Question:
Severe abdominal pains, Doctor's say they can't find anything wrong

I have been having occasional severe abdominal pains through my ribs, chest and back. I have had an ultrasound and bloodwork done. They ruled out my Gallbladder, and said everything else looked fine. They said I may be a little dehydrated, but not enough to have pain... They gave me a medicine that says its for muscle spasms of the intestines. It's called Betyl(?) Anyone else have these problems?    — Sunny4x4chick (posted on February 6, 2003)

February 6, 2003
If you pain continues, please continue to bug your doctor, i had severe pain after my wls, they assumed it was gall bladder and i was scheduled for surgery , but before the surgery, I had to be rushed to hospital (bleeding ulcer) watch your stool if it is black call doctor right away. I ignored this assuming it was something i ate. Pain is a signal by your body something is wrong.
   — gail01

February 6, 2003
Although I am not a Dr. this sounds like the same pain I had with my gallbladder. Maybe consider a 2nd opinion? There is pain for some reason!!!!Take care
   — cathywalden

February 6, 2003
I agree with Cathy, sounds like gall bladder. I would seek out a 2nd opinion. I have muscle spasms and around my Ribs its very tender sometimes it hurts to get out of a chair. I was told its the "healing" process (my gallbladder was removed a few years ago) I'm 7 weeks out and if it doesnt get better in a couple of weeks I WILL be back at the doctors. So if I were you I would get a 2nd opinion asap.
   — donna C.

February 6, 2003
What about adheasions? I have heard these can be very painfull. I think they can only be seen with a laproscope, and then clipped and the pain is relieved. Try reading under adheasions in the obesityhelp library.
   — wizz46

February 6, 2003
Me too! I've had exrays and no one knows what is wrong. My gallbladder was taken out a year ago, and it feels like a gallbladder attack. He did say a duct (or something) colapsed but he thought he had all the stones out. I'm terrified when these attacks hit as they are without warning and are extreme.
   — Danmark

February 6, 2003
Sunny, I noticed on your profile that you've had some experiences of *passing out* in addition to these severe pains. Please, please, please take these symptoms very seriously and INSIST that your doctors get to the bottom of it right away, even if it means exploratory surgery to look for a hernia/blockage/strangulated intestine. I have heard of *several* WLS post-ops who have had similar situations recently, and some of them became life-threatening very quickly. One woman was two-years post-op, at goal, feeling great... except that she nearly passed out at work one day and also had some intermittent, unexplained abdominal pains. She went to the ER and they couldn't find anything wrong. Her blood work and x-rays were all normal. Weeks later, she ended up back in the ER in terrible pain. It turns out that she had an internal hernia, her intenstines were twisted (they were moving in and out of a hole in her mesentary, the abdominal lining that holds the small bowel in place), and she very nearly died from this late-term complication. This type of problem is apparently very difficult to diagnose, and potentially very serious. It's more common in patients who have lost most or all of their excess weight (because the fat in the mesentary thins out, making any holes/defects larger and more dangerous). It's also more common after lap procedures (fewer adhesions to hold the intestines in place), but can happen after open as well. The woman I'm writing about is fine now, but she had a real scare and some extensive emergency surgery. I'll see if I can get her to write to you directly and share more details. I hope that whatever you're experiencing is not nearly so serious, but if you're in pain, then there is obviously *something* wrong and you need to know what it is ASAP. Good luck!!!!
   — Tally

February 6, 2003
who ordered all the tests u had? if it wasnt a gastroenterologist, i would find one immediately & when u call for an appointment be very sure that the person making the appt understands the urgency of ur problem. good luck!
   — sheryl titone

February 6, 2003
Insist that they check it out. NOW! Here is my story: I was having horrible pain that would double me over. Doctors kept doing tests to rule out gall stones, kidney stones, ulcers, strictures, etc. Nothing showed up. The doctors kept putting me off after there were no signs of gallstones. The pain was horrible. Finally they did one more test after my endoscope showed nothing. It was called a hydascan (sp?) To make a long story short. I wound up getting a phone call at 8 o'clock one morning telling me to get to the emergency room right away. My hydascan had showed that my gallbladder had totally shut down. Gallbladders can rupture, even if there are no sign of stones. It's fairly rare. They had me in the operating room in nothing flat. I was within minutes of it rupturing. The surgeon told me I might not have survived if it had. It probably had nothing to do with my WLS but from an infection of some kind. Here were my symptoms, if it will help--extreme pain after eating (especially anything with fat), pain in ribcage that radiated around the right side and under the shoulderblade, no appitite, gas pains that were horrible. Sometimes too I guess gall stones can form a kind of sludge, so they don't really show up on tests. Ask your doctor about doing a hydascan (sp?). Not to scare you but push your doctor until you get answers. It probably saved my life! Leigh
   — Leigh P.