Question:
I am 3 weeks post RNY and until today doing absolutely wonderful.

Of course, I am 700 miles away from home and my surgeon. Today I bent over to talk to my toddler, stood up and heard and felt a severe popping sound up under my left ribcage. The pain was sharp and severe at first. It hurts when I take deep breath. Of course, it's Friday afternoon at 4 when this happens. I called my surgeon and he was not on call. I get the general surgeon on call and he has "know idea" what it could be. He suggests calling my surgeon on Monday morning. I am still having quite a bit of pain, hours later. The pain is almost midline under my incision radiating to the left. I am just frustrated, thinking I "ripped" something I shouldn't. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?    — [Anonymous] (posted on September 21, 2001)

September 21, 2001
I had the same thing, only it started out of the blue and not from one event. I was exactly 3 weeks post op, also (I had Lap RNY). It just started hurting...the only way I could describe it is after you work out for a long time then drink water too fast you get that pain in your side.. that's what mine was. It hurt really bad when I took a deep breath (sometimes it didn't hurt unless I was taking a deep breath, unless I moved a certain way). This went on for 3 days before I finally went to see my dr. Mine is far away, also.. 4 hours. I was scared out of my mind! Well, they did a cat scan of my chest and abdomen, made me drink this gross dye drink and injected dye into my veins. It wasn't fun, but it was worth the results - nothing was wrong (I was convinced I had something horribly wrong!). It just ended up being a little trapped air in there. I figured it couldn't be gas because it hurt too bad and lasted too long, but I was wrong. After awhile it started hurting all the time, almost feeling bruised - and still even worse when I took a deep breath. But, after having the tests it went away a couple of days later on it's own. I don't know what the popping was, maybe it was a coincidence. If it gets bad you can always go into the Emergency Room. Good luck!
   — Jen S.

September 21, 2001
Please don't wait until Monday morning. I would go to the emergency room. Your surgery is too new. Something could be wrong. It could be gas, but when I have had trapped gas, it feels like someone is giving me a great big bear hug...VERY TIGHTLY. This surgery is nothing to mess around with. Take care and let us know how you make out.
   — barbpatter

September 21, 2001
Hi there! I can totally sypathize with you. I had the same pain at exactly the same time. My doc. did send me to the ER and I had a leak test. It was negative thank goodness. He was uncertain what the pain could be. They ruled it off to trapped gas and the bowel waking up after laying dormant after surgery for so long. I also at a urinary tract infection which could have added it to it. All I know is it last for about another 2 weeks ...So how did I deal with it...PAIN KILLERS...It was really unbearable for me it was worse than the surgery! I hope this helps. Good Luck!
   — Melissa S.

September 22, 2001
Hi, my .02 here. Yes, it is certainly possible that it could be trapped gas. I know when I have that even now 1 1/2 years later the pain is unbearable and it hurts to even breathe. BUT, it could be something else too. You are too freshly post-op to take any chances. Please go to your local ER and get yourself checked out. It may be gas but it may not. Better to be safe than sorry! Believe me, if the doctor's there don't know anything about WLS they will get in touch with your surgeon! I ended up back in the hospital in Lafayette, LA two weeks after my surgery in Houston due to a very massive infection. The doctors and nurses there were not at all familiar with WLS but they got Dr. Ferrari on the phone and he stayed in contact with both them and me for the 5 days I was there. There was even talk of transporting me back to Houston in an ambulance because the surgeon on call in the ER didn't want to touch me. Thank God they kept me overnight and the following morning (Monday) there was a surgeon who took over my case who stayed in contact with Dr. Ferrari and also seemed to have a clue about what I had had done. Please don't play around with this. If you are still in severe pain today please please please go get checked out. Better to feel a little foolish to hear it's just gas and have the peace of mind that all is well than to risk something really major being wrong. Also, please update this site and let us know how you are doing. Take care!
   — Kellye C.