Question:
I'm 2 yrs postop, suddenly experiencing PAIN, Help!

Oh gosh I need your help guys! I am having pain in my stomach area. I dont know if it is the old or new pouch. I am 2 years post op rny, non-transected. It feels just, I mean JUST like a minorish gall bladder attack. However since I dont have one anymore, I'm wondering if I have an ulcer or I have become not stapled anymore. When I burp, I feel much better, (pressure hurts), but I dont notice any burning as with stomach acid from the old stomach. When I eat, I feel much better. So perhaps it is an ulcer. I will call a doc in the morning, but I dont have a gastric bypass doc here where I live now. (different state). Any suggestions for teh meantime? Any other ideas as to what it may be? Thanks, Annie    — Annie R. (posted on August 1, 2003)

August 1, 2003
Well heck we must be twins, because I am going through the same thing and I have a friend who did and it was an ulcer. I have an appt to see my pcp on Monday and will probably reluctantly ask that I be scoped. My friend was put on prilosec and she said it works instantly for her. Ironically this problem surfaced when I was trying to change my eating habits for the better. I had been eating way too many bad carbs. I got on this fruit eating kick the past week and definetly when I eat my favorite a fresh peach I am feeling the pain within an hour...what a bummer.
   — SARose61

August 1, 2003
Hi, Check with your Dr. and ask him if it can still be related to the gall bladder/bile production. A woman in our support group had a similar thing occur and it turned out to be related to the bile that is produced and now stored in the liver, if I remember correctly. Too often people are under the assumption that they will be free of that pain forever, but according to this woman and her Dr., this is not always true. Best of luck.
   — Fixnmyself

August 1, 2003
Annie: I recently had the same problem, and ended up on Prevacid for an ulcer. The relief was immediate.
   — Betsy B.

August 1, 2003
I'm betting I have an ulcer. With no warning the pouch pain is so bad that I almost can't breathe. It goes around to my back and up my lower chest. The pain is excrusting for 3-4 hours. Last time it started I took a Nexium. It went away in a few minutes! It's never done that before. So I'm betting on an ulcer. (Gallbladder attacks were never this painful!) In fact, I never had these pains until after it was removed.
   — Danmark

August 1, 2003
Original Poster here.. I saw the doc today. I have a small ulcer, and without endoscopy, we wont know if it is in teh pouch or the old stomach. He prescribed Nexium for me. That was this morning. <p> Sadly, my insurance wouldnt pay for it without them getting permission from the doctor that I need it. Now, I am a little young at 28, but wouldn't a prescription be 'permission'? Anyhow, it will take 3 days for me to get the Nexium perscription. The doc finally called me back to say he will give me sample pills. I took one and I felt immediate relief. Mind you by this time, I was just about in tears from the pain. However that relief was short lived. My pain is back, but not near as bad. I suppose its livable for now. <p> If the ulcer is in the old stomach, how can the Nexium work on healing it and taking the pain away if it cannot get to the old stomach? Daniel, I agree with you that this pain never occurred for myself before I had my gall bladder out. I wonder if ulcers are a potential side effect of gall bladder removal. However my gall bladder attacks had me wishing for a quick death they were so painful. Worse than childbirth! Anyhow, that is the update. <p> Daniel, and anyone else, how are we supposed to live with ulcers? What happens if one develops on my staple line.. (since I am NOT transected?) Thanks, Annie
   — Annie R.

August 1, 2003
I hope I explain this right. Nexium does not work on your stomach because of the contact it has with the inside of your stomach. It is absorbed into your blood stream and works chemically to suppress acid production. It is not like something along the lines of pepto bismol that "coats" your stomach.
   — **willow**