Question:
Could this be an ulcer???

I am 14 months post-op and for the last week I have excrucitating abdominal pain and bloating which feels like gas; however, I've never had such severe gas pain that lasted this long. I'm not constipated so I don't think it's that. The pain eases with gas-X slightly, but it hurts much worse immediately everytime I eat...no matter what I eat. I tried doing a liquid diet(o.k. that lasted only two meals) but it was even uncomfortable with liquids. I have a slight burning feeling in my upper abdomen and some mild nausea but the thought of it being an ulcer didn't enter my mind until I started searching the library for information. Did anyone with an ulcer have bloating and or gas? I will call my surgeon in the morning for suggestions but would like a little feedback as the pain is so bad that at times I am doubled over in pain. I don't feel sick or have a fever or anything so I doubt it's appendicitis and my gallbladder was removed with my rny. Thanks.    — denisel (posted on May 4, 2004)

May 4, 2004
Well, of course, we cannot make a medical diagnosis, as you know, so we'll assume you're asking for speculation. A MARGINAL ulcer usually doesn't manifest as pain, as such, but more often as nausea. So, my questions would be: 1. are you transected? 2. Where, as exactly as possible, do you feel the pain? 3. How long after you eat, how much food, over how much time? 4. any back pain? 5. do your bowels work as they usually do, be it good or bad?
   — vitalady

May 4, 2004
Michelle, Here are the answers to the questions you were asking....Thanks so much for any input!! 1) yes, I am transected 2) The slight burning is located just under my rib cage and more to the right side (not like heart burn and I wouldn't consider it pain) and the gas is simply diffused throughout my abdominal region 3)It doesn't matter what I eat or how much I eat to cause the discomfort; however, some foods are more uncomfortable than others and it begins to hurt and I get distended immediatley and continues to get worse until hours later when it eases 4)I don't have much back pain 5) my BM's are fairly normal and consistant; although, I believe I've missed about 1 or 2 BM's over the last week but that's not unusual....Thanks again for any input...Just wondering what could be causing such gas and distention...I'll call my Doctor but feel silly calling about gas if that's all it is....Oh well, guess it's my day to feel silly!!
   — denisel

May 5, 2004
Sounds to me like a partial or complete bowel obstruction. I have had 2 emergency surgies over the past year for this, so I know what it feels like! Each time I had this pain, my doctor said to go directly to the ER. Both times, I had surgery hours later and they found an obstruction (aka internal hernia.) Don't procrastinate checking it out because a portion of the bowel can die. Good luck!
   — Lauren C.

May 5, 2004
Thanks. I know nothing about anything at all times, of course, which is important to remember. But I've had lots of ulcers, pre & post. Nothing you've said matches any of it. The big clue is bloating. Doesn't go with what I know of ulcers. I was thinking BO, which is why I asked about BM's. Hopefully, you have gone to the doc and had several painless and boring tests by now to determine what is interfering with the flow there. Even though we can't answer, sometimes 4-5 people telling you to pick up the phone can make you feel bold, right?
   — vitalady

May 5, 2004
Gall bladder? Shelley
   — Shelley.

May 5, 2004
Denise, I will be 9 months post op as of the 15th of this month and I too have had lots of nausea after eating...always after eating and drinking sometimes to the point where the only relief I get is to go lay down for almost 2 hours and trying to walk during this is near to impossible...and this is everyday anytime I eat etc...I talked to my surgeon last month and he thought it could be a vitamin deficiency problem..then I just seen him again yesterday and of course I still have the same problem...he is thinking now it could be a stomach ulcer and gave me an RX for Prilosec and something else...I forget the name of it...he also said it will take approx a month for it to help if it is in fact an ulcer if it isnt I don't know what the next step will be...so I think it could be possible with you as well to have an ulcer! Hope things get better for you...Rhonda
   — Rhondaroo78

May 5, 2004
Sorry, I just read your question again in its entirety. Of course it's not GB, DUH!! Good luck, I hope you feel better. Shelley
   — Shelley.