would go away within 15-20 minutes.
Now if I know I am going to eat something that might trigger an attack or I do eat something... I drink the ACV. It really makes a difference.
When I had my bad attack I didn't realize how sick I was. Looking back I don't know how I didn't go to the DR, but I was alone, DD was with her Dad. By the time I got to the DR I was over the worst of it and he was of two minds wether to do surgery or not. Because I did not have health insurance at the time he called in the Naturopath, I went to an integrative practice and we came up with this plan. Now that I have insurance my DR keeps an eye on it.
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Post by scrapmaven on Mar 15, 2016 14:14:50 GMT
I don't know what is going on w/you, but I do know that you belong in a bed in an ER being evaluated. I'm surprised that your doctor didn't want your gallbladder removed when he/she saw gallstones. Removal is the only cure. My father became violently ill after ignoring attacks for a few years. He had peritonitis. Go in to the ER asap if you're not already there. Wishing you well. Take good, loving care of yourself.
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Post by craftsbycarolyn on Mar 15, 2016 14:51:25 GMT
Did she go to the ER? Waiting to hear.
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:44:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2016 15:10:28 GMT
I tried to wait out a gallstone attack and ended up in the hospital with pancreatitis so I say go asap. You could have a stone blocking your bile duct.
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Post by penny on Mar 15, 2016 19:47:21 GMT
I had my gallbladder taken out two weeks ago - emergency surgery, and my only symptom was chest pressure...
I had chest pressure for two weeks before the surgery, went into the ER three times, they checked my heart and everything was normal but it didn't feel 'right'... They would ask questions about my pain thinking it was my gallbladder (since all the cardiac tests came back normal), but I didn't have any of the typical symptoms... I never had a gallbladder attack - chest pressure showed up one day, and didn't go away... Food, time of day, position, etc, had no effect on it...
Turns out I didn't have a blockage - which is why my gallbladder was ruled out after the first ultrasound, but it was severely inflamed... They were only able to see a problem after it had been inflamed for two weeks because of how enlarged it was... Turned out there were a lot of adhesions too...
After feeling for weeks like my chest was going to explode, as soon as I woke up after surgery I felt amazing... I was on Dilaudid every could hours before surgery, and didn't even need Tylenol after the surgery...
It was laparoscopic, except my gallbladder was so enlarged/inflamed that they had to make a 2" cut to get it out... Even still, the chest pain before was 9/10 (and I get kidney stones), and my discomfort after surgery was 2/10... I still can't believe how well I felt after surgery - modern medicine is amazing...
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Post by leslie132 on Mar 15, 2016 21:32:03 GMT
I had pains for about a week. Usually the pains started in the evening after we went to bed. I'd have the first attack at 3AM and they would last about 6 hours. I woke up from a deep sleep and thought I felt something in my lung. It was the strangest sensation.
My husband rushed me to the ER and they could not decide if I had a blood clot in my lung or gallbladder issues. It became apparent that it was my gallbladder and they opted to remove it hours later.
I did have complications that kept me in the hospital for 5 days. When they went to release me I continued to say I didn't feel right. The doctor was a cocky jackass..... He said I didn't know how to differentiate surgery pain from actual pain. He was such an ass that I demanded to be released. The nurses went scrambling because the doctor had graciously (sarcasm) given me one more night. When they pages him he came back in with my blood work. It showed that my liver levels were way off and that something was still very wrong. I had to have a scan which showed I had a blockage. Let's just say the doctor came in with a completely different bedside manor after that visit!!
Take care of yourself!!! Get it checked out sooner instead of later!
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azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
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Post by azredhead on Mar 15, 2016 21:40:31 GMT
The elephant on your chest would be a definate warning sign. With gall bladder it can feel like that too. Straight up my rib cage up my chest. And I'm a heart patient too. So I wasn't sure what was going on.
Mine went from bad to worse but that sounds not good I would definately go in with that. I had four stones when it was all said and done it took two trips to the ER.
It sounds like you need to have it taken care of. Don't wait it out. Hope you get some relief!!
