Anybody Know Anything About Gallbladder Problems?

Hi there,

I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about gallbladder attacks.  The reason I ask is because, in the last two to three days, I have eaten MUCH MORE than I usually eat (and a lot of oily, fatty stuff), due to the fact that I had a few relatives take me out to different restaurants.  Initially, I noticed some general nausea and instant water weight gain (about 7 lbs overnight!), but then, I started noticing that right after each meal for the last few days, I would get severely nauseous.  At first I thought it was because I was eating so much more than usual, but my mother-in-law thought differently.  Yesterday, less than 5 minutes after we were done eating lunch, we were in the car going to an appointment when I suddenly felt like I was going to vomit.  I had to ask her to pull the car over a couple of times on the way to the appointment.  She has had nurse training, and the first thing she said to me was that maybe I have a gallbladder problem, since the nausea was so sudden, and I had just eaten some things with lots of fat/oil in them.  She said I turned really white and that it wasn't normal for someone to have to vomit RIGHT AFTER eating, usually.  Anyway, what do you guys think?  Do you have any experience with gallbladder problems?  I have had some "suspect" incidents in the past, and I also heard that rapid weight loss can cause an onset of gallbladder attacks (I've lost about 50 lbs in the last 6 months or so).  Any thoughts?

Hi Kate, I had my Gallbladder removed last November. I had terrible chest pains with some nausea. Your right about the rapid weightloss and gallbladder attacks too. I hope you get checked out soon. It could be nothing to worry about. I kept putting off seeing my doctor because I'd eventually feel better. (Three attacks happened before I had to go because a gallstone was stuck in the wrong place and I was jaundice etc.) I hope you are feeling better soon, Ri

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#1 shiptona Aug 23 2007 14:29

Um, how about my husband had his removed a week ago?  Yes, you should get checked out.  For three Wednesday nights in a row he was sick, thought it was a weird stomach thing, but no flu, and no weird food eaten, no one else got sick.  Gall bladder also has pain with it. The third time he just went to the emergency room, and they did an ultra sound. I the mean time he was super carful about fats, but had full-fat milk on some cereal.  He got sick a fourth time, the pain was like a 9 on the 1 to 10 scale. The other times he got over it within a few hours. This time he didn't get better, still felt awful, also mild temp.  The surgeon couldn't schedule him for a consultation until September... so again my husband went to the emergency room.  He had surgery the following night. They were unable to do easy day surgery because he was so inflamed, so he had open surgery and spent a few days in the hospital... had 8-inch zipper on his stomach... doc said one of the 15 worst in 3000 gb surgeries he has done, and my husband should have been in months ago. However, he had no symptons then. So delaying could mean a more complicated procedure.

Yes, rapid weight loss can produce gall stones... I'm not sure why... too much fat for your liver to process???  My husband had lost about 20 pounds in 7 months, so not at all rapid.  Obesity, and also having a close family member with gall bladder disease, are also risk factors.

On the up side, my husband has lost another ten pounds, down 30 altogether. I think he would have preferred to do it the traditional way.

#2 plaidpooka Aug 23 2007 15:14

 I had mine out, my fiance and my mom had theirs out as well.

Yes, you should go to a doc and have it checked out. However, if this is happening after unusual eating, it could simply be because of what you are eating.  Neither my, my fiance's, or my mom's gallbladders made us nauseous.  We got pain.  Mostly something that felt like back pain, and mine was in front on my right side.  But if you are not used to eating much meat or fat, for example, and then you eat a lot of it, it can make you feel very sick.  That's not a disease, that's just your digestive system being used to better food, and not knowing what to do with the ton of fat you just sent it.

I waited TOO long thinking it would go away if I avoided fat and lots of calories (also after rapid weight loss)

I turned yellow like a Simpsons character one day... went to the hospital... I had gall stones blocking my liver, pancreas, and kidneys... My kidneys and liver were failing... I had pancreatitis and jaundice.

I had to stay in the hospital for a week on a clear liquid diet before surgery could even be performed...

The surgery part was quick and simple...  I would get it checked for sure!

I've had 2 kids, yrs ago and this pain was as bad.

Yes, losing weight quickly (don't know what signifys quickly) can cause it.  I lost 25# on Adkins, in 4 months.  This was 4 yrs ago.

Had a lot of chocolate as a treat one night, went to bed, 2 hrs later worst pain in the pit of my stomach, right in the middle of the bra area.  Couldn't move.  Sat hanging onto the bedpost for 1/2 hr.  Sat in bathroom, thinking I would throw up, but didn't.  After 2 hrs it was better and I went to sleep.  Woke up fine next day and thought it was a bad dream.

Second night, same thing.  Like a butcher knife going through my body.  2 hrs later, fine.

Third night, I knew something bad was wrong and called the doctor.  The nurse said, right away,  it was probably gallbladder. 

I had the simple outpatient surgery, and only 3 tiny scars which you can't see.

I googled info and seems if you eat lightly, you are better off.  Also eating a pear or something first thing in the morning to activate your gallbladder helps, until you can have surgery.

My girlfriend had her attack after having a big lunch with friends, like you.

oh heres something.  I had a LOT of upset stomachs, especially when eating out and thought it was the rich food.  But a few months before I was popping Pepcid and Malanta and Pepto Bismo everyday, nothing worth mentioning to anyone, but my stomach was always upset.

A yr after the surgery when I was cleaning bathroom cupboards I threw away all the anti-acids, realizing I hadn't taken any for a year.............

I had my gallbladder removed in May 2000, after 2 months of constant GB attacks. It was awful - like having a knife running through my chest. I had a hard time breathing, couldn't lay flat in bed (slept sitting up in a living room chair for the 2 months), couldn't eat ... couldn't even stand the smell of food cooking. Even having water and rice cakes brought on attacks. The first severe attack had me doubled over and I thought I was having a heart attack. I tried for a while to shrug it off, thinking it would go away on it's own, however after a solid month, I was calling the doctor, who immediately got me a referral to a specialist. About 2 weeks later, I walked in to the specialist's office, he took 1 look at my x-ray and told me that I would be admitted the following week to have it removed - no if's, and's or but's.

Yes, please have it checked out.

I agree with everyone-you need to get checked.  A few months after I stared my diet-i would get nauseated, throw up and one night I woke up in severe pain-I thought I was having a heart attack!!  Very scary thankfully it turned out to be "only" my gall bladder.