MAYBE IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD???????

I hate that whenever I post anything it seems like I am always complaining, but the fact is that I am sooo frustrated and need to vent. I am four months post op and still have horrible pains in my chest and stomach. My surgeon has run many tests and they are negative, which I am grateful for, but I feel lousy!!! This week has probably been the worst so far. I have had to leave work early everyday because my stomach hurts so bad. I am so lucky to work with such an understanding boss. She is the best!!!! I go home, take some medicine and collapse. I hate having to take pain meds to make me feel somewhat human. The meds help, but the pain in never gone. I had to pull over on the expressway this week because the pain was so bad I couldn't see straight. That was very scary since I had the kids in the van. I have been on a liquid diet since I left the hospital(dehydrated) a couple of weeks ago, and manage to keep down a couple of teaspoons, so I know it isn't anything I eat. I had planned on attending the support group meeting that was held on Tuesday. I had made childcare and carpool arrangements. I was hoping I could talk to someone to see if they were experiencing anything similar to me, but of course my plans fell through when I wound up in the emergency room with my daughter. I had dropped her off at soccer practice and got the call that she was hurt. Nothing to major. A pulled groin muscle and a sprained knee, so we are now back at physical therapy, but I was unable to attend the meeting. The next meeting is not until the end of September and who knows what my plans will be then. I went to see my PCP yesterday for blood work follow-up and told him what was going on. Usually he is very understanding and compassionate, but he told me "you look great, your bloodwork is ok, your losing weight, be patient this will pass". Will pass, it has been four months!!!!!! Has anyone experienced anything like this or close to this? Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I am going crazy. I have always had a high threshold for pain, but sometime this becomes unbearable.

Honey I am sorry that you are having so many problems. Its hard to enjoy the weight loss when you are in so much pain. I havent experienced anything like this. I really dont have any advice for you and im sorry. If you havent already... maybe you should post on the main board about it and see if they can help you. That board is always hoppin and someone i would imagine would have to have some better advice for you than what I have at this point. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you are able to get these problems resolved quickly.

If you can't complain on this board, where can you??!! Let it all out. I haven't had the problems like you have. Do you think if you got a 2nd oppion it would help? This sounds silly but when I'm feeling bad I make some time for myself & get a pedicure or massage. It helps me relax & put things in perspective. I wish you the best.

Hi Anna, did you have a scope? did they check your gallbladder? I am 3 yrs out and for the last year I have felt pain in my belly, thinking it was this huge hernia I have I tried to ignore it..finally I mentioned the pain to Sarah (the one you see posting here on the board) at a meeting one night, the doc over heard me then scheduled me for an ultrasound..they didn't find anything wrong but he was more than sure it was my gallbladder, Dr. Sonnanstine decided it needed to come out on Aug 2nd and I havn't had that type of pain again since.. don't let them keep putting you off, maybe the ultrasound of the gallbladder doesn't show anything doesnt mean nothing is wrong!! keep complaining!!

Hi Brenda, Thanks for the words of encouragement. After many tests, I found out that my gallbladder was indeed bad. I had it removed about a month ago hoping that would solve the problem. I do not have pain in my right side anymore, but I still have it in the middle of my stomach and chest. My surgeon has run every test that he can think of; Upper GI, Small Bowel Follow Through, EGD, and an ultrasound of where my gallbaldder use to be and nothing!!!!! Like I said I am glad there was nothing, but I should not feel this crummy 4 months post op. I was even in the hospital two weeks ago for two days because I was so dehydrated and potassium was low. I am still having problems drinking. I don't puke much anymore. Sometimes only once a day, but I think I am at the point where I am afraid to drink much less eat anything fearing that I will feel worse than I do. Once again thanks for your kind words and input. They really mean alot. Ana

Ana, Sorry you are still having problems. Your situation sounds so much like my step dads he had all the pain and vomiting and lived on soup for months they took out his gallbladder also, he had a few weeks relief now he has the same symptoms but not as often they want to do a upper and lower gi to see if he could have a stone lodged in a duct that they did not see or get I hope this makes sense, of course he is putting off the lower GI as long as possible he does not want surgery again, he has a hard time recoverying because he has a blood disorder. I also had a bout with gastristis (sp) I had sever pain vomiting and direrra are you on any kind of acid reflux meds now? Prevacid has helped me a great deal but stress aggravates it alot. I hope you geat some answers soon. Good Luck! Jennifer

I hate your still feeling so poorly. I don't know which doctor you need to press but someone needs to get the bottom of this. You can't live like this. Keep us updated. I hope you feel better soon. Hugs, KathyW.

Have they considered a possible internal hernia? This was discussed quite a bit at the ASBS conference in San Francisco this past June, and your symptoms would fit into that possibility. This would of course require the surgeon going back to do a look see. Just a thought. Cathi Roskind, RN The Bariatric Center at Georgetown