Charlie Horse feeling in the stomach
After my last post on that link that the above poster linked to an old post, (http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/3044806/2-1-2-yrs-severe-stomach-pain/ )I went to a different surgeon who took me seriously. Unfortunately, it requires exploratory surgery. I was begging him to do surgery.
I suspected from research that I may have had a "mesentery hernia" in the Petersons space. He agreed with me. Sure enough when he got in, it was indeed the "hernia." I use the term Hernia in quotes because it isn't your usual hernia. It is more like a "void."
When we lose a LOT of weight quickly, we also lose the fat that is cushioning your intestines. When you lose this fat, it allows the intestines to move around like snakes in a snakepit. Kink and unkinking at random. Mine was almost so severe that part of my colon was compromised and nearly without a blood flow. Luckily they got to it in time. Thank God they listened to me.
However... I still suffer from occasional "Esophageal Spasms." They aren't nearly as bad as they were. Even though they are called esophageal spasms, they are more like in the pit of your new stomach. I still keep 2 mg of Valium on me at all times just in case. 2 mgs is a very light dose, you never really feel like you are "on" something. It is just a muscle relaxer. If I start feeling that tighness, I pop one immediately and it will go away pretty quickly. I maybe have them once or twice a year now instead of every month. Like I said, if I can just take the tiny valium at the first sence of tightness... I never get into the fetal position and can go about my day. The hard part is finding a PCP who will give you Valium PRN. Luckily I have a great PA who listens to me.
Oh, they "fixed" my hernia issue by "tacking down" all my intestines so they wouldn't kink anymore. I have been doing great as far as that goes :-).
Just celebrated my 9 year surgiversary on November 10th.
First time poster here. I, too, came upon this forum because I googled "tightening, twisting abdominal pain." I haven't had WLS, but will this coming spring. I find it interesting that both sides, (recipients of weight-loss surgery & people in general), are experiencing the same symptoms.
Last night I was sitting on the bed talking to the dog when all the sudden I had the most gut wrenching pain in my lower abdomen. It was twisting and turning. I could literally feel it move. The dog looked at me like I was nuts, as I writhed in pain. I screamed out loud and I remember saying.."There's an alien trying to get out of my belly." I can laugh about it now, but at the time I was serious.
In November 2013 my doctor told me that I had a hernia. It'll get repaired at the same time I get WLS. I can't wait. I sometimes get those same episodes in my right upper abdomen just under the rib cage.
Thank you, danabky for your very informative post about your experience. I can relate to the feeling that my intestines are moving and twisting. I see my doctor next week!
on 2/9/10 9:04 am
yesterday i had the very worse Charlie Horse episode in my colon (abdomin). so i googled charlie horse in my colon and found this forum and site.
this has been happening to me for years.
and YES i have had a gastric bypass. i thought maybe it was connected.
i am glad that i am NOT the only one who experiences this...only because
i felt so weird that this was happening.
it happens to me the most when i crawl in and out of bed too fast. and when the EARTHQUAKE inside hits. i have to lean over something and press everything inside. i scream and pray out loud.
i do have a med that a doctor gave me for muscle relaxation. i have a few left. i need to get it refilled.
at first i thought it was a colon problem. so i did have my colon checked and had a colonoscopy. i am glad i got that done. but he found no reason i should be having charlie horses.
he sent me to another doctor and he said i do NOT have a hernia.
and i called 911 and went to the emergency room once...but of course the episode was over by the time i got there. they could find anything. i just remember thinking i was dying.
thanks to all of your posts. now i know to keep looking until i find a doctor/surgeon to help me.
it feels like my colon and stomach are going to EXPLODE inside. very scary.
and YES, i have been driving when it happened. luckily i was able to pull over. this has happened twice. and i leaned over my car....gyrating unti the episode was over.
LOTS of people saw me, but NO one stopped to see if i was ok.
i hope to hear more from others experiencing this.
thanks, E
I am 5'2" and around 190lbs. I want the lap band surgery soooo bad. I have fought being overweight all my life. I gain weight if I smell food. But I don't know where to start...
on 10/4/11 12:40 pm
also what vitamins is everyone out there taking that had the roun-y...im so extremely anemic that i had to get iron through an IV, and that didnt help much. I dont remember who my surgeon was.
I'm not obese, but a little chubby in the belly & I don't take pain pills, nor ever had a gastric by-pass. Although, I do take Calcium, Sulfasalizene & 5mg prednisone.
When this happens to me, I can reach in there & feel a baseball size lump with muscles wrapped around & constricting it, but as I massage & knead it like dough to relax those muscles the baseball falls flat & simply disappears, nowhere to be found.
Forty years ago, I had my appendix removed & the baseballs location is between the appendix scar & my belly button in the middle of my body. I can dig around right now & it's not there, but cough, lean, crouch or let gas put pressure on it & then it forms into a ball that rears up to spasm like a roaring lion.
