Question for RNY Patients Over 5 Years

 I am 5 1/2 years out from RNY, two months ago after having some cucumbers soaked in vinegar I had EXTREME pain that radiated from the middle of my stomach to my chest. It resolved after about 20 minutes.  I called my doctor's office the next morning and they scheduled me an appointment for two weeks later, and ordered Carafate and Omeprazole for me to take.  I had two more severe episodes of it within that two week time frame, but was some better by the time I had my visit with them.  My labs showed my lipase levels at 293. Labs were repeated and my lipase had dropped to 123, was checked a 3rd time and they were down in the normal range. In the meantime I developed diarrhea and abdominal pain, which I reported to my doctor's office.  My bm's had an orange and oily discharge; and the stool has been light in color, which I also reported and they ordered a stool test (which I don't have the results yet still). I had an upper GI and an EGD, both of which were clear. Pretty much everything I eat goes right through me. I am up 2-3 times a night having bm's.  In a two week period I lost 12 lbs, but haven't lost any for the past week. I have had a couple of good days this week where I haven't had much pain and my bm's have been better.  Today isn't as good, still not has bad as it has been though.  I am scheduled Monday for a cat scan, and depending on that will have a colonoscopy scheduled soon.  I do not have a gall bladder.  Just wondering if anyone else has had this type of an issue and what it could possible be.  Not even sure at this point if it is even related to my RNY.

I'm not 5 years out yet and I don't have any of these symptoms...but just wanted to say that I hope you find out the cause and that everything goes back to normal quickly.  Fingers crossed for you.

I was thinking gallbladder while reading, until you mentioned that you don't have one. What are they doing the cat scan on? This sounds possibly liver-related, but I'm certainly no doctor. Very glad you're getting it looked after. Have you had a history of ulcers? Is that why they put you on the Carafate and Omeprazole?

Hope that test results will give you some answers. 

Also - Google SIBO...and IBS... 

Hope that test results will give you some answers. 

Also - Google SIBO...and IBS... 

I have struggled with pain from time to time with acidic foods but in general I don't suffer with heat burn or gerd.

Having said that your other symptoms don't sound connected to just something you ate.  I hope the tests give you some answers, please come back and let us know how you get on 

Wow, that sounds terrible!  When your lipase levels were high, were the other pancreatic enzymes high as well?  If so, you may be having a problem with your pancreas. If the enzymes had all been quite high, it would have indicated pancreatitis and they would have hospitalized you, but a chronic rather than acute issue with the pancreas can cause pain and diarrhea and would only raise the other enzymes (e.g., amylase) moderately.

AS Kim said, please let us know what you find out.  I sure hope you start feeling better soon.

Lora