Abdominal Pain Post RNY

Fellows,

I had my first real post op pain starting the other day. Here's what happened:

1. Ate a non-characteristic afternoon meal of veggies with cheese and little sausages

2. Felt really full and entire front of abdomen became tight as a drum. Hurt to sit, stand or lie down in any position. Fetal position was the only position that at times, gave comfort. I was totally incapacitated.

3. Pain became so severe, that I got dry heaves and hair was drenched in sweat. (Pouch was apparently empty, so not a clog). This subsided and I fell off to sleep for a couple of hours having weird dreams or hallucinations.

4. Next day, the pain is somewhat better and focused more in the lower abdomen, below the top two cans in six-pack.

5. That night, I was doing a little better when I went to bed, but I awoke to moderate abdominal pain, with severe back pain, not muscle pain, feeling as if there were internal pressure on the abdominal cavity in the lower half of my back - at times, there was even pain from internal pressure on the spine. The only position in which I am able to sleep is face-down with knees drawn up to chest. This pain is not muscle pain, but pain in the abdominal wall with some pain in the bone of the spine. Feels like pressure in the abdomen is pushing out on the spine abdominal wall.

6. Through non of this, was there ever any excessive abdominal noise or feelings of gas squeezing through the intestines - in other words, it did not resemble a "gas attack".

8. If I had to characterize this whole experience with one word, it would be generalized throughout the lower back and abdomen. The pain was never localized right or left, and never pain in one spot, but not another. The pain never felt or sounded like gas, but pressure from the bed or couch sometimes made it increase, as if there were some kind of irritation or inflammation in my entire intestinal tract or on my entire lower abdominal wall.

9. Throughout all of this, there was no fever, diarrhea or gas.

I'm wondering if anyone has experienced or heard of anything like this? I'm at home sick now because of this.

Thanks so much in Advance,

Dave

Dave, Had very similar symptoms - see my post from yesterday...long story short ends up that I've got an internal hernia, likely two.  Plus the gallbladder has shot craps.  Have been at emergency room twice recently with this issue only for it to subside...now just experiencing mild pain. My surgery is scheduled for week after next. Don't wait to have this checked out - if it's a hernia and the blood supply is cutoff for an extended period of time, you could end up with a dead bowel and that's a MAJOR ordeal.   Take care - feel better!! Cards Fan

Dave, Sure sounds like strangulated internal hernia. Get your Bariatric guy on the phone…. Not to be messed with. "generalized throughout the lower back and abdomen. The pain was never localized right or left, and never pain in one spot, but not another. The pain never felt or sounded like gas, but pressure from the bed or couch sometimes made it increase, as if there were some kind of irritation or inflammation in my entire intestinal tract or on my entire lower abdominal wall"--- Nearly Verbatim description from Ken (K-Man) up in Wisconsin a few years back... His was internal Hernia cutting off blood supply to bowel... Keep us posted.... Best Wishes- Dx

Dave, I'm sorry to hear that you are having pain.  From your description, it sounds serious.  Perhaps you should contact your surgeon.

Thanks fellows,

The pain has subsided, but my surgeon suggested I go to a good local hospital and get it checked. He says it's usually nothing, but to go anyway. I'll keep you posted.

Best Regards,

Dave

Sounds like time to see the Doc-Doc dude. Keep us posted on the out come. You have had your appendix out,...right?

hey Dave, this is what put me in the ER last november. some of it sounds similar. so here goes. you and i are big protein shake drinkers. that could be the problem. the pain does not resemble gas. i still get bloated and rock hard in my stomach from the shakes. your colon makes a u from your hip to under and across the chest and back down. so that's why the distress moves and doesn't localize. of course i don't what the hell i'm talking about because it could be a hernia but i did find out the shakes are something to be mindful of. i now take them slowly and take a gas break up pill as soon as i feel that type of pain. good to cya anyway and one more thing. that creatine i told you about. holy **** i swear it packed muscle on me from day one and gave me a ton of enegry in my workouts. amazing stuff! hope you get well my friend

Well, the doctor gave me a few xrays and took blood and told me that my small intestine was swollen, with a section that looks "temporarily" narrow. He seems to think that this narrow spot only becomes narrow when the intestines are swollen.

So to test this theory, they put me on water only and gave me a nutrient IV. Looks like I can't eat anything tomorrow either and I'll have to go back in and get another IV. Hopefully, the swelling will go away.

Thanks guys, for your support!

Dave

Sounds like a fishing expedition to me.  Hope you feel better bmibaby/toadlats Dave. You might want to cut back on the liquid Drano laxative protein chaser.  Take care of yourself.  Here's to a bottle of water drank in your honor.

Looks like the results so far are, a narrowed spot in the intestine. I returned to the hospital today and they said the swelling of the small intestine had subsided some, but that the narrowed part had not gotten any better or worse. He also said from what he could see, the narrow spot was not dangerously narrow (not sure how much he can see from an xray?) Gotta go back tomorrow for another checkup.

Dave