Has anyone been SCOPED??

Hello everyone.  I am five years out this last June and doing marvelously.  Every now and again I get these awful bouts of pain, that for years I have been thinking was my form of "dumping", and keeping me in check.  I never could pinpoint what brought them on, but the pain has been unbearable, lasts 45 minutes, until I am able to have a bowel movement.  But I mean excruciating pain.  I'm no baby, so I have been able to tolerate it.  I finally made it to my doc yesterday after 3 years for a quick check-up so I tell him about my dumping syndrome, but he tells me this is no dumping.  He wants to "scope" me because he thinks there is a "window" opening or perhaps a hernia which he is shocked has not landed me in the ER yet.  Now I understand why these pains were so horrendous.  I would close the door to the bathroom because I had to moan and groan at the top of my lungs for 45 minutes, but I knew if I could take the 45 minutes, I would be fine afterwards.  How scary is that?  Just wondered if anyone ever felt this?  I asked this question about a year ago and then again about 6 months ago, but nobody ever responded so I gave it up thinking it was my way of "dumping".  Any thoughts?  Thanks Missy (below goal weight, from 268 to 115).  Love the R-N-Y!!!!!

hi missy i am new to this website i had gastric bypass sep 7 2004 i came ocross your article, and i also get a pain right in the middle of my somach,  when i get the pain my mouth gets full of saliva and if i move the pain gets worst . so i went to the dr and had a scope put through my mouth and everything was normal, but what i have noticed that when i get the pain as soon as the pain passes i start to burp or to pass gas so i think that it is gas trying to pass trough the stomach so you can sy that i have already accepted the pain and well i thing there is nothing to do so i try to tolerate it as much as i can.  but let me tell you its a pain that i dont now but its very painfull.       dora star 

Dora, what you are describing is dumping.  I too have had that, but after so many years out most of us oldies no longer dump (which at times is not really a blessing actually).  I did not dump as much as many people, it was very infrequently but when I did, the world stopped .  It taught me to hate whatever I dumped badly on, so that was a blessing in disguise.  I think in the last two years I have "almost" had a dumping a few times.  I say "almost" because I always managed to stop before the foam, saliva, etc.  Maybe after 5 years some magic happens.  Thanks for your reply Dora.  Take care.  Missy

I don't think a scope is at all worrisome, please, go get it done and find an answer to this issue.  Something about the pain doesn't sound right(dumping or not), it could be a blockage or something....Good luck! Let us know how things are! D

I get something similar on occassion. NOt very often, but I did last night. At first I feel like it is heartburn or maybe indigestion. Terrible pain in the middle of my stomach. Last night it was terrible. My upper back and arms hurt. My upper stomach right under my breasts hurt...I thought I was going to throw up twice but only drooled a whole lot, then a couple belches later and I was fine. Lasted about an hour.

I hope the doc finds what your problem is. Hopefully the scope isn't too bad....

Yes, lots of times, pre-op, too. No big deal.

I am not medical, but on yahoo grads, we see a lot of "SBO", small bowel obstruction. Average time from first pain to surgery is 2 yrs. Dangerous, bad.

Some questions to ask your doc or check your op report:
1. lap or open?
2. ante or retro colic?
3. did they close the mesentary defect?
4. have him tell you about Peterson's space
5. ask him to run you thru testing for internal hernia.

You might need barium FOOD vs liquid to diagnose.

Nothing after WLS should hurt that badly! There is a REASON it hurts, It is not "nothing" and it maybe can harm you!

Thank you to all who posted a reply.  My pain in comparison to some of you is on the left lower side, probably at the "Y" connection of the R-n-Y, possibly about or a little above where the ovary would be located (mine were removed so I am not sure anymore).  The pain above or near the breast bone or in the mouth of the stomach followed by saliva and foaming is usually dumping.  The doc assured this was not, and it was an emergent situation.  Michele, thank you for the advice.  I will print it out and take it with me to ask questions.  Surgery has been scheduled for 8/29 because he is leaving on vacation this week and nobody can do it sooner.  He is hoping to have a cancellation around 8/15 so I don't have to wait so long.  I have waited 5 years, a few more weeks will be fine.  You learn something new every day.  I love this board.  It has always been of so much help, even when just browsing.  Hugs to all and a good night.  Missy.

Well...yes I have had this pain also. Mine is in the left side under the belly button and the pain ..the longer it lasts..goes around to my lower back and is awful. I tend to get it in the evening after I eat...and I do stick to the right things. I have had every test..down the throat and up the other end....all is fine with all testing. Ive been mri.. ct ect ect. I did find that tums will sometimes give me relief a little faster. I have had pain that last 1 1/2 hours...feels like i need to have a BM but can't then I can't even sit on the toilet...feels like I am going to pass out...I get so sick i have  to throw up but nothing. I have to lay down in a fetal position on my right side when it first starts to get relief. my WLS says all he can see is I am "full of it". So drink more water get cleaned out good and take prolasic....was his answer. I am 5 yr out..and have had this pain off and on for 2 years. I dont have it alot. But when I do..OH BOY!  I was in such pain this last time I didnt know. My labsa are good all the testing is good. So I'm trying to drink..which is hard for me...and doing what Dr said.
Get all the testing done to make sure there isnt any leak or hernia. Best to You.

Cha

Cha, I know exactly what you mean.  I have had this on and off also.  Mine usually does not last longer than 45 minutes, but not a darn second shorter either.  the first time I had it I thought I was going to die.  I do sit on the toilet because I cannot get up and walk.  I have to press on the spot to the left of my bellybutton, which I believe is where the "Y" meets, and the pain comes and goes very similar to a labor pain.  If I have a bowel movement I begin to feel better but that takes about 45 minutes to happen.  The end result is a bit of diarrhea, and then I am back to as if nothing happened.  I will post again when I get more ansnwers to try and help anyone out there who might be in the same boat.  Thank you for your good wishes.  Missy.

Hi, Missy,

I was scoped for this situation myself in January.  Before the "looky loo" the Dr. put me on high power antibiotics, suggesting an ulcer in the "old" part of the stomach may be a problem.  She followed the antibiotics with probiotic capsule everyday.  She did not find abnormalities with the scope, I felt much better after the round of drugs and I've been pretty good since.
 
I have had one more episode this spring which I have chalked up to trying to eat, take medicine and get out the door while exhausted.  Too much, too soon, too fast, too tired. To me, this particular episode was dumping.  Description:  I can almost feel the fluid rushing in at the top of my intestines and I don't feel better til it is all gone.... My new routine is to take my meds, wait. Eat, wait, take my vitamins. That way there aren't a whole bunch of little capsules dumping stuff out at once.

That being said, vita lady's list looks great to me. When this kind of pain is involved....it's time to see the Doc. I wish you the best.

Jeannie