Stomach pains

Hi everyone.  Haven't posted in a very long time. I have to warn you that this is a long post.  I have gone to a few meetings on and off in Toms River and Lakewood when I can.  Very busy now that I have lost all this weight.  Trying to start up a pet sitting business.  My dad passed away in February (he was sick for a long time and was really suffering).  I was helping my mom care for him since last year.  Anyway, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer.  I have been having a lot of problems with stomach pains.  Actually two different kinds.  One is a constant pain on my left side right below my ribs.  It started around March.  It got better for a while and then around six weeks ago it became a steady thing.  Then I also have this pain that I don't get all the time.  It is across the middle of my stomach and right under my ribs in the middle and across my back.  I never know when it is going to hit.  Sometimes it comes on about 15 minutes after I eat and lasts 1/2 hour.  Sometimes it lasts 24 hours.  I could go up to two weeks without having it or I could get it a few days in a row.  It has been going on for about 2 months.  I had an upper endoscopy back in March for pain on left.  Nothing.  My surgeon, Dr Jean-Baptiste told me 2 months ago if the pain continued it was possible I could have an internal hernia.  In June he recommended I see a general surgeon.  The general surgeon said he didn't think I had a hernia.  I would be throwing up.  My stomach was soft, etc.  So I call Dr. JB the next day and they told me to come up.  I go up and he says they will monitor it if it gets worse.  I said it is worse.  He recommends I get a colonoscopy.  If that comes out OK he will order a CT scan of abdomen.  The next week I end up in ER because of pain in left side.  They give me Morphine and the barium to drink for CT scan.  I had a terrible reaction to barium.  Broke out in sweat, and got the pain in the center of stomach and across back worse than ever.  I was crying.  Thought I was dying.  Of course they made me keep drinking barium.  Gave me more morphine and a stronger pain med when that didn't work.  Anyway, CT scan came back ok.  Following week had colonoscopy.  Nothing.  Gastroenterologist ordered Small bowel barium X-ray which I had yesterday.  I am waiting for results which they are also faxing to surgeon.  The ER dr, general surgeon, gastro dr all have mentioned it could be scar tissue.  Feel like I am not getting much help from my surgeons office.  I feel like they keep putting me off and don't want to talk to me.  Any advice or similar problems?  I am sorry that this was such a long post but honestly I am getting so disgusted with all this.  I feel so good about myself and now I just get so irritated all the time and snap at everyone and don't want to deal with anyone.  I feel so frustrated.  Oh yeah, gastro dr did give me some medication for stomach spasms, Bentyl.  Thanks for listening to me vent.  God bless. Kim McDowell

Were you checked for gallstones?  The next time you go to the dr. have him give you an ultrasound to check your gallbladder.  I know from personal experience that a lot of people who have lost a substanial amount of weight could develop gallstones and the symptoms you describe is similiar to a gallbladder attack.  I hope you get better soon. Carla

Hi Carla, Yes, I had my gallbladder out in 2003 so I guess that is not the problem either.  Thanks for the advice! Kim

I am post -op but I know what you are going through.  Last year I went through the same thing.  I had severe pain that made me cry.  No one knew what to do.  I had a colonoscopy and CT scan and everything looked fine.  I finally convinced my OB_GYN to perform a laparoscopic exploratory.   I had severe scar tissue. I had a hernia operation when I was 2 years old.  I had scar tissue from back then.  I also had new scar tissue but they were unable to determine the root cause.   It was so bad that my GYNO has to call another surgeon into the OR.  I suggest you press the DR's because after the surgery the Dr. told me this would have never showed up on any scans or x-rays and it was a good thing that I pressured them for answers.......GOOD LUCK with finding a resolution to your pain.

 

hi kim good to see you posting, but so sorry you are having all these problems.  i think you just need to keep at the doctors till they find out what is going on.  sometimes that is a long ugly process. the bentyl should help, i took it years ago, just want you to know that is also made me sleepy, but it did help. scar tissue is a definite possibility. i know when i had my rny dr. noyan said he cleaned up a lot of scar tissues from when i had my gall bladder out in 1985.   i hope they find an answer soon and maybe you will come to a meeting again. hugs, jacki