Question:
Empty uncomfortable pain in my stomach

I am 4 months post-op[open RNY], and I have lost 68 lbs, however for the last week I have been having an ache in my stomach. Its kind of like an empty feeling, like I am hungry. If I eat it goes away for about 20 minutes, then it returns with a vengence. It gets increasingly uncomfortable,[like a burning ache] then when I think I can't take it anymore it dies down, only to return. I stopped taking Prevacid about 3 1/2 weeks ago. Is this what an ulcer feels like ? Any ideas, please !    — Sherry S. (posted on April 15, 2002)

April 15, 2002
HI! I AM PRE OP BUT I DO HAVE AN ULCER. I WOULD GET PAINS THAT WERE LIKE HUNGER PAINS. IF I WOULD EAT SOMETHING IT WOULD FEEL BETTER. IF NOT, IT WOULD REALLY BURN. THIS SOUNDS SOMETHING LIKE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR DR. I TAKE PRILOSEC AND RARELY HAVE ANY PROBLEM NOW.
   — nikki R.

April 15, 2002
Hi Sherry...I am going on only 2 months post op...and I am having burning aching feelings....before surgery...I had H Pylori which is a bacterial infection that can lead to ulcers. I had no symptoms of ulcers pre-op, only got bad cases of diareah right after eating. So now that I have this new tummy...am I more sensitive and have I now developed a real ulcer???? I am going to see my surgeon this wednesday and hopefully get an answer to that. For me the burning pain sometimes irritates my tummy so much that I can not keep my food down. I have a good day and then a bad one. My dr told me to take liquid maalox and that does help me some...maybe you can try that. I will try to post again to your question once I find out if this is really an ulcer that I have.
   — SARose61

April 15, 2002
Thank you for your kind advice. I spoke with my surgeon and he explained that many times patients recovering from gastric surgery need an antacid to decrease stomach acids, while they are healing internally. He filled my old prescription of Prevacid, and low and behold it helped. Thank you all.
   — Sherry S.