Question:
Need help pain?

I am almost 6 months post-op and have recently had a dull aching pain on the left side of my abdomen. I have had all kind of tests run and nothing shows up. Have had a upper GI done and my pouch is fine, had a cat scan done and nothing showed up there, so I am wondering what this pain is about. Has anyone else had pain on the left side right under the rib? It just hurts constantly.    — imaginec (posted on January 11, 2003)

January 11, 2003
I looked at your profile but it didn't specify whether you had an open procedure or laproscopic. I had laproscopic and I had a similar pain in the beginning. It was explained to me that it was the stitches they had to put in the muscle. That they would eventually dissolve and the pain would go away. And for me it did. But I know of people that have had trouble with the dissolving stitches. My sister was one of them. She has pulled "dissolving" stitches from a scar that is 14 years old. Perhaps you are one of those people. This is just a theory. I hope you find some answers. Good luck!
   — Laurel C.

January 11, 2003
I had a very similar pain but it was only 2 months out..just below my left breast. It was a gripping pain...making it hard to stand up straight - I explained it being like a 'charlie horse'. My Dr. said I had pulled the muscle away from my rib cage and it needed time to heal. A couple of weeks later, taking it easy, and it was fine. Maybe you've begun some physical activity that you haven't done in a while??? Mine was caused from carrying heavy things combined with a cold and continuous sneezing! Good luck to you.
   — Trisha A.

January 12, 2003
I had open rny in 7/02. I also had a dull aching pain in my left side in late November. I went to the emergency room and after some tests was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection. The source of my infection is unknown, and is not thought to be related to WLS. Theresa Enright
   — Theresa E.