I've had 4 "attacks", each one worst than the last. I get nauseous and severe pain all across my stomach – not lower abdomen, not right under my chest.. right in the midde. I don't have a thermometer, but I get extremely hot so I might have a fever as well. The pain comes at night (not 4 consecutive nights, it's been spaced out over a couple weeks) in the evening after dinner and it hurt so bad this past time that I just had to go to bed. Tums does not help. Curling up in a ball hurts MORE than stretching out flat on my back. Moving also hurts. I can't really tell if it hurts to touch my stomach, but I don't think so.
Could this be gallstones?
Thanks!
It sounds like a good possibilty. The reason it's happening at night and after dinner is the attacks are usually triggered by certain food, usually fatty or gas producing foods. It usually is mostly on the right side, but the pain can be so wide spread that it can be in the middle too. The big thing is a lot of times it shoots into your back. Since they are getting worse and worse I'll worn you that you will start becoming more and more sick, some people start vomiting during these attacks due to the pain. This however is easy to diagnose and a very simple surgery to fix (usually can be done out patient). an ultrasound will diagnose it. I would call your doctor as soon as you can and watch what you eat to control the attacks until you can get it taken care of.
I hope this helps
gallstone pain usuallly (but not always) happens after you have consumed a meal high in fat. The pain is constant. There are no highs or lows. It starts suddenly and ends the same way. Attacks can last hours or minutes. Sometimes nausea comes with them, only if you have had severe attacks that last for more than 4 hours. Generally the pain is felt below your ribs on the opposite side of your stomach or most typically in between your shoulder blades on your back.
I know this cause I had 19 attacks before my surgery for gallstones and then another 16 even more painful attacks after my surgery. Sometimes a stone gets trapped in the bile duct after they take out your gallbladder….then it has to migrate down the tube itself….thus the pain!
Potentially yes, but not necessarily. It would be really useful for you to see your doctor in order to have an abdominal ultrasound examination and blood tests (liver enzymes, bilirubin, pancreas enzymes and a complete blood count) arranged.
I hope you'll get over these episodes soon.
It could be. Ive had gall bladder problems before, but it doesn't sound like the right place. usually, you'll feel a lot of pressure under your right breast, and it hurts!!! if the pain is random like you say, i suggest you go talk to a doctor about it. It doesn't hurt to check.