OT: Abdominal Pain

Lukesmom
on 8/4/09 10:39 am
I know that some of you have had some abdominal pain before and I was wondering what you found out. I am having pain right below my ribcage on the left side. Saw the surgeon yesterday and had a CT scan today as the pain was very intolerable. The CT scan came back negative. Now what do I do???

I remember reading of others who have had pain and I can't remember what came of it. I don't know it if is adhesions or what.


TIA
Stephanie
706-10030 - Running Ribbon Enamel PinSupporting the fight of Aerial & Aunt Sally     
(deactivated member)
on 8/4/09 11:14 am - San Antonio, TX
Do you have your gall bladder?

Lukesmom
on 8/4/09 11:21 am
No, I actually had that out before I had my RNY surgery. It is unexplained pain at this time. There was nothing that showed up in CT scan to provide answers to the pain. I actually thought that is might be my reminate stomach attached to the abdominal wall. But I guess that wasn't the case.

UUGGGHHH!!! I get frustrated that I don't know why I am having pain or what is causing the pain. That is why I was wondering about adhesions.

IF anyone has had them please let me know what you went through.

TIA
Stephanie
706-10030 - Running Ribbon Enamel PinSupporting the fight of Aerial & Aunt Sally     
jgirlatlaw
on 8/4/09 10:31 pm - Traverse City, MI
I had it happen 4, yes 4, times.   Each time they did every test possible.   All tests showed nothing so the Dr. had no choice to open me up each and every time. 

The first 3 times they found adhesions and twisted bowel.   The 4th time, they did a small bowel resection as I had a portion of the bowel that was flattened out and he thought this was causing my pain.  

As of right now I am pain free and I haven't had any further issues.  However, the Dr. said that each time he opens me up, my risk increases for it to happen again.  So I wouldn't be surprised if it were to happen again.  
 Lilypie - (aHMk) Lilypie - (jhN1)
Lukesmom
on 8/4/09 10:35 pm

Thank you so much for your response. I really appreciate it. How long after the drs. did all of the test did they decide to open you up?

They gave me pain pills, however, I have to work so I am not able to take them during the day. I could but I wouldn't be very productive at work. :)

Thanks again for the info.

Stephanie
706-10030 - Running Ribbon Enamel PinSupporting the fight of Aerial & Aunt Sally     
jgirlatlaw
on 8/4/09 10:40 pm - Traverse City, MI
A few days and I was hopitalized each time they were doing the tests because that's how bad the pain was.  

So if you are able to work with no pain meds, you more than likely don't have the same issue I did. 

I will say that at one point they thought it could be a large cyst on the ovary causing my pain.  
 Lilypie - (aHMk) Lilypie - (jhN1)
diana_77us
on 8/5/09 2:44 am - Mount Wolf, PA
You must be my pain twin!  I have been having ab pain for about 4 weeks now....it is getting worse. 

My PCP sent me for a ab ultrasound and the results were clear but thinking back on it now I am not sure the tech even went over the area where the pain is.  It is so much so I could draw a circle around the pain and pinpoint it for ya!

Their hands are kinda tied seeing as I am 15 weeks pregnant....so no CAT scan for me...by bowels sounds are good they say, and I am passing poo and gas on a regular basis.

My gut (no pun intended) is saying it is a hernia....when I pick something up it feels like my guts are going to fall out...when I get up from a low position or soemthing like that it hurts.  But when I hold my hand over the area and "push in" it takes some of the pain away.

I am still working and not taking anything for pain (darn baby!)....I am going to a regular OB appt this afternoon and this is going to be the FIRST topic of discussion, there is no way I can go on in pain like this.  I feel like I want to wrap an ace bandage around that area or something to hold it in.

It is crazy.  My PCP is concerned but wants to see what the OB says and they would normally open me up but since I am pregnant - not an option.

My pain is in the same area, left side....under the ribs, to the left of my bellybutton.  I have no idea how I would even be able to push out the baby, i can't push out a poop!!

Fingers crossed the OB can find / do something about this.
330/190/179
highest / goal / current....AND PREGNANT with #1 (and only)...14 weeks along as of July 30th, 2009!!
Lukesmom
on 8/5/09 5:00 am
You are my pain twin. Let me know what you find out. I go see a gastroenterologist tomorrow first thing in the AM. Not sure what that is going to show.

Still in pain. Just working away. I have a high pain tolerance as I worked  the whole day during appendix attach and had it removed that night.

The spot you describe is the same area that mine is hurting in. My surgeon poked around and had me cough and he pressed on my abdomin and he couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary.

I have a feeling that any future tests will not show anything and that I do have adhesions.

I thought that Andrea on this board had something like this in the past as well.

Keep me posted on what you find out and I will do the same.
Stephanie
706-10030 - Running Ribbon Enamel PinSupporting the fight of Aerial & Aunt Sally     
(deactivated member)
on 8/5/09 7:34 am - San Antonio, TX
I am  abit of a freak, I had a lot of adhesions shortly after surgery (as well as TWO areas of bowel blockage due to the adhesions) - I was entirely too sick to even hold down water and the pain was in waves, like peristalsis. The surgeon had never seen adhesions like mine develop and harden so quickly (2 wks after RNY I was full of them). He checked with several colleages, some who had done this surgery for many many years, and none of them had seen anything like it either. I expect I will have problems with them again in the future and do have random (but not severe) abdominal pains now and again currently. I asked about gall bladder just because its common after RNY (but usually pain on right side and back anyway). On left side I'd think stomach as well..

I hope you get some relief soon, and some answers! Keep pushing for them. Have they done blood work for liver and pancreatic enzymes? Maybe a scope for an ulcer? Best wishes!
Lukesmom
on 8/5/09 7:59 am
Thanks for the info. I really do appreciate it. I am going in the AM to the stomach dr. I hope that he can give me some answers. I already take Nexium for a bleeding ulcer in the pouch so I am not sure what would be causing this pain as it feels totally different from the pain I had when I had an ulcer.

We will see what tomorrow holds. :)
Stephanie
706-10030 - Running Ribbon Enamel PinSupporting the fight of Aerial & Aunt Sally     
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