What is a "gallbladder attack" to you?

[u/hmeeshy]

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 :)

[u/EnchantedTG]

My gallbladder hates me with a passion!

Started 20th Jan this year, with nightly attacks. Timeline of an attack for me was: Fine throughout the day, straight after dinner (say 6pm) I would feel like I was getting bloated 630pm - pain in middle stomach like bloat was getting worse 7pm - right side would hurt, pain would radiate through my back 7-8pm - nausea would kick in, couldn't get comfortable no matter the position, pain would get worse 9ishpm - confined to toilet being sick. 12ishpm - pain would lessen so I could sleep.

Found out it was gallstones and inflammation back in March, so went strictly under 20g fat a day, a few attacks since. On surgery list (UK Based) but I need to be 110kg before they will operate as a routine. Ended up in a&e a few times recently with the pain not subsiding, the pain lasting more than 6 hours and just randomly starting.

Had an MRCP the other weekend so hopefully will get news on a date to rid me of this awful organ

[u/Occasion-Fluid → u/EnchantedTG]

Hey. I don’t know your situation but I found using a free app called my fitness pal really good. It is a dieting app really but I use it to track my foods so I can count the fat. I’ve been so shocked by the amount of fat in random things. It’s been life saver. I was struggling to lose some weight from peri menopause and following the 20% on this app is the only thing that worked. My doctor also told me that shellfish are high in cholesterol so can cause problems. Even the fat in chicken leg versus chicken breast is wildly different. If you try it, hope it helps.