Question:
I Wanted To Ask A Question On Stomach Pains....
Last night at work, out of the blue I started cramping up(stabbing feeling) and it got so bad I could not even stand up straight, alls I could do is cry. My work almost called 911, but I asked them to give it time. It lasted over an hour and even today my stomach feels sore(I guess). It was below my rib cage and right in the middle, which is the new pouch, right? I thought maybe gas,but I never had anything exit? It scared me and hurt so bad! Has anyone had any pain like this? I'm lost on this one. Thank you for the help:o) — Sandy M. (posted on August 18, 2003)
August 18, 2003
God yes! Mine starts in the pouch like a stab then radiates around to my
back. They last about 3 hours of excrusicating pain. I can't even get
enough breath to talk during them. Actually I feel like I'm going to die.
I'm to chicken to get scoped so my private doctor (not surgeon) has put me
on Nexium. I've only had "one" attack since then. I took Nexium
right away and the attack went away within three minutes! This has never
happened before. So I'm thinking ULCER!
— Danmark
August 18, 2003
Do you still have your gall bladder? The pain you describe sounds like
what I experienced before having my gall bladder removed. The pain was just
below my rib cage, in the middle and radiated into my shoulder blades.
— Bonnie
August 18, 2003
Could be gallbladder, kinked intestine, ulcer or, in my case, after a
gallbladder ultrasound showed no stones, my doc said from the location and
type of pain a gastritis attack. I was put on Bentyl for 2 weeks and
Prilosec for a month...so far, so good (tomorrow is the last Prilosec).
But, you really should call your surgeon or PCP, as long as (s)he's
familiar with our plumbing. Good luck!
— Leslie F.
August 18, 2003
I have been experiencing what you describe on and off for the last two
weeks. I wished I'd just die during the spells. The first few times it
happened, after about 15 minutes I threw up, but the last couple of times
it happened, I had diarrhea and a solid bowel movement. I've had to stay
away from solid food and water for the last few days and am getting most of
my nutrition from watermelon jc, it has helped tremedously. I will add
some protein tonight.
I've been in touch with my surgeon and my regular doc. I will be seeing my
doc next week. Thus far it's been one heck of a ride.
— Rosa F.
August 18, 2003
Sandy,
OMG I was so relieved to see your question and the responding answers. I
had this happen to me the other night. Woke me up from a deep sleep, sat
straight up in bed and thought 'What the heck is going on?'!! Right below
my sternum and radiated thru to my back. Actually took my breath away.
Lasted about 15-20 minutes and as gone almost as quickly as it started.
Then it happened a cpl of hours later. My abdomen was very sore the next
day. Hasn't happened again as of yet, but I will be sure to mention it to
my surgeon when I go for a follow up next month. Very strange and actually
kinda scary! I'm glad to see the answers posted. I was thinking maybe it
was gas too ~ almost like a severe spasm caused by the gas. Wierd!! Open
RNY 1/3/03 330/212/175
— chelle3081
August 18, 2003
I forgot to mention, my gallbladder IS out. In fact these pains NEVER
started untill AFTER my gallbladder was removed! And "most" of
the time these attacks start is AFTER I've laid down to go to sleep. I
found that interesting as the last poster said she was asleep.
— Danmark
August 18, 2003
I had my Gallbladder removed a couple years ago and this pain felt worse
than the gallstone pain, which I had to live with for 4 years of attacks
b/c I kept getting pregnant:o). I can't really figure out how to describe
the pain, but even this morning, something does'nt feel right. I will call
BTC today and ask about this, it's scaring me! Thank you all for the
information!
— Sandy M.
August 19, 2003
I agree! This is much worse than gallstone pain. To me this is like a death
pain, in that I would'nt be surprised if something was wrong and I'd die.
I've had a he## of alot of pain in my life. This is some of the worst.
— Danmark
August 19, 2003
Me too!!!!....It was ulcers. See you doctor before it gets worse.
— Oldsoul
November 12, 2003
I had the double you over, thinking I am having a heart attack pain from
august to feb of this year. I had the gallbladder out in august and had
the pain until then. It turned out that the spincter of oddi which is a
duct (I think)that was attached to the gallbladder was spasing. I usually
got this pain upon arising in the morning and before I ate anything. I
ended up having an endoscope procedure in which they went through the
stomach, into the duct work, and clipped the duct. Never a pain since. My
doctor told me that after the wls surgery they would not be able to do the
procedure this way again. Check with the surgeon and see what she says.
good luck.
— classydame1
November 12, 2003
I'm pre-surg and my date keeps getting changed because of this tupe of
pain! I had my gallbladder out many years ago. I've had this pain right
side rib cage radiating to the middle of my chest and into my back. When
it happens I call it my "death grip". Anyway, all sorts of
testing including an angiogram for heart study. Finally referred to a
gastroenterologist who did a HIDA scan and found I had the sphincter of
Oddi syndrome. The duct that was connected to the gallbladder was blocked.
He put a tube down into my stomach and bile ducts and then opened a
balloon to enlarge it. Then he made a cut in the sphincter muscle to keep
it open. I was schedule RNY for 11/20 but now have to wait 8 weeks. There
is a possibility that these ducts can close again and once RNY is done
treatment for the pain will not be easy. This according to my surgeon.
BTW: My "death grip" has almost disappeared. Just a little
twinge now and then.
— kathy W.
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