Almost 2 yrs post op and Stomach pain like charlie horse

bekahler
on 6/19/12 9:58 am - Parkville, MD

I guess I just don't feel like I am being given that option at this point...I think I would prefer to have him go in and clean this **** up..yes I have heard they can come back and be worse..but IT COULD ALSO BE BETTER!!!

I spoke with the pain management doctor, he said he can do the trigger point injections...I guess I will try that and see if it helps..and if I don't get any relief I guess I can readdress the issue with my surgeon. I'm not willing to become a narcotics junkie at 37 so surgery definitely seems like a better option to me.

"There are no Strangers Here, Only Unmet Friends" ~Helen Keller

USAF Wife
on 6/19/12 9:17 pm

Revision on 06/03/09

I truly hope and pray you get relief. I know just how badly those pains can bring any human to their knees. Keep us posted on how things pan out for you!

Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs

Eleanor_M
on 6/19/12 3:28 am - Overland Park, KS

VSG on 09/14/11

I'm really sorry your are having that problem, but I am glad that you have had all the necessary tests and doctor visits to rule out a life-threatening problem.

I think this sort of cramp is something that can happen to anyone. I have had a problem with similar cramps under my left brest, when I do certain motions/exercise. I also get cramps in my feet.

You might try a couple teaspoons of pickle juice (or vinegar/acetic acid) or quinine. The football industry discovered the pickle juice thing, and I can tell you that it works amazingly. Before I tried it, I thought it was BS, but it really does work. I was shocked!

Taking quinine for cramps is an old treatment. My SIL does it for persistant leg cramps. Tonic water contains quinine, so you can drink that regularly. I'm not sure how much, though. You might have to experiment. FYI, you can get sugar-free tonic water too. Unfortunately, it is carbonated.

Hope that helps.

bekahler
on 6/19/12 4:20 am - Parkville, MD

VSG on 10/14/10

Thank you for the suggestions..I will try them both! I am desperate for some relief!

I'd wash down the pickle juice with the tonic water if it will help!!

And to your point..yes I am grateful to know that it is nothing life threatening and I am working very hard to keep that in mind..it is nothing tragic, just an inconvenience. I know tragedy and this is not it..BUT this is REALLY REALLY painful and chronic pain can wear you down and this is where I am right now..but hopefully it is not forever.

"There are no Strangers Here, Only Unmet Friends" ~Helen Keller

Eleanor_M
on 6/19/12 4:33 am - Overland Park, KS

VSG on 09/14/11

I know what you mean about the tragic thing. When you are in the moment, it sometimes doesn't really matter that much that it isn't a tragedy. It still hurts like that. I sure hope this gets better for you SOON.

Missey J.
on 6/19/12 4:46 am - AZ

VSG on 08/27/12 with

I get the same type of pain all the time. But mine turned out to be a hernia or so they say. It will be fixed when I have my wls.

Age 53, 5'2", HW 337, Pre OpW 312.5, SW ?, CW 286

Pkrplyr777
on 6/19/12 9:23 am - CT

VSG on 08/01/11

Wow! what you describe I have had.
the only way to describe it is a charlie horse in your stomach muscle.

I started getting them before surgry in 1999.
I remember the first time exactly.

I went to the doctor and she did not think it was anything but a muscle spasm.
Told me to drink seltzer water because it has quinine.
I really didn't drink to much of that stuff. But I was very careful how I moved for a while. I could feel it coming on and had time to stop whatever I was doing so it didn't get too tight.

It stopped happening after a while. I haven't had an attack for a couple years now.

I used to get them in one very specific spot on my stomach.

donna

HW/233 * SW/212 * CW/133 *GW/132 * 100 Pounds of FAT gone FOREVER!
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple~Dr.Suess

bekahler
on 9/10/12 5:40 am - Parkville, MD

VSG on 10/14/10

Just a quick update to my original post..in hopes that perhaps it will help anyone else in the same situation who searches this topic.

After nearly 5 months of horrific pain and suffering here is the outcome:

IT WAS A 3cm INCISIONAL HERNIA!!!

Found and fixed during an Exploratory Lap that I had to FIGHT to make happen!!

The surgeon opened me up and told my husband he saw it Right away..the area was completely inflamed and there was fat poking through the opening.

Keep in mind I had been having entire ropey length of innards and pop-outs that I thought were muscle spasms the size of my fist coming through this tiny tear. Apparently the smaller the hernia, the more pain they can cause!

The Dr was shocked it hadn't torn wide open yet, especially because I kept lifting and stretching etc, thinking it was a muscular problem and it was NOT!

FYI to anyone else in this type of pain: Nothing smaller then 5cm shows up on CT SCAN so that is why they couldn't see it..although my symptoms sure fit the bill but none of the MANY docs I went to wanted to hear it.

Moral of the Story: if something feels WRONG in your GUT..it probably is! Dont stop fighting until you get an answer!!

I am now in the post op period, very sore but grateful that thanks to all MY hard work, I was finally able to get a diagnosis!

Sarahejo
on 7/12/22 5:16 pm

Thank you so much for this post! I've been having issues with the EXACT same thing you described and a doc said it was a nerve wrapped in a muscle from surgery and the only way to fix it was to have them take a needle and inject something to deaden the nerve. My mom said it sounded like a hernia based off my Charlie horse description. You've helped me so much!!!