Question:
I have been getting sick on my stomach

I have alsoo been hurting behind my right shoulder blade. Could I have an ulcer? What are the symptoms of an ulcer and what are the most common causes in WLS patients? I am 11 months post op. 334/211/150    — cindylou56 (posted on June 20, 2004)

June 20, 2004
Sounds as if your gaulbladder is acting up. I have right shoulder and right upper back pain when my gaulbladder is giving me problems.
   — imgabbie

June 20, 2004
I forgot to mention I had my gallbladder removed 29 years ago so I know it can't be that.
   — cindylou56

June 20, 2004
I forgot to mention I had my gallbladder removed 29 years ago so I know it can't be that.
   — cindylou56

June 20, 2004
Ulcer pain can be different for everyone. For me I feel it under my breast bone and to the left just under my ribcage in the front and it feels like it burns through to my back, but on the left side. The pain in front and the pain in back are in the same place. As if someone just stabed me with a searing hot poker. Descriptive enough? LOL I don't usually get sick, like puke sick, unless I am in some serious pain. And I think I only get sick because I am in such misery. Sort of like when you get sick from intense headaches. Dunno if that made any sense or not. <br>Anyhow, there are many causes for ulcers. The main one is the presence of H pylori bacteria. Treated with anti-biotics. I wasn't so lucky to get that. No one can really tell me why I get them. I personally think one came from huge amounts of pain killers that I was taking for my galbladder. But then, that wouldn't explain the second one.<br>Best way to check for one is an endoscopy. Upper GI's never found mine, only the scope. Sorry for your pain, if it's anything like mine, I really feel for you. Best of luck. ~~Rebecca
   — RebeccaP

June 20, 2004
It doesn't matter if you have your gallbladder or not, you can still have attacks from gallstones. You still have the common bile duct left, and the cholesterol can form stones in the common bile duct. My advice would be to see your surgeon or primary ASAP. Nausea and pain is not a good sign regardless if you have the gallbladder or not. Let them make the diagnosis, as we on this board are not trained professionals... and the trained professionals are usually the best ones to make this call.
   — Disneyfreak

June 20, 2004
Cynthia...you don't mention if you have your gallbladder or not, but this is a classic symptom of a gallbladder attack. I've been an ultrasound technologist and x-ray technologist for almost 30 years and have heard all the symptoms too many times to count. The primary symptoms are nausea and/or vomiting, pain in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen from about the area of what I call the "pit" of your stomach radiating around your ribs to your back, sore ribs on the right and pain in behind your right shoulder blade. Even if you don't have your gallbladder anymore, sometimes you can still have attacks from the same foods you had problems with before your had your GB removed. Hope this helps...call your surgeon and good luck and God bless.
   — Katherine F.