Question:
ABDOMINAL PAIN, NOT GALLBLADDER

I HAVE FREQUENT PAIN UNDER MY RIBS AND UPPER ABDOMEN. GALLSTONES WERE RULED OUT. MY SURGEON, TAKING A WILD GUESS SAID IT IS PROBABLY ACID REFLUX. I DONT EVEN GET HEARTBEARN ANYMORE. I DOUBT THIS IS IT. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT USUALLY HAPPENS MOST WHEN I AM SITTING FOR A WHILE. ANY SUGGESTIONS?    — christina K. (posted on February 15, 2003)

February 14, 2003
I sure wish I could help you on this. I have pain under my ribs also. I woke up with it after surgery!I was told to go back on my GERD medication, much to my dismay, 3 weeks post-op. The GERD medication has no effect on the pain under my ribs however. Very frustrating. If you get any answers let me know!
   — sherry H.

February 15, 2003
For me there is a difference between surface pain (being skin), muscular pain, and bone or joint pain. Can anyone else discern the difference? After my surgery, I had this HORIFFIC stinging pain on the outside of my thigh. I would get 'zaps' feeling like someone was snapping me with a rubber band. It was very painful. But the pain was surface. I could tell this. What it felt like was surface nerves going spastic. My point here, does the pain you have under your ribs feel like surface (scar), muscular (ab muscles)or deep (stomach)? Can't you tell if it is in the stomach or if it is like ab muscles (still healing possibly)? I lifted a HEAVY box yesterday and I am paying for it today. I have a pain that runs sideways under my ribs. It feels muscular. I assumed I sprained some healing ab muscles. I am 3 1/2 months out.
   — Ginger M.

February 15, 2003
BOY I sure hope someone can help us with this question I have the same pain right side under the rib it is very bad at times sometime when i eat it gets better sometimes not. i am on a med for heartburn and acid reflux with no help. my doctor said thats weird I really dont know, i have it at least once a day sometimes all day it is quite uncomfortable. i am 3 1/2 months post op.
   — terri R.

February 16, 2003
I am finding that i get the worst pain when i havent eaten in a couple of hours. maybe it is a signal to eat. only problem with that is that i could go with out eating except for the pain so i feel it is forceing me to eat more often
   — terri R.

February 18, 2003
I am 3 1/2 years post op and have been having the same symptoms that you decscibe. Meds for acid reflux and ulcers don't help, changes in diet don't help either. My pcp has ruled out ulcers so far and is now checking gall bladder too but I saw the sonogram that was done yesterday and there were no visible stones. The radiologist , however, did a full abdominal scan, not just gall bladder, so perhaps they will find something yet. If I get any useful results I will post and let you know.
   — Lois S.

February 22, 2003
I spent 6 months after my RNY last April trying to find the cause of my chronic back and abdominal pain. After many TERRIBLE tests and trips to the ER my new pain management doctor finally gave me a diagnosis and it had absolutly nothing to do with anything inside my abdomen. I am having muscle spasms in my gluteus minimus and medius, piriformus muscle and my rectus abdominus muscle. He found trigger points in several areas of my buttocks, rectum and vagina. It's all written in my profile, if you are interested in hearing more. I'm currently taking muscle relaxants and pain medication which is helping a lot. But the treatment plan is bascially strengthening my abdomen and buttocks and just getting into better physical shape. He told me it would take about a year for the pain to go away, because of the time it takes to become more fi. It was caused by being 342 lbs on the surgery table for 3 1/2 hours. Many muscles that were not used to bearing this weight, now had to do so during surgery. The muscles remained inflamed, because my abdomen was week and I lost so much weight right away, with pretty much no activity. I lost a lot of muscle mass, so it's taking a long time to become stronger. Plus you would be appalled if you saw the positions you are placed in during this surgery Hope this information helps. Just because you have abdominal pain, it doesn't mean that's where the problem is. Muscle spasms can refer pain to different areas of the body. You can search the internet for Myofascial pain or trigger points. I didn't find much on muscle spasms by itself. God Bless!
   — Christine L.