Pain Symptoms

Here is the whole scope of things, sorry this might be kind of long. I had my RNY on August 31, 2004. In mid-April 2005 I had horrible pain at the top of my abdomen. It was like being in hard labor with waves of pain. It went from under my rib cage across top of abdomen and under the other rib cage in waves of pain. Any movement or jarring caused sharp pains in the same area. The centrifical force of me taking an on ramp in my car increased the pain. Each step I took increased a sharp pain, all of this on top of the waves of pain that I was having. I truly believed I was trying to get an obstructions. After laying in my bed and sitting up indian style and rocking I decided to takes some Dulcolax, Tums and Colace. Anything to force through whatever was in there before a blockage could occur. On Friday May 13, 2005 after eating a lunch with a moderate amount of fat in it I got the waves of pain starting again. Not nearly so severe and I could stay at work, but it was same place with wave after wave, just like labor pains, only high up across the top of the abdomen, and worsened after supper as well. Each time I have eaten since (esp. over weekend and yesterday) it seems I can feel it and it is somewhat uncomfortable like something is creating a spasm in my upper abdomen. An ultrasound of the gall bladder showed no stones, thickening of the walls or sludge and the biliary duct was the perfect size of .38 for my age. Anyone have any idea or similar symptoms? Lisa LapRNY 08/31/2004 220/139/110 Dr. Norbert Richardson

Hi Lisa, I had my surgery about the saame time you did! I also have the same sort of pain you describe and it has had me in the hospital, where the MD there said it was REFLUX! Yeah right.... later he explained that as the food passes through the esophagass it can irritate the diaphram and then cause the spasams...... WHAT TO DO....... not much... ... (grrrrr) I got the standard lecture about small meals often and no liquids with soild meals. Beacause this also cause my heart to race I was also given a bata blocker, but that makes my BP go low so I was told not to continue with that. WHAT I HAVE FOUND TO HELP: of course follow the meal plan, eat small amounts of food and drink liquids separtate from meals. Warm foods are better than cold ones. When the pain does happen I also use a heating pad (over tummy) and sit in a reclined postion. Sitting straight up causes the rib muscels to spasam as well, and lying down will increase the reflux. I would also ask you MD about testing your for an ulcer. This is down by an endoscopic exam ( tube down your throat -sedated not painful) Sometimes I feel crazzy as the pain can be so intence and the MD's say there is no real problem or anything they can do for help. GOOD LUCK Lisa. OH you also may have become latoce intolerant..... I have and I love milk. When I drink it now pain is sure to follow.

OW! I'm sorry, I haven't experienced that, but it seems like with your excellent descriptions they should be able to figure out the problem... I'd just keep bugging them about it until they tell you what it is!!!! I wish whatever it was would go away- I hate hearing that one of my fellow WLS babes is in pain! Keep up the good work, we're all pulling for you! Lots of love, Dawn 257/154/140?

Hi Lisa. I hope you start feeling better! Gosh, having my RNY on 8-25-04 and then my gallbladder removal March 28th, I could swear those are the exact symptoms I had. I wonder if it's possible that they just can't see the stones, or maybe it's a teeny tiny stone in your biliary duct. Follow through with your doctor on a daily basis! I first experienced the pain in February and ignored it, then a month later it came back with a vengence and I ended up having pancreatitis and being in the hospital for 5 days with nothing to eat or drink, on the 5th day they took out my gallbladder once my labs came back okay. You may have to be "pushy" with them. Hope things get better for you real soon! Cathy BTW, your weight stats are awesome!

If it is not gallstaones then it may be an ulcer. In January, I started having severe pain, and I mean severe in my upper abdomon, I thought I had a blockage. I ended up in the ER 4 times within a 2 week period before I was referred by my surgeon to a gastroenterologist. My surgeon felt that I had an ulcer which I had never had before and said we are more susceptible to getting now. I was prescribed Prevacid and referred to a gastroenterologist, which I was able to see the following day. After seeing my ER test results, xray, ultrasound & blood test, the GI doc felt the same. Did I mention after 2 weeks of the extreme pain, which came on only when I would eat or drink (crystal light lemonade of all things), It felt like the severe pain and pressure stopped and within a day I realized I was passing blood in my stool. I did still feel a dull pain. The GI doc performed an upper GI and a colonoscopy. It was found that I did have an ulcer that was healing with the meds pretty good. I have had zero pain since and I was on the meds for 2 months. The doc said if I feel the slightest pain or have acid reflux to take a pill. I have had acid reflux 2 times since then, took a pill and was fine. Absolutely no problems since. I hope this helps.