Trip to the ER and bad news

So I end up going to the ER last night because of INTENSE pain near my lower left lap incision.  It was more surface so I figured it wasn't serious but the docs on call wanted to make sure it wasn't a clot.  So, after 5 hours at the ER the pain is still unexplained.  BUT>>> lucky me!!!  The did a CT Scan to rule out an obstruction and discovered that I have a mild case of pancreatitis (probably from the surgery) and gallstones.  YAY!  NOT!

I called the Bariatric Center today to follow up and of course the doctor wanted to see me.  (I was supposed to return to work today.  My Lap RNY was 2 weeks ago and my surgeon said I needed to take off two weeks.. I teach.)  Soooo.. long story longer... the gallstones are apparently quite large and the doc indicated that I will need surgery to remove the gall bladder.  But, since my RNY was so recent, they don't want to do the surgery now especially since I'm not in pain (yet!) from the gallstones. 

So.. I guess the question is this.  If they KNOW that this surgery leads to gallstones in 80% of patients and you CAN  live without the gallbladder... why don't they just remove it as a matter of course when they do the RNY?  Now I'm terrified that this will end up being an emergency surgery when I end up in excrutiating pain from the gallstones!  I'm so very glad that I have this to look forward to!!!! 

Oooooo, sorry your hurting!! What are they doing for your pain for now? How are they treating it?  I thought I read that the gallbladder in on the right side, must have misread?  I asked my surgeon why they just don't take it out at the time of RNY too, makes no sense to me.  He told me they look at it while in there and if it's ok, they leave it, if not they take it out.  So, did yours look at it and it was fine two weeks ago and now not?  

I've been having an increased pain on the left side of my tummy in the past week and thought it was the muscle, but not sure.  Is the pancreas on the left?  I'm off to research anatomy. :-)

I hope you feel better soon and don't have too much pain by the time you need to have the gallbladder removed.

YOu read correctly.. the gallbladder is on the RIGHT side.  Imagine my surprise when they found the stones and my pain is on the left.  Turns out the pain on my left, which feels very near to the surface, is a hematoma.  The doctor said that it just has to get reabsorbed by the bloodstream.  They gave me a new Roxicet Rx, but of course my pharmacy doesn't carry it.  I'll try to get back to the hospital in the AM to get it refilled.

I'm not having any pain from the gallbladder or the pancreatitiis.  Go figure.  Just the hematoma which is excrutiating when it acts up.  So... no telling when the gallbladder surgery will be.  They want me to heal more and lose some weight so that I'm a better candidate for the surgery.  I just don't want it to end up being an emergency surgery! 

The pancreas is on the left and pain from that would usually start in the abdomen and radiate around to the middle of the back.  Also not having pain from that.   Isn't medicine great??  LOL

Forgot to answer your gallbladder question!  lol  My surgeon is on vacation for 2 more weeks so I won't even be ablet to ask what it looked like when he did my surgery.  :-)  Believe me though, I will be asking!

Can you see the hematoma, like a bruise? How does he know that's what it is, from a test?  I'm wondering if that's what I have rather than muscle strain/pain.  Mine starts just to the left of the belly button at the waist line and then lower.  I called the surgeons nurse line yesterday but they didn't call back. Will have to follow up again today.

I can't see the hematoma but the doctor says he can feel it under the skin near the incision.  The pain I have is very, very near to the surface feeling.  It doesn't feel muscular... it feels like it is a knife in the fatty tissue that someone puts acid on and causes an intense burning feeling.  That's the best way I can describe it.  My is right, almost exactly on, near the lower left incision from the lap surgery. 

Hope that helps!  Keep us posted with what the nurses tell you!  If it continues I'd make an appt with your surgeon's office to have it checked just to be on the safe side.

I talked to the PA this morning, she said it definately sounds like the muscle and it was probably pulled while I had my few bouts of throwing up, all the strain that puts on it. She said it can take 2-3 weeks go feel better. Lovely!  In the meantime, she called in a RX for a few more pain pills. I'm trying to wear the binder more often to help too.

Hope you feel better soon!

The binder DEFINITELY helps me as well!!  Mine hurts the most when I stand up.  Sitting is okay unless I move the wrong way.  However, the pain is must less intense when I'm wearing the binder.

Sooooo sorry you had to go through that!  I lost my gallbladder years ago, back when they did it open which was very painful.  Now they do it all laproscopic, which is much better.

I thought they normally give out a prescription to prevent gall stones, and some surgeons even remove the gall bladder at the same time as RNY!  Your surgeon didn't give you the option?

I am on the Urso since day 11 after surgery to prevent gallstones.  I have to guess that these existed before the surgery.  I can't imagine that they developed in under two weeks to the size the doc is talking about.  So.. more questions for the surgeon when he returns from vacation!