Question:
When I eat, my belly swells (extreme expansion) as if I

were pregnant. I have pain on my left side. It also feels like a little ball is in there when I touch it. I feel pain when I bend over. In about an hour after eating a meal, my stomach shrinks a bit. I am 18 months post op and had the RNY. Any suggestions?    — debbrom (posted on May 25, 2008)

May 25, 2008
Debbie, Has this always happened to you after a meal or is this a new thing for you? Usually bloating after a meal has to do with gas. How much are you able to eat per meal in terms of ounces? Have you tried any over the counter medicine with Simethicone in it? That will break up gas. I like Maalox plus, I keep it in the fridge and its not so bad. As always, the best answer would come from your surgeon. Give him/her a call on Tuesday and see what they say about it. Good luck to you, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

May 25, 2008
Hernia? pain and the little ball might be that.. See surgeon and im sure they would beable to diagnose you better
   — irishsugar

May 26, 2008
Two thinks to consider. Are you eating bread of any kind? It causes swelling of the pouch and it is hard to pass through to the gut. It give me a pain for nearly 1 hour, so I just skip it. The other issue is how fast you eat. Be sure to eat slowly, and rest and turn of the TV and the computer while you eat. Chew each bit 50 times. When I eat too fast, I get the lump feeling and the pain, but I don't do it any longer now that I found out what caused it. Also gases foods like beans can cause the bloating, as can soft drinks and beer. Stay away from both of these if you find it to be the cause. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

May 26, 2008
GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try to take note of what foods make it worse. if i eat beans it happens to me...... i just walk and poot and things get much better about 1 hr later. good luck, Holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

May 26, 2008
Call your doctor and get an appointment to see him.
   — Jen R.

May 27, 2008
I had similar symptoms after eating. It was my gallbladder. I had surgery for it and had it removed. I hope it is just gas for you and nothing else. I would check in with the doctor.
   — ALafferty

May 28, 2008
i agree that you should see your doc. it could be nothing, it could be something quite serious! i had something similiar however mine was associated with great pain about a half hour after eating. it turned out that i had a bowel obstruction directly related to my rny. it never hurts to see your doc!! hope you feel better!
   — christielyons

May 28, 2008
I would definitly check out the Hernia option. I had the exact same situation for ten years and just thought it was what I looked like underneath all of the weight. Just had surgery four weeks ago for two hernias (ventral and umbilical) due to open surgery from thirteen years ago and extra weight. No more pain and digestion feels normal after all of this time.
   — coulsonjf