Pain Revisited

I'm bummed to have to report that after a few months of being relatively quiet... the pain in my right side below/behind the rib cage has resurfaced. Needless-to-say, I'm not a happy camper about this. This was the reason for the gallbladder surgery (it was swollen with stones but wasn't the cause of the pain) in October. And this was the reason, I had an MRCP (MRI looking for stray stones), CT scan of abdomen and pelvis w/ contrast, endoscopy looking for ulcers, etc all back in October/November. Nothing was found back then. The pain gradually faded over time - probably in December or so. Well, the pain gradually started coming back weeks ago and now the pain is here every day again. It isn't constant. Start the day off reasonably well then it kicks in - probably worse in afternoon/evening. It is a very dull ache rather than a sharp pain. Eating does seem to have some influence but I just don't see the real pattern. What do I think it is? I suspect adhesions. I suspect that my pouch has attached to something else in there and when I eat and put weight into the pouch... the adhesions get pulled causing the ache. It is a thought. I'm not sure why the pain eased those months other than to say that over the period of the time when the doc was checking me out - I continued to lose weight and perhaps there was more room for stuff inside and that eased it. Whotheheckknows, ya know? I bit the bullet today and called my surgeon's office. I'll see him next Wednesday morning. Obviously if things escalate, I'll call him/go to the ER but this isn't at an ER level issue as it stands now. I'm pretty frustrated. I seem to get one thing done/fixed and behind me and now I have something else to deal with (again). I don't deal particularly well with the *unknown* especially when it is something medical. Yea, no kidding, eh? I'm not sure what other tests my surgeon could do to figure out what is going on but I'll leave that to him. I trust him and know he'll do what he can but I suspect I'll be seeing the inside of an OR before I'm done. That's my story and unfortunately, I'm completely and utterly stuck with it. Kathy

Kathy I am so much like you when it comes to medical stuff. I don't even ever take any meds without researching them first. I have pain that comes and goes on both my right side and left. The left more severe, and had been diagnosed as gastritis, whatever! The right sided pain is relatively new, not bad but annoying. My first thought with you is I wondered if you have been tested for h-pylori since surgery? Or pancriatitis? (both came back negative on me) I read the post about adhesions the other day and REALLY wondered about this being some of my issues too. My doc did give me something for stomach spasms and it does help with the left sided pain. I recently found out with a fobi pouch, that I have, the stomach is deflated and a marker is put in place so it can be identified in xrays or whatever, I just know my old tummy hurts. Anyway, I didn't mean to turn your post into my post but I just wondered about us having similar pains. I'm always here, so holler if you find anything out. How do they test for adhesions??? I'm still putting my doc off on the pouch stretch thing he wants to do, I have no intentions on seeing an OR from the inside or out... anytime soon!

Hey, Barb! I was positive for h. pylori prior to surgery and took the Prevpak for 2 weeks. When I had my endoscopy, they did biopsies and my pouch tissue was negative for h. pylori. My CT scan didn't show an inflammed pancreas and my blood work didn't show elevate enzymes either. Though... now that I think about it... my liver enzymes were elevated on my blood work a couple of weeks ago that my endo did. He wasn't concerned in the least. Hmmm... I have no idea how they identify adhesions. I've tried to find out but didn't find anything. Not sure if it is an "exploratory find" type of thing. That would bite! Hmmm, your old tummy hurts? Old tummys can get ulcers and there is no way for them to look and see. Have they mentioned that? Thanks, Kathy

I am so sorry to hear about your pain, Barb and Kathy. Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas or suggestions. I will be praying for you both. Hugs, Tracy

Kathy, Is constipation a problem? When it is for me I get similar pains. I have been upping the fiber alot and tried eating Fiber One cereal w/ yogurt or milk it has 14 gr. fiber in 1/2 C. Plus taking fiber chewable tablets and eating more fresh fruit and veggies. It helps me and when things are 'moving' along the pain goes away. Adhesions are very difficult to detect even in xrays. Because they are scar tissue most scans won't show them. I have had issues w/them in past surgeries and yes they can cause alot of pain and other problems. Mine were able to be seen only visually via surgery. Hope your issues with this are resolved soon. Sorry you are hurting. Especially with all that's going on with your sis and all. God Bless ya, gal. Mary