IBS?

My surgeon did all sorts of tests post-op because I had this horrible pain in my abdomen...no stricture, leak, ulcer, etc. He then told me some people simply have pain for 5-6 months without any reason. I asked if it could possibly be my old IBS kicking up a storm..."Oh,no." he said. "I doubt it!" Eventually, exhausted by the continuing pain and tired of only getting liquids and cottage cheese down for 5 months, I got really angry and went to see my gastroenterologist who has treated me for IBS and reflux for 20 years. Guess what? IBS to the max! He got it calmed down with Zelnorm at first. Then it came back, bigger, stronger than ever...then came Levsin 4 X's/day, worked for a while, then Zelnorm 2X's/day, then Nexium 2X's/day, then Zantac at bedtime, now Librax 4 times per day...I'm a bloody pharmacy, rattling around!! By last week, I was in pain almost every afternoon and evening. Now it is with every bite I eat...and I'm desperately trying to maintain my weight at this point. I'm going in for a small bowel XRay this coming Wednesday and hope it is still IBS and no partial bowel obstruction...which it's beginning to sound like! After 11 months, I've lost 123 lbs, gone from 22-24's to 4-6's!! Anyone else going thru this abdominal hell? Rusty

Hi Rusty, Yes it sounds very familiar. I had lap RNY 9/16/03. For sure I know I've had ulcers just inside the intestine from the pouch since my surgery, can't get rid of them I don't have H Plyori, so they don't know why I have them. I've had chronic bowel problems all my life, IBS and IBD for the last 5 yrs. After the surgery, my bowels just quit. I have to do enemas every day or the pain gets way too intense. It feels like something is stuck in there, but I've had quite a few tests and no obstruction has showed up as far as I know now. I do have rectal prolapse now and still have reflux pretty bad,have had a bunch more tests this week don't have the results yet. It hurts to eat, I've been on liquids for the most part of all of this. Once in a great while I'll try something solid. Zelnorm didn't do nothing for me, Morphine doesn't really do much, Ultram helps with the pain, I've tried anti-spasm drugs, nitro pill, muscle relaxers, Protonix, Carafate, Pepcid, I've tried heating pads, ice packs. So I think I understand what you're talking about. If I learn anything I will tell you. I hope you're doing ok for now and I hope you get some answers soon!! (((HUGS))) Nut

Thanks, Nut! I'll be hoping one if not both of us get some answers somewhere! Keep in touch...okay? Cheers, Rusty

Rusty sure will keep in touch Nut

They took out my appendix during my hysterectomy, and I have had problems for years in the same spot. but then I was having pain and problems in that spot for years before they removed it. They never bothered to mention taking it out. I had to find out when I went to my PCP and complained about pain there, and asked if it could be my appendix. I had requested he assist for my surgery when they had done it several years before, so he flipped back in the paperwork in my file that he got and found that they had removed it. I just have to tolerate it. But on a positive note, it seems to less often or I am just getting better at ignoring it or something.