Question:
Any ideas until I can see my surgeon?
I've had an Open RNY on May 8, 2001 and my gallbladder was removed 10 months later. Actually I've had more pain after the gallbladder removal than the attacks before. Anyway, for the last eleven or so days I've been nauseous and feel similar to the post surgical feeling of nothing looks good to eat. I can't even drink coffee anymore. And I've been having lots of stomach pain, feels like both pouch and old stomach. It is like a hunger pain growling but it is quite painful. It happens intermittently but frequently. I don't believe it is a stricture as I can keep food down just fine. And it can't be a blockage, as I go to the bathroom too. So I'm thinking an ulcer or something worse? Any ideas? I've called my surgeons office and they are going to try me on something stronger than my current Nexium. Anyway, this pain isn't going away. I can live with the pain, but what worries me is the pain is telling me something is wrong. And I must say I am worried. Any ideas? Thanks. — Danmark (posted on December 10, 2004)
December 10, 2004
Hi Daniel - so sorry your not feeling well. I had some serious attacks in
July and was hospitalized a week in the summer. After all tests turned out
negative..being back in forth in the ER again..more tests..turns out it is
IBS.(irritable bowel snydrome). Check out www.helpforibs.com. I am not
saying you have this/nor do I know anything medical..I just want to throw
this out to you to check it out - who knows? Maybe it could help you or
someone else. My Doc thought I had an ulcer - took nexium. When he did
finally scope me turns out I didn't even have an ulcer.
I hope you find an answer. Feel better.
Lisa Jacob
240/140/135
— Lisa J.
December 10, 2004
Daniel, somebody posted on the message board yesterday about how we can
have a blockage in the intestine that runs from the "old" stomach
to the rest of the intestine. That it is harder to diagnose because the
symptoms of not being able to pass gas or have a bowel movement do not
apply. But it is still painful. Just wanted to throw this out there for
consideration. Hope they can find out what's going on and fix it. Hugs.
Lisa
— LisaHillsinger
December 10, 2004
Hi Daniel, I am 19mos Post op. You're Dr will have to tell you for certain,
but your symptoms sound like how I felt when I had h.pylori. I couldn't
even drink water without doubling over in pain. Once I took the Prev-Pac
meds for 14 days I was as good as new. My stomach was 100% after 3 days of
meds. h.Pylori causes peptic or bleeding ulcers. Your PCP can run a blood
test for it if you can't get to your surgeon. My best regards, Maggie B.
— M B.
December 10, 2004
It sounds like it could be an ulcer. I had a history of duodenal ulcer but
of course after GBS it wasn't an issue. I started having "ulcer type
pains" early this year & my surgeon put me back on Protonix. In
August I was hospitalized for 6 days due to a perforated ulcer. I'm
convinced this one was due to my drinking coffee...I could just tell. After
my ulcer was "patched" in surgery I started to use my meds (4
carafate & 2 nexium daily) to work in coffee again. The pain got really
bad & I ended up getting an endoscopy last month....showing no
improvement to my ulcer. I have been coffee free for 5 weeks & am doing
so much better. I read online thst even decaf will cause the same
effects...the problem if with the coffee bean. Anyway, this may not be your
problem but I wanted to give some input. Good Luck!
— Kathy K.
December 10, 2004
Has anyone schedule you for scope, swallow or CT? Where exactly does it
hurt? How far from what "land marks" on your body?
— vitalady
December 10, 2004
I called my surgeons office and got one of the nurses. They were going to
bring me in for the test where you drink something and they xray? Then she
decided that as long as I've been on Nexium, to give me Carafate 4 times a
day. That stuff just feels so great on my stomach. And the pain goes away
for several hours afterwards. Kathy, I guess it helped you too. I live on
coffee. I can't enjoy much in the way of eating anymore and I found one of
the coffees at "The Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters" that is out of
this world. I've been living on it. I've cut way way way back on artificial
sweetners and go heavy powder creamora. Geese, now just a taste of coffee
turns my stomach like an early pre op. Oh Michelle the pains are, as far as
I can tell, ONLY in the area of pouch and I think the old stomach. There is
no burning, but it almost feels as if I'm being "eaten away".
It's like a bad stomach pains growl, that feels like it is in both the
pouch and old part too. Maggi, about two months ago I was tested for some
enzeme that is present with Ulcers. I don't know if it was Pylori but the
test came back negative. I'm still thinking this must be an ulcer. They
only nice thing is I've lost 6 pounds in about two weeks. And I have'nt
been able to lose anymore weight. I've been stable at 165 for a couple
years. I'd really love to get to 130 or better yet, I don't care what I'd
weigh if I could wear a size 30 jeans. So part of me hopes I continue not
enjoying food.
— Danmark
December 11, 2004
Daniel, If you even think you might have an ulcer, you need to lay off of
the coffee. It is awful on even a regular stomach. It must be tearing up
your little pouch. I hope you feel better soon, you have been through too
much.
— **willow**
December 11, 2004
Willow, yes I quit the coffee a couple days ago. :( Geese, I can't eat
much... now I can't even have one of the few "drinking pleasures"
in life. I'm nauseous a good deal of the time now. The only thing good is I
seem to be losing a half pound a day.
— Danmark
December 14, 2004
Hi
I was wondering what is stronger than the nexium? Hope you are feeling
better by now. When my tummy was bad I took the nexiun twice a day instead
of once a day and that seemed to help.
Have a Merry Christmas.
— catleth
December 15, 2004
Catleth, I was taking one Nexium a day, then upped it to twice. It was'nt
making any difference this time. The Karafate was a Godsend. It has
gradually helped over the last few days. Heck I lost 11 pounds in about two
weeks from the pain. Now I am almost pain free. By the way, I think it was
all the coffee I was drinking. Now I'm craving water and will only drink
1/4 cup a coffee and throw most of that out. It does'nt even apeal to me
anymore. Hope it lasts.
— Danmark
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