Last March, at about 11pm at night... I had the most painful attack I had ever had. I thought I was having a heart attack. It started in my upper abdomen/chest area then radiated up into my shoulders and lasted for about an hour. A couple days later I had to do a physical so my doctor threw in an ECG just to make sure there was nothing wrong with my heart, and sure enough nothing wrong.

I have been having slightly more stomach problems than usual... ya know, not being able to eat what I used to. Fatty stuff would make me gassy or sick.

About 6 months after my first attack I had another. I was all alone at home, and completely freaked. I ended up calling 911 after 45 minutes of the fetal position on the floor. The hospital did NOTHING... just told me I had diaphragmatic spasms...and that if it happens again.. to just wait it out. Apparently not being able to breathe is no big deal.

I thought... okay.. no problem, I can deal with this if it's only going to happen every 6 months....well.... two weeks later.....BAM!!

So off to the doctor I go again.... then comes the onslaught of blood tests and ultrasounds.

GALLSTONES!!! I'M 26 YEARS OLD FOR HEAVENS SAKE!!!!

So, get this.... What's a good way to increase your chances of getting gallstones? LOSE WEIGHT!! My weight loss is a huge contributing factor to getting gallstones. Isn't that always the way it goes! You do something good for you, and life pays you back with that!

Well, the stones are huge, and tonnes of them... so medication is out. And I'm a low carber...so a no-fat diet is sorta out of the question too.

Surgery it is... the laparoscopic kind...

Anyone been through this?
For the same reasons?
Any advice to share?
How are things after surgery?

Linnea