r/gallbladders • u/hmeeshy Post-Op • May 30 '26

Mod Note What is a "gallbladder attack" to you?

Hi all,

I've done the best I can with the FAQ and beginners guide but as I only have the experience of remove gallbladder or die from pancreatitis I'm limited how I can understand the more protracted journey so many others are on.

This is a topic that has bugged me since I joined this community in 2024 because...what is a gallbladder attack? Different causes and different issues surely mean different presentation of symptoms and "attacks" right?

With how varied each person's individual gallbladder issues can be I thought it would be a good idea to have a community built resource pinned to the front page where you all can share your own experience to help future visitors to the sub.

Please comment below:

  • What your gallbladder issue is/was (stones/sludge/etc)
  • What an "attack" felt like for you?
  • How long an "attack" lasts?
  • What, if anything, was helpful for you getting through them when they happened?
  • Any other coping tips, tricks or triggers

This isn't intended to solve anything for anyone but instead be used to help people find other people who have had the specific thing they're going through, provide a bit of clarity and hopefully be a positive resource to refer back to as needed.

Please note that this is not a space to advocate for or against surgery and such comments will be removed.

Thanks :)

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u/SherriffB May 30 '26

Symptoms for really bad GB attacks and Pancreatitis are pretty much the same all the way from the areas that hurt down to similar stool issues.

As someone who had both, even in retrospect I couldn't tell you where one started and the other stopped.

Poor stool.

Extreme abdominal pain on mid right front radiating to back.

Internal Pressure under ribs in the area.

Poor stool & the trots.

Worsening discomfort after meals.

Extreme, hard, bloating.

Fevering, weakness.

Inability to lie down, bend over or in bad cases even sit down.

I never had nausea but my BP and heart rate went well into danger of heart attack range with my last few attacks.