Question:
17 mo post op Severe Chest/abdominal pain

I am 17 months post-op with the Open RNY. A few days ago, I started getting severe and I do mean severe pain right below my breast bone..in the center of the chest. It feels as if something is pushing inward and squeezing all at the same time. It also radiates to a dull ache over the rest of the abdominal area. But it does orginate in that one particular area below the breast bone. It's so severe that I can barely even move. I ended up in the ER 2 days ago because I couldn't stand the pain..these attacks last about 3 to 4 hours, and usually start about 3 hours after I eat something. The hospital had no idea what was wrong..I vomited while there and that eased the pain some..and was given a GI cocktail. Since then..I have had 1 other attack which happened today..this one again..3 hours after I ate..and lasted about 3 hours in duration. I made myself vomit hoping it would relieve some of the pain, and it did. I have an appointment with my surgeon next tuesday...but I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and knows what could be causing this?? Thanks in advance for any help you can give!    — Becky F. (posted on January 2, 2003)

January 2, 2003
Do you still have your gallbladder? If so have them check for stones.
   — davesband1

January 2, 2003
Definatly check your Gullbladder. Also, I used to have pain like that about a year after my first c-section. The pain was unbearable and I could not sit or stand even. It would get so bad I would throw up and all this would happen a few hours after I ate. It turned out that I had MAJOR scar tissue build up around my c-section and my bladder was like sticking to another part of my body. During the second c-sec, the dr. fixed the problem and took out the scar tissue and it helped.
   — Maria S.

January 2, 2003
I am 25 months out and was in ER this past weekend with sever pain below my right breast..under the rib cage radiating upwards and found this to have happened after eating ..pain lasted more then 6 hours maybe longer was on IV pain meds by this time..throwing up did not help I think it was a intestinal kink since then I have noticed food seems to just sit in my chest and then I hear a gurgle and it eases up like it passed through finally..I had every test know to Man I am tracking it I am so scared of that pain returning it was awful I have heard that you can have a intestinal kink that relaxes and then kinks again I was told soft and soups for a few days good luck Kathy I have no gallbladder
   — Kathleen M.

January 2, 2003
Deffinately have them check your Gallbladder, if you still have it. I had pains like that before as well and it took about that long for the pain to subside. I would have to vomit and then I would pretty much passout from the pain. So, it sounds alot like Gallstones.
   — Cindy P.

January 3, 2003
I experienced very much the same pain intermittently for a couple of months - until early October 2002 I had an attack that would not stop. After being taken from work to the hospital by paramedics, I had to have emergency surgery to remove scar tissue that had built up and intertwined into and around my intestines as a result of the RNY. I am OK now, but I am less another few inches of intestine. It is something I don't want to go through again. Your plight sounds very similar. Good luck.
   — Juan C.

January 3, 2003
hi i am po 7mos and when i first came home i had that also and i thought it was gas and inventually it stop check it out with your physican might be something else.
   — ROSEMARY A.