Unexplained Pain on Left Side

Hi All, I am coming to all of you experts looking for help.  I have been struggling since mid October with sharp pain on my left side.  The pain comes and goes throughout the day and it does not seem to be related to when I eat.  Sometimes it is so sharp I cannot stand up.

had RNY on 7/31/08 and everything was going great until October.  They did an EDG the first of November and discovered I had an ulcer, was put on meds for that.  But, the sharp pain still was there.  Then they did a CT scan and determined I had Gall stones.  I went into the hospital mid December with sharp pains and they couldn't figure out why my pain was on my left side if my Gall Bladder is on my right side.

I had surgery on Dec. 15 where they removed my Gall Bladder and also repaired a hernia and removed scar tissue on my left side (the site of my pain). Bingo! We thought my pain problem was solved.  No such luck.  I have the pain on a continuous basis since.  I have had an upper GI where they also looked at the small bowel. That was normal.  I had a colonoscopy and another EDG and they were normal.  I had another CT scan about 3 weeks ago and that was normal.  I have been on Carafate, Prilosec, Citotec, Flagyl and was prescribed Valium (which I did not take because I hate the way it makes me feel.)

I really feel my doc is taking good care of me but just does not know what else to do.  I have to call his office again tomorrow to check in and see what they want me to do next.

At 7 1/2 months out I still am not able to eat much.  I have been getting nauseous when I eat, so I am wondering if I have another ulcer.  I have lost 85 pounds and am 5 pounds over my goal.  They don't want me to loose any more, but I just can't eat much without having pain.

Has anyone here gone through anything like this, or every heard of such a thing? I am so frustrated with feeling bad all the time, and being afraid to eat.  I would love to hear from any of you. 

Thanks!
Kathryn

HI,

I've been dealing with something similar for several years now. I've had several hernia repairs but still have the same pain on the left side.  Every time I go back to the surgeon's office they do a CT but nothing ever shows on a scan.   I have been reading that this is a possibility of adhesions forming.   But from what I have read if you have them removed they will just come back.   Maybe you are experiencing the same thing?  I refuse to have exploratory surgery again and be another science project.   I tend to manage it alot with eating softer foods, making sure i get lots of water, enough vitamins and be careful lifting things.  But I totally can sympathize with you because every time I complain of this pain the docs look at me like I'm crazy b/c their dumb tests show and end up being just another bill to pay.

Desiree
RNY 4/7/03

Have you had a regular xray?  I had occassional awful pain in my side for 2 years - even had an exploritory done.  Finally it got so bad one night that I was throwing up and it didn't go away.  They did an xray and found a big kidney stone - it was strange because the pain was in the wrong place for a stone.  Had to get lithotripsy twice to get rid of it.  Good luck, Sue

Hi Desiree,
I am convinced that it is adhesions forming again.  I am actually have exploratory surgery again.  Someone else said it could be my old stomach giving me problems also.  I am very anxious to see what he finds.  Surgery is scheduled for next Thursday, April 2. 
I will keep you posted.
Kathryn

Please do!   Good luck!  It's very frustrating not being able to figure out the unexplained pain.  I just would like to find a physician that doesn't want to cut one open so quickly.

Desiree