Help! Please

Hi all!

My name's Natalie and I am very new to the forum!:)

I am wondering if some of you may be able to give advice on my situation.

A week ago sunday (23rd april), I was awoken by an awful pain under my right ribs, accompanied by the feeling of severe constipation[:o]
I was sick and hubby called out Seadoc, who stated that they thought it was either an ulcer or gall bladder issue. He prescribed me some tablets to take the acidity out of my tummy. They did not resolve anything.

After many a sleepless night I finally got the courage to go to A&E, they told me I had to have a blood test, the idea of which sent me into a blind panic as I have had a long-standing phobia of needles for over 10 years.:(The assessment nurse was empathetic and still arranged for me to see the doctor who stated she thought it was perhaps gallstones. She then prescribed me "Buscopan" stating it was a muscle relaxant and that as I couldn't go through with the blood test - she would see me back in a few months or so for the op!!!!!![:@]

Again, this Sunday (29th April), I was met with the same excruiciating pain, this time worse as it seemed to also be between my shoulder blades, my lower back as well as under my ribs. Hubby frog-marched me to the Seadoc dept at the local hospital, the doctor was soooo helpful. Examined my abdomen and stated he was 100% sure it was my gall bladder. He gave me some co-codamol for the pain, advised me what foods to stay away from (something of which A&E did not do!) I would have been very grateful of this information sooner as I had just partaken in a sunday afternoon BBQ with the in-laws!!!!! He then told me to request an ultrasound through my GP.

Since then (sorry I seem to be rambling:(), I have filled the cupboards with ultra-low fat foods. This seems to be helping although I have had a flare-up with the back pain this morning.

I have a few questions:
1) Are the "flushes" safe to do?
2) Roughly how long does it take for a scan appointment to come through?
3) Are there any alternative treatments I can safely do that may hopefully avoid me having surgery?

I am very concenred about having surgery, due to the whole needle thing and also of the fact I am over-weight. I have (last year), been under general to have dental work done - but that was due to the efforts of a verypatient aneasthetist, 2 tablets of Diazepam and Emla cream!!!!

I have read that there are "cleanses" that can be done and have also read that these are equally not recommended as they are encouraged. Again I have also read that doctors are very quick to suggest surgery and sometimes its unnecessary as it wasn't the gall bladder in the first place!

I'm sooo confused, please help:D