by Kimberly Stevens

Created on: April 05, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

As a recent victim of gallbladder pain, I would like to share with you the symptoms and pain I experienced. When I was 15 years old, I had my first "attack" but the doctors told my mom it was indigestion and I would be fine. I remember laying on the floor, in the fetal position, crying because of the pain in my right side. I couldn't find a comfortable spot. I drank an entire bottle of antacid, assuming the doctor was right.

These "attacks" happened off and on for the next 5 years, but I began to notice that they were more frequent and were causing a host of other symptoms. I was going back and forth between diarrhea and constipation. I was vomiting during the attacks. I began to feel the pain in my back as well as my side and then it began moving to my chest and I started feeling like I couldn't breathe. I had to call 911 a couple of times and, again, I was told it was probably indigestion and that everything looked fine.

About a year after my last call to 911, I had moved to a new town and started a new job. I hadn't had an attack in several months. Everything seemed to be going OK and then, one day, while I was working, I started feeling this intense burning sensation in my chest and started getting short of breath. I knew instantly what it was. That familiar pain was returning and I was devastated. This time the pain and nausea symptoms lasted well over 24 hours and I couldn't get relief no matter what I tried. It was time for an Emergency Room visit. I was in the Emergency Room for 6 hours while I was poked and prodded for this and that test only to be told that everything came back normal and it was probably indigestion.

The next day, the pain still had not subsided and I returned to the Emergency Room where they gave me a pain reliever and did an ultra sound. I was told that they found nothing and they gave me something to help me sleep. I went back home more discouraged than ever. The following morning I awoke and the pain was even sharper still. I pressed on to get to work and when I couldn't finish the day, my partner took me back to the ER.

At this point I called my mom and was told that every female on her side of the family, including herself, had gallbladder issues. This I promptly shared with the doctor. Another ultra sound was done and, after over 60 pictures, my partner noticed something that looked like grains of salt falling from a shaker. She pointed it out to the technician and it was determined that I had gallstones and surgery was scheduled for two days away.

The next morning, my skin and eyes were completely yellow and I was rushed back into the ER. I was immediatly prepped for emergency surgery and the doctor informed me that I could have and almost did die. They removed my gallbladder along with 58 gallstones.

If you are having severe pain and you suspect gallbladder problems, please don't hesitate to get to the doctor and don't give up until they figure out what's causing it.

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