Question:
I have horrible burning pain in my stomach, What can it be?

Hi Everyone: I am 6 mos post op and last night thought that I was going to die from the burning and pain in my stomach. It was bad enough that I was curled up on the bathroom floor for 4 hours. Not to be too detailed but I thought that I needed to throw up and then the burning started for almost 4 hours. I took Tums as I thought it was stomach acid and a couple of hours later the burning eased and I was able to go to sleep. My entire abdominal area is SO SORE this morning that I can hardly touch it, but the burning and pain is gone. What could it have been??? I ate some low fat ham and cheese a couple of hours before bed and then my vitamins, but this is not out of the ordinary for me. I always do this. ANY ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED....Thanks you guys...you are ALWAYS so helpful...    — Joi G. (posted on February 15, 2002)

February 15, 2002
I had bad burning like that and it was an ulcer. My surgeon perscribed liquid Carafate and it really helped. I now take a Zantac in the morning and one at night and that really seems to keep the pain and burning under control. I hope you feel better soon :-)
   — Kathy H.

February 15, 2002
Do you still have your gallbladder as well?? I would think gallbladder or ulcer, but in any event, you should let your DR know. It pays to be safe!
   — ScatCat

February 15, 2002
I have just experienced a pain in my abdominal area too. Not a sharp pain, but it was there all day yesterday. I am almost 5 months post-op. I called my insurance company's on-call nurse and talked to her. Her advice was to call my surgeon within 8 hours. She said if I hadn't had the surgery, she would have just said let's see how you feel tomorrow, but with the surgery you want to be sure it isn't something toxic. I waited until this morning and called his office. He was in surgery, but his nurse talked to him between surgeries. I went to the hospital and had blood work done. Once they had the results, he called me back and said everything was normal, but for me to go back on liquids for a couple of days. <P> His nurse told me she had just read an artice about some who developed a leak at 6 months post-op. Any unusual pain is nothing to mess with following this surgery. Call your doctor. It's better to be safe than sorry.
   — [Anonymous]