Spent the weekend in the ER

Sigh...that bad abdominal pain that I had on Tuesday came back on Saturday with a vengeance. About 3:00 on Saturday I started getting that terrible pain again and I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was wrong. I went into the ER where they gave me IV fluids again but after a little while it started getting a bit better, but they gave me some other medicine (Robinal or something) and sent me home. Well, around 9:00 p.m. it came back for about an hour or so, then went away. Around midnight it was back again and stayed there all night. At 8 a.m. Sunday when my kids got up, I told them to eat quickly we were going to the hospital again. Hubby packed everyone up and away we went. As we're going I'm really focusing on what the pain feels like. It's almost like a cramp, charlie horse type feeling that spreads all the way around my torso at the level of my xyphoid bone, about 3 inches wide all the way around. So...I start thinking about that and I used to get this bad gastrointeritis once or twice a year where I'd have bad cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea - it would last about 24-36 hours then go away. I'm thinking this may be what it is but considering my stomach is so much smaller now it's more intense, I dunno. Anyway, about 8:30 I'm in the ER and in an incredible amount of pain. They hook me up (again) to an IV, give me fluids and the same medicine that they've given me Tuesday and Saturday when I was there even though I told them it didn't work. Around 10 I ask for some pain medicine and the doc gives me the SAME medicine that she's already given me - I told her it didn't work. She said, "Well, yesterday they gave it to you and you said the pain went away." I said, "No, I told them the pain went away and they gave me the medicine ANYWAY - it was already gone." She said, "Well, lets see how it works." It took everything I had not to get up and slap that doctor. So, around 10:30 she finally gives me this medicine that isn't going to work and I told her so and told the nurse that came to give it to me the same thing. On a scale of 1-10, I told her my pain level was an 8.5. So, she gives me this damn Robinal again and about 15-20 minutes later the nurse comes in and asks me how I'm feeling. I said, "I'M IN PAIN!!!!!!! I want some PAIN medicine!" So, the doc comes in a few minutes later and says, "How are you feeling?" I said, "Terrible - my pain is now a 9! Does that warrant some pain medicine?!" She said, "Well, we've got to give the Robinal time to work..." (at this point I cut her off and said) "It's NOT WORKING just like I TOLD you it wouldn't!" So, a few minutes later she comes back in and says, "What's your pain level?" I said, "My pain level AND my frustration level are both at a 9!" So, she gave me some dilaudid which I have to say is some good stuff. After about 5 minutes my pain was down to a 9. I still felt the cramp in my abdomen, though. She did a few more x-rays (which I had already had 2 sets of and nothing showed up) and FINALLY did a CT scan which I told her when I first went in is what my surgeon wanted done (I had talked to my surgeon on Saturday night and told him what was up) but she decided to wait until around 1 to order one. It's funny cuz when I went into the X-ray room, the tech said, "Didn't you already have these done yesterday?" (the abdominal series). I said, "Yes, but she wants to see if anything is different for whatever reason." He said, "You didn't hear this from me, but she's worthless." I said, "I would have to agree. I've worked with doctors and I would never work for her." He said that many times he has to tell her what tests to order because she is unsure. GREAT!!!!!! So, around 1 the x-ray tech comes in with this (seems like) galon of orange fluid that I have to drink to do the CT scan with contrast or something. I had 1-1/2 hours to drink it all and it took me about that long and it left a nasty chalky film in my mouth that later took me 3 times of brushing my teeth to get rid of. About 10 minutes before they came to get me, I felt the cramp feeling go away in my abdomen and felt better. They did the CT scan and everything (surprise) was normal. So, after a bit she sent me home. I have an appointment with my PCP today and my surgeon wants to see me on Thursday. Like I said, I'm thinking it was just a virus - but who knows. They said everything with my surgery looks fine so that's good. Pouchy is fine. I've not taken my vitamins in 2-3 days or had nearly any protein in the last day or two as I've not really been able to get anything in. Yesterday food wise all I had was 1 sf popsicle I've been pushing fluids as much as I can tolerate without feeling sick (which yesterday was only about 32 oz outside of the IV fluids, and Saturday was about 50 oz outside of the IV fluids). I am feeling pretty dry today so I'm drinking as much as I can. I've already drank a protein drink (8 oz milk, 1 scoop powder), taken my vitamin, and am working on a 20 oz bottle of water. I'm feeling pretty good today, just quite run down. I've not been to the gym in 1-1/2 weeks and I'm hoping that by tomorrow I'll feel up to going again. Anyway, just wanted to stop by and say hello. I'm 5 months out today and I'm hoping that this icky is gone! Michelle

Hey, Michelle. Sorry you had such a crappy weekend and for the most part, other than not being in pain anymore, are no further ahead in knowing what's going on. Glad you're following up with your PCP and surgeon this week. What you described kind of reminded me of something I read in that book I posted about - The Real Skinny on WLS. There was a section about complications and weird side effects and one part talked about what they called "Scramps". Both of the authors had experienced it - one in the legs and one multiple times in the torso and indicated that many of the patients they interviewed experienced it too. It was some sort of full muscle constriction related to the rapid weight loss, change in diet, body shifting, etc. The author who had the "torso scramps" said the first time, she literally thought she was dying, was rushed to the ER, sure she was having a heart attack or worse. She's had them several times and although she still goes to the ER, she at least now knows what's going on. I loaned my book out to a friend but can probably get it back tomorrow. If you want to know more about what it said, how it was described, etc., let me know and I can share it with you. It's worth a thought, and maybe something you could discuss with your docs, as well.

Wow Michelle, I'm so sorry you have been going through this yo-yo routine. I hope the pain stays away. I know exactly how you feel, with the confusion and frustration. I have been having abdominal/tummy pains on and off for a few weeks. I have no idea what is causing them, and I'm trying to eliminate everything I can to figure it out. It is very hard to do. Hang in there. Hopefully you won't have to go back to the ER or see that doctor again! Deanna

Michelle, (((Hugs))) Whew, is all i can say! What an experience. So sorry to hear all you've been through. Feel better soon! Aliya

Michelle, Such a bad experience! I hope you are through with it too! Lori 384/294/170

WOW Michelle, What a nightmare. It may be over but the trauma of the whole ordeal, physically as well as emotionally has left you worn out. I just wanted to say Hi and that I will be praying for you. I hope you can rest up a bit and have some special time just for you...a bubble bath or a walk to enjoy the fall weather or if you are near the water maybe a quiet time of peacefully drinking in the beauty. God bless ya gal, alot of yer pals here at OH are pulling for ya. Mary

Hi Michelle, I'm sorry to hear you were in so much pain. I had a similar pain for about a month on and off and couldn't figure out what it was. It hurt so bad and the Dr. told me I probably over did it. I strained the muscle in my stomach area. I started to wear my abdominal binder like crazy and took it easy and it has not come back since. I hope you feel better soon. Christy Leigh