Severe, intense chest pain and spasms through to my back

I am now 10 weeks post roux en Y.  This has now happened to me twice.  Both times i was in bed laying down when the pain started.  The first time i sat up and tried to drink water through the episode.  I thought i was having a heart attack, pain in my chest (between my breast), the episode lasted about 30 minutes and then it went away.  I didn't go see my doctor because i figured it was nothing.  Fast forward 2 weeks to this weekend when it happened again but this time it litterally felt like i was having LABOR in my chest.  The pain was that intense and then it actually spasmed as well.  I just knew i was having a heart attack.  I couldn't sit down or even lean over because it hurt worse.  I nearly passed out from the pain.  The attack lasted over 30 minutes.  I went to my gastric doctor and he felt certain it was just "dumping syndrome" without the vomiting.  I hadn't eaten anything prior to the even though so i am having a hard time believing that is what it is.  Has anyone else has this problem?!

Do you still have your gall bladder.  sounds like my experiences b4 I had it removed (pain, pressure raditing to back)

Good luck

is the pain on the left or right side.  if on right then maybe gall bladder but if left could be opther thinkgs as well.. there are intermintant intusseption where it causes intense pain burning ect but when imaging studies done then it shows nothing,  best when this happens again goto er as there may some underlying issues going on.  many have problems after gastric bypass that are not the norm but need to be your own advocate and impowered patient with doing research on own as well.  a good source of information is pubmed.com, emedicine.com ect.  just make sure ffrom reliable sources.  this coud even be something going on with kidneys or liver.  it is one of things that at this time is of unknown cause and should be followed up if the gastro doc not much help also ask your physician too about the symptoms.  GL in feeling better.

Thank you both for your replys, i should have said that i already had my gall bladder removed.  I agree with you mother that now that my system is all different i just have to keep asking!  Thank you both again!

I have read that even if you do NOT have a gall bladder, you can still produce gall stones.... a possibility??

Yes, you can still have stones after having your gallbladder removed. That or possibly esophageal spasms? Feels JUST like a heart attack!

Sounds like esophageal spasm.  I have stomach spasm and the way I describe it is like LABOR pain (that's exactly how many describe these types of spasms).  Esophageal spasms are more common than stomach spasm and hurt like nothing else.  I have had stomach spasm attacks that have lasted as long as 13 hours and as little as a half an hour.  I would talk to your doctor about getting something to take for esophageal spasms.  I know for my stomach spasms the GI ****tail they use at the ER, called a grasshopper, sometimes works if I get it soon enough.  Otherwise massive pain meds are needed to end it.   The other thing that has worked (and I can have on hand at home with an Rx) is a viscous lydocaine mixture.  It's literally liquid lydocaine.  It really works when taken soon enough but tastes AWFUL.  I also have really bad side effects from it so it's a worse case scenario... but better than dealing with that pain again.  

BTW, I finally got my spasms under control by changing my entire diet.  I currently have to be on a liquid/pureed diet with low fiber.  But that's for stomach problems, I'm not sure what, if any, diet changes are necessary for an esophageal spasm.

Hi,
I know you wrote this post several months back but it sounds much like what I've experienced recently. Have you found a resolution to your problem? I ended up having a small bowel obstruction that required surgery. I don't say this to frighten you, but I spent from September 2010-February 2011 year not knowing what was wrong with me. Then I finally ended up in the emergency room, had surgery, and was able to get some relief!

Wishing you well,
Denyse

Your episodes sound a lot like several that I had, however mine were much further out from surgery.  Mine happened at about 16 months out and felt like the worst pain I've ever had.  I described it as an 11 on the 1 to 10 pain scale.  I consulted my surgeon about them and he immediately suspected the possibility of an internal hernia.  I went in for diagnostic lap surgery and he did indeed find an internal hernia and scar tissue.  He explained to me that internal hernias cannot often be detected with xrays and that they can be quite dangersous.  Can in some cases lead to complete obstruction.  Please persist with your doctor if it happens again!

I am NOT making light of your pain but could it be intense gas? I have been to the er 2x with intense abdominal and chest pains and after $100s of dollars sspent it was gas. Have you tried any gas relieving meds? It also could be adhesional pain. I have had surgery several times when my scar tissue had tangled up and was strangling my organs but then I make tons of scar tissue. Just some thoughts and I really hope you get to the core of it! Living with constant pain is the pits!!
Meggie