Concerned about my stomach....

Hi, It has been a long while since I have looked at messages and even longer since I have posted anything. My husband has been very sick for the last 14 weeks. He was in the hospital for 4 of them and now home 4 weeks. I have been quite busy with him and have not had time to worry about me. I have been noticing a solid feeling just above my navel for the last few weeks. It is about the size of my hand. It seems worse just after eating and is lessened after a bowel movement. I doesn't hurt except when I bend over for a long time like when I pull weeds in the garden. I called my wls doctor and they referred me to a general surgeon. I am going to see him soon. I just wanted to know if anyone else has had a similar feeling. It was suggested that we can get partial blockages in our intestines. I have always had an irritable bowel , so I was not alarmed at first. My wls doctor also removed a hernia during my operation last Sept. I have not had any other problems except for my leg blood clot and the coumadin issues that have resulted. I have lost 76 pounds and feel really good most of the time. I am so happy that I did this, only wish I had done it 15 years ago. I have enjoyed reading many of your posts tonight and seeing how you are all doing. I feel like I know you because we share similar surgery dates. This is my favorite board. Thanks for listening to me, Susan 247.5/171/---140

HI Susan, I am not sure if this could be possible, but you are describing how my pouch feels when i am full. I can totally feel this distended little area if I eat, and of course if i'm not full, it isn't firm like that. I hope it's nothing to worry about. Good job on your weight loss! I hope your husband gets better each day, that is so scary when someone we love is ill. Best wishes, Sue

Hi Sue, Thanks for your response. My husband is getting better each day. It is so nice to see him acting more normal and getting around better. He had a clotting problem last night with his intravenous pic port in his arm. Over the phone, the on call doctor advised him to wait until monday when he sees his regular doctor in his office to do anything. The home health nurse wanted me to take him right to the hospital. Bill would have nothing to do with the hospital after spending 4 weeks there. Well he is still O.K., but again I am scared!!! We just keep saying our prayers. I have an appointment with the surgeron for a consultation about my stomach Monday the 11th. The area is getting a little bigger each day, but usually doesn't hurt. I had a regular visit with my internist last friday and found out that I have lost 12 pounds during the last three months of my husbands illness. I was so thrilled that I had not gained anything. I know I was eating what little I could, in an irrational manner, trying to COPE with all the stress. I am so glad I did not do any weight damage. I seem to be in better control now, but I break down in tears for no reason. Thanks for caring, Susan

Susan, No expert here by a long shot, but my guess would be another hernia. I don't think we are far enough out to be affected by what is referred to as KBS, Kinky Bowel Syndrome. From what I've observed, this udually happens at ~18 months post-op, if it's going to happen. Many surgeons are adding a few stitches to their RNY routine to prevent this problem from occurring. Please let us know what the general surgeon says. Sherri 344/210/140

Hi Sherri, Thank you for your response, I just had a chance to look at my e-mails and I found yours. It feels good to know that someone cares. Today I had another one of my pain spells that seem to go with the stomach problem. It happened once before about 3 weeks ago when I had to be in a bent over position working on a fire pit. It lasted for several hours and only went away after a rest lying down. Today I was gardening and bent over for an extended period of time. Again it lasted about an hour and went away after a nap. I am not sure if this is all related to the lump in my stomach. It seems to be a cramping feeling. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday the 11th of July. So I should have a little more info then. I was looking at my wls surgeon's report the other day and noticed that he used silk stiches as well as staples, so it sounds like he did a little extra for me. He said that all looked good in there at the time of surgery. The kinky bowel sounds interesting as I have had an irritable bowel for many years. Do you know where could I find out more info on that? Thanks for your help, Susan

Susan, The info I've learned about KBS is from a local site, WLSIndy.com. Several on the board has had it and all at 18 months+ post-op. From it, I also learned that the extra stitches were starting to be used ~May 2004 to prevent KBS from occurring. You may want to check on the complications board on here to see if you can learn more. I hope you get the answers you need tomorrow. Sherri 344/207/140