Question:
I am 4 and 1/2 months out and doing pretty well except that I have had reoccuring

pain on my right side (my gallbladder was not removed)and now I am having pain on my left side in my pouch area. I had the leak test done after surgery and no leaks were found. I talked to my surgeon last month about my gallbladder but he doesn't feel that anything would show up on an ultrasound yet so when I go back in May he may do an ultrasound if it is worse. I must confess, I have drank a small amout of soda but even when I don't drink it, my left side will hurt some. Any ideas? This has got me a little concerned.    — KittyKatt (posted on April 5, 2004)

April 5, 2004
Is the pain on an empty stomach, or just when eating? Does it hurt to drink water? The pain may be a pouch ulcer, a not uncommon occurrence in some post-ops. Or it could just be that you are eating too fast or your bites are not small enough. I developed a pouch ulcer at 18 mo post op from medications I was taking, and it hurt like hell every time I ate. 1 round of Nexium from the doctor cured it.
   — Cindy R.

April 5, 2004
The pain on the right side sounds like gallbladder to me! If thats what it is....its only gonna get worse. It usually happens after something you eat/drink and soda is one of them. However it CAN happen anytime it wants. I would really ask the doc to at least test it..if for nothing else, your peace of mind!
   — Valerie03