Spasm's in upper abdomen/No desire for food

Hey out there, I have been having "upper abdomen spasms" now for MONTHS! They are so bad that I am now on a morphine patch and muscle relaxer. The spasms that I get are kind of like a charleyhorse in your leg that wakes you up in the middle of the night screaming, except worse because it moves into my chest area and makes it hard to breathe. When I first went to my surgeon with this, he said that it was from my pannus (that darn "apron" that hangs down) and that I should start wearing a one piece girdle. Well, I tried that and I still got the spasms. I had one in my doc's office and he said he could feel the muscle cramping up ( nothing like being in major pain and having someone poke and prod you at the same time). Since then, I have had NUMEROUS tests which have all come back negative. I am now being told that sometimes this does happen after any surgery that fools with the stomach and intestines. I was told that it can last up to a year, but it can also last alot longer! Needless to say, taking morphine and muscle relaxers are not conducive (did I spell that right?) to bookkeeping, which is what I do. Even sitting up straight, as I am now doing, brings on pain. Every few minutes, I have to get up so that I don't get a stomach cramp. So, I am not working. I'm out on disability. The upside is that I have lost 97 lbs since surgery. All without hardly any excersize, since my doc said no excersize, just walk alittle each day.He said I can start really excersing once the spasms go away. Imagine what I could have lost if I could join a gym, or walk a couple miles each day. Also, I have absolutely no desire to eat! I have to force myself everyday just to drink 3 cans of Slim Fast. I drink AchievOne coffee drink for the protein (20 grams per). My husband thinks I've become anorexic! I remember prior to my GBS, I would sometimes wish I was, I loved food so! I still love to cook, when I can, but can't eat. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? If so, how are you dealing with it and what did your doc say? Sorry this was such a long post. Thanks, Cindy

Cynthia I'm sorry you are having this problem. I used to have some spasms before - when I used to bend over to pick up something but nothing since surgery. I would continue to bother your surgeon for answers to your situation. Also, you are not eating enough and this should be a concern for the office - you should be able to eat some foods at almost 6 months out. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and a resolution for your situation.

Thanks Ruth. Besides my surgeon, I've been to see my regular PCP and also a gastroenterologist. As far as my surgeon, I have pretty much given up on him. Don't get me wrong, he's one of the best around, surgery wise. But, when it come to post op, it's almost as if he doesn't want to believe that there are ANY complications. He makes me feel as if I did something wrong. I'm not blaming him for this problem I have. I think that all the publicity he and his partner have had has gone to his head. (His partner is the surgeon that did Al Roker's GBS). During my last visit with him, right in the middle of me talking to him about the spasm's, his cell phone rang and he answered it and started talking to someone about his new Mercede's! Before he walked out of the room he told me that I should speak to Catherine, his secretary and she could anwer any questions I had! My husband became livid and I had to calm him down. So, now I have made an appointment with his partner. She is a very compassionate and knowledgeable woman and I should have gone with her for my GPS. As to my food consumption, it's not so much that I can't eat food, it's that I have absolutely no desire to do so. I get in enough protein each day between the Slim Fast and the AcheivOne drinks. The only thing I am low in is iron and I have been taking supplements for that. I just wish I would have felt this way pre-surgery and then I wouldn't have had to have GBS! Cindy

Yikes! That sounds very painful. I have quite a bit of stomach pain from my ulcer, and I have HORRID spasms in my back from my MS. So. . although I don't know exactly what you're going through, I can at least relate. ((( HUGS ))) I so hope you get some good relief soon. Have you posted this on the main board yet?? I think you should post it there. That board has LOTS of traffic, and I'm sure that some post-ops have been through this. ((( HUGS ))) Leslie

Hi Leslie, Thanks for the hugs. That's a good idea, to post on the main board. I didn't think of that. I'm going to do that now. I can attest to the pain from stomach ulcers. I had two many years ago, but I still remember the pain! For me, it was a "stabbing pain" in my stomach, and the only thing that helped was to eat. I finally got them cleared up, after having gained a lot of weight! (((HUGS))) back! Cindy

I have had this twice and both times it was after I had taken a tylenol 3. It is a hard cramp in my upper stomacha area that last until the medication wore off. I just take OTC tylenol now. I hope you find out what is doing this. Janice

Thank you for your reply Janice. I did notice that the spasm's lasted longer and also I had gas pains when I was taking Hydrocodone for the pain. I have tried otc Tylenol and that didn't help. Right now, the only thing helping is the morphine patch and the muscle relaxer. I just pray that it will eventually go away but, I just read yesterday in an article I saw that it may very well be with me forever. I can only leave it in the Lord's hands. Cindy

Bless your heart! Or rather, your stomach!! I'm sooooo sorry that you are having this problem. I know that is not fun!! I am going to pray for you that this will NOT be with you forever, but that It will go away asap!!! I had a little 'scare" with mine Saturday, but it turned out to just be "trapped gas". I was calling the doctor's office when it quit hurting!! It hasn't hurts since, so I guess that was all that it was. It scared me though! I hope they find out soon what is causing it, but either way, I hope it goes away SOON!! Love, Pam

Hi Cindy, Sorry you've had so much discomfort! I envy your lack of appetite though! As far as the spasms go, I remember seeing another post about this not too long ago. I'm sorry, I can't remember who posted it. I have no idea if it was the same feeling you are describing, but I'm sure you'll learn more on the main board. The only thing I thought I'd add is that I know charley horses are related to deficiencies of some sort. My mom got them all the time when she was on peritoneal dialysis for her kidneys. I know yours isn't exactly a charley horse, and it's probably more likely related to being cut, but since your mostly consuming only shakes, you might be missing some obscure mineral or something. Maybe if you tried to incorporate some real food for at least one meal a day, the cramping would get better??? I hope you feel better soon! And congrats on your wonderful weight loss! ~Sue