having bad pain in chest area and stomach..need suggestions

I have experienced off and on some pain in my chest and when I use my Prevacid it eases up fairly quickly. Lately though it has increased to almost daily and sometimes twice daily. One time the pain was so bad I thought "am I having a heart attack???" not that I know what one feels like ...if I am though I am having them daily...so I don't think that is the case...Also, the time it hurt the worst was after I took a cold drink of Isopure probably too fast...I wondered then if my pouch was having a spasm and that is why the pain started that particular time. Has anyone experienced this or does and what do you do to prevent it other than medication?

Hi Karen: Sorry to hear that you are experienincy this..I had not had this before and am not sure what to do to ease the pain. Since it is recurring on daily basis...have you called your surgeron's office to let them know and see what they suggest? Hope all is well and keep us posted on what you find out from your surgeon. ((Hugs))

Karen, I have had the same thing...I had very bad acid reflux before surgery and was on several medications..part of the problem is that I refused to give up coffee. Now I have 1/2 decaf 1/2 regular in the morning...still not great but better. I sometimes get chest pains which no longer feels like heartburn but it probably is. I only take 1 prilosec 40 mg a day now (no other meds for this). I also take Tums alot. It could be major gas pains (which I also get). I take gas x for that. You should def ask your surgeon or gp though.

Karen--It sounds like it could be an ulcer, especially since the Prevacid is helping. I had pain like that but they never found anything except a stricture (which usually doesn't cause pain). I would definitely give my surgeon a call if I were you. Jen

I also have a history of ulcers and reflux... sounds like what I used to feel pre-op. My surgeon has me take the over-the-counter Pepcid complete (it is like and pepcid and a tums rolled into one.) I might give that a try, but I would not mess with any possible ulcers. Definitely get with your PCP or your surgeon. I have heard horror stories about ulcers post-op! Take care and speedy recovery! Belle

Thanks everyone for your care and concern. I went to my PCP and she said what I was doing by cutting down on the coffee ,drinking colder things slower and not as fast should help. I am already on Prevacid. She also said if it continues we will have to do an endoscopy. I told her I didn't want to have to do that and she said well, you may not have a choice....lol It is some better. I now limit myself to only decaf whereas before I was using 1/2 caf and sometimes full caffeine. I never have been a big coffee drinker but, somehow I develop a bit of a taste for it. I do miss my Root Beer but, have not given in to drinking that as I know it is a NO NO! I did find out I am low on iron otherwise all other lab work was fine. I have been bad about forgetting my iron so now I have to be more faithful in taking that too. I have not seen my bariatric surgeon as we moved to Illinois and he is in Texas but, I hope to see him later this year. Hope all of you are doing well and again thank you for your support. Karen