Question:
PAIN Help!

Hello, I had open 1 year out and have had 7 attacks of severe abdominal pain. what happens is I eat and with in 1/2 hr. my stomach bloats looks like I'm about 6 months pregnant, pain like someone is tearing out my insides, vomiting but nothing comes up,I think it is from the pain, cant sit up cant lay down, and Ive tried to narrow it down to a food but it is differnt every time. Ive got to the point that I'm affraid to eat because the pain is so bad, went to er 3 time took xrays, then my doc. sent me for a upper GI came back normal, and a ultrasound of gallblader normal, never had any of those test done when having attack. please if anyone can help. it seems like the food is getting stuck in bowel and cant pass. the attacks usually last for 5hrs. yes 5hrs. and the pain is unbarable. the last one I had lasted 12 hrs. when I go into er they cant find anything wrong blood work comes back fine and everything looks great but its not. I have cold sweats , for the next 2 days I'm just exsausted from the stress. what could it be. Please help... should I recomend some test to doc. and have them done.. Thank You!    — Jennifer M. (posted on September 6, 2003)

September 6, 2003
Have you had a hidascan or a cholangiogram with CBD (common bile duct). Could it be adhesions or a kink in the bowel? How bout a catscan with contrast or lower GI? Do liquids go through without a problem? Are you having diarrhea? Maybe you should get a second opinion from a gastroenterologist.
   — Kristen S.

September 6, 2003
It really sounds like a gallbladder attack to me. Sometimes ultrasound isn't the most effective test for gallbladder. Mine came back normal and found out that it was severely diseased during my RNY and had to be remove. There is another test they can do that involves contrast which might be beneficial. Either way, if you are in "pain" you can't give up...keep pushing until they find the cause. God bless. Denise 280/175/150
   — denisel

September 6, 2003
Thank you so much.... and liquid goes through just fine and so do other foods.. I never know when I eat if this is gonna be the big one again... so it's very frighting.by the way on a good note I have lost 90lbs and feel good other then this but goodness I have to get it taken care of... also my doc. thought it was an internal hernia but like I said the upper GI came back normal...and he didn't see any thing.. Thanks again..
   — Jennifer M.

September 6, 2003
It does sound like a gall bladder attack to me too. I had a few prior to my open RNY in July 2003, so they took my gall bladder out at that time. The first attack I had sent me to the ER. The second would have, but I was home-bound due to a hurricaine. They were about the most awful, painful experiences I have ever had.
   — Wendy T.

September 6, 2003
I do not know what it is but they need to keep looking. If you were a dog I'd say you had bloat, which is very serious. I wonder if it's possibly a severe case if IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The bloating is the part that concerns me the most. I have not heard of the bloating with gallbladder otherwise that would be what I think it is too. I would go to a gastro doctor and get their take on things. This is not normal and needs to be figured out. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr

September 6, 2003
My God, what you are describing sounds awful! What is your Dr. doing now that the upper GI came back normal? You can't just keep going to the emergency room everytime it happens. I know when I had my GB attacks, that I went to two different hospitals (was out of town once) the hospital in my neighborhood never found anything because they stopped testing after blood and Xrays were normal. If I were you and it sent you to the emergency room again, I would refuse to leave until they find out what is wrong. I am sorry that you are having to go through all of this, I will certainly keep you in my prayers! Barb
   — Sweet N.

September 6, 2003
One other comment related to it possibly being gallbladder. Just because no stones showed up on the ultrasound doesn't mean it isn't your galbladder. I did have 3 small stones so they went ahead with the surgery but afterwards the surgeon said that the problem was I had lots of gravel and the gravel is what kept blocking the exit from the gallbladder. Gravel does not show up on an ultrasound. I hope they figure out something soon.
   — zoedogcbr

November 15, 2004
I know you post this message a while ago. Have you find anything ever since? It sounds like the same thing that I'm going thru. And IT ISN'T GALLBLADDER AT ALL. My husband had to call 911 a few days ago for this problem and it was the worst of the worst attack ever. Off course, ER really didn't so anything but gave me a pain killer thru IV. One of the GI doc said that I have IBS. I went to see another GI doc and he said that my intestin twists because of RNY. He feels that I need to re-construct my gut and want me to go see a surgeon, not my surgeon who did my RNY. A few weeks ago, he had a patient who had RNY by the same doc and her intestine was twisted and a part of the intestine was dead, she had to do an emergency surgery otherwise, she wouldn't have not made it. If you could email me what's going on with you, maybe we can compair notes. I'm going to see the surgeon. I can't stand this problem. I feel like I'm going to die in pain. At least last attack, I thought I was going to the road. I hope you are well. Emily Strickland
   — EmilyUSAV

November 15, 2004
I was having similar problems, never knew when it would show up and I was MISERABLE. I had the ultrasound, showed nothing.....I had the hida scan and it showed that my gall bladder was only functioning at about 20%. A month later, when the doctor took it out, I had MULTIPLE small stones and sludge in the gall bladder, as well as gall bladder disease. I have been absolutely pain free since I had it out and feel terrific. I would get severely nauseated and then would start dry heaves but nothing would come up. It usually took 6 to 8 hours for the pain to reside. I agree with the other poster.........go back to your doctor and insist that they run whatever test they need to find out what is wrong. I wish you the best on finding an answer......I know how miserable I was and can only imagine how bad it would be if the attacks are coming frequently.
   — scbabe

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