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Post by anniefb on Mar 15, 2016 21:41:54 GMT
I work in the ER, and you saying it feels like "an elephant on my chest" is a HUGE red flag to me. That is a "go to the ER, do not pass Go, do not collect $200" sign. I don't care what else you have going on today, THIS is an emergency.  |
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Mar 15, 2016 22:20:26 GMT
i hope you're getting checked out. Chest pain is nothing to ignore.
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Post by mommythree on Mar 16, 2016 0:08:09 GMT
i have had gallstones and also the pain that seems like someone is sitting on your chest. mine wavered between that and a pain in my back between my shoulder blades...and the constant pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. it's a pain i will never forget. It took a trip to the e.r, iv pain meds and xanax to make it go away. Apparently a stone had moved out of the gallbladder and was lodged somewhere along the way. This was back in the 80's when they didnt remove your gallbladder right away. I had just given birth a month before, and i swear i would have taken labor pains over that gallbladder nonsense any day of the week. I hope you have found some relief by now.
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styxgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,866
Jun 27, 2014 4:51:44 GMT
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Post by styxgirl on Mar 16, 2016 0:23:12 GMT
I had a hall stone come out and block the main bile duct.
I was lethargic, yellow, had gray bowel movements and just felt like hell.
Went to doc and they confirmed that sucker had to come out.
The stone passed through on its own and I got better before the surgery like later that day I was better, but they still took it out.
Before that so sick part, I had two painful attacks where I was in complete pain and finally threw up from it and was able to get relief. Each lasted a couple of hours and I didn't know what the heck was going on. Then after the last one was when I got lethargic etc....
I went in then.
Take care of yourself!
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Post by AussieMeg on Mar 16, 2016 3:11:49 GMT
After my dad was rushed to hospital with a potentially fatal gangrenous gall bladder (he had ignored the attacks leading up to this), I would not be sitting around waiting to see what happened.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,619
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Post by craftymom101 on Mar 16, 2016 3:27:17 GMT
Thanks for all the advice and support. I did take my test and I called my doctor right after. The pain is significantly better today and I have an appointment with her first thing tomorrow morning. If I feel worse tonight I will drive myself to the ER. Promise!
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zella
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Post by zella on Mar 16, 2016 8:58:52 GMT
I think the elephant feeling can be from gallstones; the pain can definitely radiate.
For me, that sensation was a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my lung).
Sounds to me like you need that gallbladder out. Those attacks are awful (presuming that's what they are).
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Post by AN on Mar 16, 2016 11:27:18 GMT
Thanks for all the advice and support. I did take my test and I called my doctor right after. The pain is significantly better today and I have an appointment with her first thing tomorrow morning. If I feel worse tonight I will drive myself to the ER. Promise! I hope you feel better soon! I will be surprised if they don't get you to a surgeon soon - once the gallbladder goes, it can get dangerous quickly, so better to have it taken out when it isn't an emergency in most cases. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 16, 2016 14:34:15 GMT
That would have been enough pain for me by now... When I had my attack, I had just had a baby two months before... and the attack hurt worse that child bearing pain.. I was throwing up green slimy stuff.... so yeah, hubby took me to the ER where I had my gall bladder remove about 3 days later.
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:44:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 14:43:02 GMT
I just had my gallbladder out in December. I had a lot of referred pain that wasn't typical and even had an ultrasound that ruled out my gallbladder because there were no stones. A HIDA scan finally confirmed that my gallbladder was only at 4% function so it had to come out immediately. My doctor mentioned that he had a patient that presented with chest pain for quite a long time that finally resolved with gallbladder removal.
Hopefully it's nothing more than your gallbladder because although it is a cranky little thing, it is easily resolved.
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Mar 16, 2016 15:19:05 GMT
In the past month we've been to the ER twice for DH'S gall bladder attacks. He just got his HIDA scan back yesterday. It showed a function of 2%. He is scheduled for surgery 2 weeks from today. OP, I hope your situation is resolved ASAP.
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,619
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Post by craftymom101 on Mar 16, 2016 16:42:55 GMT
I am in the ER waiting on an ultrasound on my gallbladder.
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Deleted
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Apr 30, 2024 3:44:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 17:01:58 GMT
I'm glad you're getting help. Hope you're feeling better soon.
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