pain in the top of stomach

Hi. I had open RNY 12/04 I've lost a little over 100 lbs yet I still weigh 195lbs. I never stopped having a food problem... a couple of days ago the top part of my stomach started hurting, like I had severly overeaten; only it happens after two or three bites of anything. I am on antibotics for something unrelated but I LIKE IT... it has been a reminder of what it felt like to be sick from eating too much. I can eat anything, and do. I don't know about the pouch stretching and I'm not making excuses. When I'm happy I lose weight and work out; when things don't go so well I treat myself to food and alcohol. Advice on the pain and changing addictions please...No judgements though PLEASE. That will not help me, Thanks

Hi Cheryl. The pain concerns me~I think you should call your dr about any strange pain like that. As far as eating goes, it sounds like you're an emotional eater to me~I totally understand where you're coming from. I've actually found myself upset, standing in front of the open cupboard doors trying to figure out what I can shovel into my mouth to "make me feel better". It was scary when I caught myself and realized what I was actually doing! Then when I thought about it, I saw that I was only hurting myself by doing it, not the person that upset me, so why would I want to hurt myself? Changing long standing habits is hard, it takes alot of work, but thankfully it can be done! You're taking the first step by reaching out and talking to others about how you're feeling. I try to look at food simply as fuel for me body and I want to put only the best into it. I try to avoid looking at food (or alcohol) as a "treat". Now that's not to say that I don't enjoy a treat every now and then, but I limit it and I don't treat myself during those emotional times~that walks to close to the line for my comfort b/c I know this is where my problem lies. I am also considering doing some couseling b/c it worries me long term for myself, so I'm looking into someone that has a bariatric backround. Good Luck to You! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Cheryl, This is the pain I get when my pouch is too full. I know the pain well because I had a stricture early out and my pouch will get overfull easily with one or two bites of something. I doubt very seriously that you have a stricture this far out, but perhaps you have something stuck that is preventing your pouch from emptying. You might think it's been long enough to be empty and then when you add food, you are stuffing your pouch unknowingly. If it doesn't resolve in a 24 hours, I would call my doctor. Sometimes I get this pain when I've eaten cereal. Sometimes it doesn't bother me and I never know which it's going to be. I've found that walking can help ease the pain a little bit. I pace around the house. It usually takes 30 mintues or so for the pain to subside. I've also noticed that if I can remain calm during the worst part of it that it subsides quicker. I think getting upset causes the muscles to spasm and makes the pain worse. I can eat anything I want too. It's a constant struggle. I don't know how to change, but I just refuse to quit fighting. I don't struggle with alcohol because I don't even like it. But I can relate to the food addictions. I still want to eat donuts and drink sugar drinks. I just have to know those aren't healthy choices and leave them alone. Just remember that you've come so far and you don't want to go back. Put a before and after picture on the fridge so you can visually see your success. Make sure to put the after picture too so you don't focus too much on the old you. You can do this!

I've had a couple incidences of stomach pain, as you describe, when I'd not eaten. I went back on my Prilosec each time for a week and the pain diminished. If it hadn't gone away, I would have called my surgeon, fearing an ulcer. Sue O.

Oh Cheryl, please read my posts over the last week or so. Do not neglect any pain, have it checked out. I am a very strong willed person and developed pain off and on over the last year. It became so severe w/in the last couple of weeks, long story short, I had alot of adhesions and an internal hernia, which my doc sd I almost waited too long. The majority of my bowels had worked their way almost completely into knots and were starting to die. Please contact your dr to get it checked out. CT scans, gallbladder tests, plain xrays did not reveal any abnormality. My doc did a laproscopy because I was not able to keep down any food. Best wishes. May God bless you and I hope you feel better soon. Georgina

I just got an ulcer.........................had an endoscopy last Tues. My pain comes when I do not eat............drink water...and omg.........the pain. Then a couple of times I did have pain with food.........but I do have an ulcer. I called my gastro dr...office.....they just scheduled me in 4 days for the endoscopy............I told them I had WLS.......I never even saw the Dr until I had the procedure...I have seen him many times before for other things. No co-pay....saved me $25. Sandy