Severe pain in side and back

georgia girl · February 20, 2008

Okay, last weekend I was at a Valentine's Banquet, sitting (had just started eating) and suddenly I had the worst back pain I've ever had. It was like a cramping, stabbing, sharp pain in my lower back. It lasted for about 30-45 minutes. It went away and I didn't think much else about it until last night.

I was laying on my right side last night and decided to change positions. Well, that was a huge mistake...........I had an awful pain right underneath my ribcage on my right side. It was a very sharp, excruciating pain. I couldn't move because it hurt even worse when I tried. It lasted about 30 minutes, then went away. This time I had eaten about 1 and 1/2 hours earlier.

I am begining to think maybe it is a gallbladder problem, but I don't really know. Can someone tell me what it feels like to have gallbladder attacks?

Tres850 · February 20, 2008

Before I had my gall bladder removed, the attacks were very painful. They were directly in the space in between my ribcage and seemed to go through to my back at times. It was a burning sensation at first, then became more of a dull stabbing pain (but my doc said that different people experience different pain from gall bladder attacks).

georgia girl · February 20, 2008

Thanks for your response. What tests have to been ran in order to find out if it is in fact a gall bladder problem? I've only had two episodes, so should I wait it out and see if it happens again?

Tres850 · February 22, 2008

I would go in if it happens again for sure. If I remember correctly, they did lots of upper GI tests to rule out things and maybe a CT scan. They said it was better to remove the gall bladder in a planned surgery than in an emergency situation, so I opted to go that route. From looking at past posts, gall bladder problems seem to be rather common after weight loss surgeries, especially since stones are generated by rapid weight loss. Good luck, I hope it doesn't come back!

georgia girl · February 22, 2008

Thanks for your response Movin On! I went ahead and scheduled an appt for next Wednesday with my family physician. I'd rather catch it early, if that's what it is.