Hi. First if you are having a gallbladder attack that can be life threatening and if the pain starts getting severe I would definitely tell you to go to the emergency room, don't risk your life!

I'm sure you already know this because you've already experienced one attack but here's some info according to John Hopkins Family Health Book: Gallstones - Symptoms - Pain in the upper right abdomen, which may spread to include the chest, back (between the shoulder blades), and shoulders; this pain may last as little as 15 minutes or as long as several hours, you may feel a repeat episode of pain a few hours later, or it may take weeks, months, or even years for another attack to occur. Also, nausea; vomiting; sweating; and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

It does say that if you have severe pain in the upper back or abdomen that lasts longer than 15 minutes, go to the emergency room immediately; serious pain means that something is wrong. Among other things, this pain could be caused by a heart attack or bowel obstruction.

I'm not telling you this to scare you but so that you will make a good choice in what you decide to do. I've gone through this once before myself years ago and the pain lasted for hours, I couldn't move it hurt so bad, but it finally passed and I've never experienced it again. I chose not to go to the hospital but that was my personal choice and you should definitely monitor yourself.

As far as what to eat, perhaps if it were me, I'd have some liquid types of soups. I cant help but to wonder if it wouldn't help to try drinking glasses of water with a couple of spoons of olive oil and lemon juice mixed in it. Maybe that will help to soften things up a bit where it can pass.

I'm sure there are people on here much more experienced than I am and I can only tell you what I would do for myself. I hope everything will be okay with you. Please keep us up to date. And please, I wasn't trying to scare you, just make sure you are aware and don't take it too lightly.

Take care,
Cheryl

Gosh don't you just HATE gallbladder attacks. I had a baby six-months ago and I would rather go through that, than the horrible ripping pain through my back and chest. I know where you are at it is not a fun place to be and it is quite scary. You become afraid to eat, agitated because you are hungry and just feel frustrated and hopeless about your health. But... I found something that works for me when I have a gallbladder attack.

I take 1 tbs of epsoms in 1c of grapefruit. I have had to do this only once, but it worked very, very well for me. I went from having an attack at least once of month to not having one in 3months. Diet modification, liver flushing, daily moving of bowels have been the secret to my success.

You have to listen to your body. You know what it can handle and what it cannot. Do as I do, give it to God. Let him work on it. And trust yourself!!

I wish you the best!

I would go to the emergency room if your pain lasts a long time, and is so painful it feels like a heart attack. I had my first attack while pregnant last November (I am 28). I was driving, and I had to pull over, I thought I was going to die, and I could just limply wave my hand out the car window to hope I could get someone's attention, to at least save my baby. I SWORE I was having a heart attack. (No, no one came to my rescue). I had them three times since then. A month later and a week before having the baby I had one, and still thought it was just BAD heartburn and a large baby since that's what my OB said. I didn't go to the ER, I don't think about my GB everyday, for cryin' out loud. I had one two weeks after having the baby. This lasted over an hour, and I was so scared I was going to die, my poor hubby packed the baby up and we ventured out in the middle of a snow storm at 4AM to the ER. It was an obstruction, that couldn't work it's way out like the other attacks. They did an ultrasound and saw the stones. I had my GB removed a few days later, and was sure it was all downhill from here. Nope! Three weeks later I was back at the hospital in yet another snowstorm with the same pain. It was left over stones. Not only had I been experiancing blockage, I had severe pancreatitus, and NONE of these things are something to guess about. Now I think about my digestive tract every day, and I am healing VERY slowly because I waited so long. I'm on lots of Pain meds and I feel like poo everyday, and it's been a month already. If you suspect it, and you are doubled over in pain, take the risk and GO DIRECTLY to the ER. Better safe then dead, my friend. Good luck and feel better!