Question:
Almost 4 years Post-op, I have have a stomach ache almost every day

I have had an Upper GI done and they can find nothing wrong. Almost every day I have diarrhea several times. This is a very embarassing problem. Does anyone else have this problem?    — heddo30 (posted on November 17, 2005)

November 17, 2005
i have had my surgery done since 2002 and i have put on a few pounds ,but i still have trouble with some foods that make my stomach ache like crazy ,most of all red meats bread pasta and still sweets so i say its just telling me to stay away from that food i dont need it ...laura
   — pricelaura

November 17, 2005
I had the same problem ....I had a ulcer. It took two ultra sounds and an upper GI to detect. Keep on your doctor....there is always a reason for pain. Also, you may have a small stricture. I had one at two years out.
   — Oldsoul

November 17, 2005
are you eating sugar free stuff? malitol a sugar substitute can cause this...
   — bob-haller

November 17, 2005
I had diarrea all the time before and after surgry. I had all kinds of tests before the surgry to no avail so I never had the consipation that many have here. Anyway cause of my inability to use sugar, milk, and dislike of carbcount down out of despration I tried keffer to mix my protein powder in. It stopped my diarea. No diarea for the first time in years!! Still do not know why. Just a heads up if the doc cannot find anything. Later read that keffer has more good bateria than yougret. The kind I get has no sugar or sweeteners.
   — cheryl D.

November 18, 2005
Do you still have your gallbladder? When I had mine, I was getting pain and then had it taken out and then had constant diaherra and found out that I severe IBS. It took almost 9 months to figure out that was wrong. Good luck :-)
   — Jessica D

November 18, 2005
Your problem could be happening in your colon. I had severe diarrhea and it wasn't diagnosed until I had a colonoscopy. The upper GI only looks at the stomach and I think small intestine. You might need to keep looking. Best wishes, Sid
   — mrsidknee

November 18, 2005
upper GI's are great for diagnosing mechanical problems of the GI tract..however, to view the tissue and ulcerations an endoscopy would be the most thorough was to detect other problems. Also a colonoscopy might be helpful. I am a little mifted why the doctor hasn't ordered an endoscopy? Hope you feel better soon.
   — Karen Renee

November 21, 2005
I agree that the endoscopy would show more. I had the diarrhea problem so bad that I wore diapers and had accidents if I coughed etc.. It helped if I took liquid Lomotil and I also found that it was increased by some of the artificial sweetners. I also developed a Lactose intolerance and switched to no milk. Read the labels on everything though because I couldn't believe all the things that had Lactose in them (like McDonald's burgers- nothing at all against them -just surprised). I still have bouts but nothing long lasting now. I am almost 5 years out. A journal might help too like my stomach hurts now, pain scale 0-10-10 worst, keep record of what you ate -how much etc. What meds you took-it would help the doctor get a cleared record of what might be going on and you might be able to link something to it. I still have problems with vomiting at times too. Hang in there good luck!
   — ppane35