Question:
Anyone found a way to reduce lower abdominal pain?

am 11 weeks post-op and down 44 lbs. I have been able to do all the things that I am supposed to be doing: eating slowly, small amounts, chewing alot, drinking my water, getting sufficient protein, exercising 6 out of 7 days a week, taking supplements (vitamin, E, calcium, Iron, C, hair/nail formula). HOWEVER, I have been experiencing fairly constant mild to severe abdominal pain - a belly ache, best describes it. It does not appear to be related to anything specific I am eating, as I eat a fairly wide variety of things. It is not a sharp pain, like gas, just a diffuse discomfort across my entire lower abdomen. I have talked to my surgeon (he said "that's odd...should go away"). I have talked to my surgeon's Nurse Practitioner (she said "that's somewhat unusual....should go away by 6 months). I have seen my own gastroenterologist (she said "since it isn't severe or sharp, it will probably go away"). I have even spent a day in the emergency room when I couldn't stand it any more. They checked me for all sort of things (UTI, appendicitis, etc) - even did a CT-Scan of my entire abdomen with contrast - nothing. So, I have to wait it out and hope it goes away by 6 months or so. Meanwhile, I need to know if others have had similar problems and if they have found anything at all that helps to alleviate the discomfort. I am up for trying just about anything including standing on my head for an hour an day to see if I can get more comfortable.    — Dot B. (posted on December 9, 2003)

December 9, 2003
I have something similar to what you are experiencing. I get it at unpredictable times. It just shows up unexpectedly. My doctor/nurse didn't seem overly concerned. I just got a fleeting pain as I typed this. I am not quite 6 weeks post-op & have been fine otherwise. Hopefully it's just a passing thing & will go away eventually. Good luck!
   — PETRA D.

December 9, 2003
I have had problems with lower abdominal pain since my surgery almost 14 months ago. So far I have had my gallbladder and appendix taken out. Last month I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. They noticed that my lower colon spasms a lot but that was it. I just had food testing done and found out that I am allergic to milk (wheat, & eggs). This is something that my GI dr said to avoid to try to stop my stomach from going into spasms. I can feel your pain (literally). Maybe try taking metamucil (or some other type of fiber). Or try a diet to eliminate something (such as dairy) for about 3-4 days and then doing just that food the following day to see how your body reacts. I have found that your body keeps reacting for a long time after eating it. This is why you need 3-4 days without it to see if that is what is causing your problems.
   — jbekke

December 9, 2003
Dot: Not to frighten you or anything - but have you considered that this is not related to surgery and could be a possible female-type problem? I was having pain like this as a pre-op, and had an abdominal sonogram done to see what the possible cause was. Nothing showed up, and the pain did subside so I have let it go. But, when I was researching possible causes for this type of pain, I found out that it can be one of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, which of course, scared the daylights out of me. Ovarian is a difficult cancer to detect, unfortunately, and there are other symptoms, but they are often vague. Just a suggestion that you might want to consult your OB/GYN.
   — Carlita

December 9, 2003
I have had much the same sort of odd generalized discomfort which, in retrospect, I tend to be able to trace back to certain supplements that I have taken; also, I've found that I need to limit my intake of calcium citrate as it appeared to be causing me some abdominal distress. You do seem to be consuming several supplements that can cause constipation so you might want to consider cutting down on them. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

December 9, 2003
You are a fairly new post-op and sometimes aches and pains do just go away. However, I would definitely keep having it checked out, in other words, eliminate some possibilities. It is a symptom of ovarian cancer and stomach cancers to have diffuse pain in the entire lower abdomen. I, too, am not trying to scare you, just ensure you get things checked out and not assume its from the surgery. It could also be an allergy to something your eating or even an allergy to a supplement. Are you taking the supplements on an empty tummy or with food (food is preferable). Have you also asked about irritable bowel syndrome? Adhesions? Ulcers? Mild pain is OK, but severe is not. Push your surgeon and PCP to continue checking it out....
   — Cindy R.

December 9, 2003
Hi, I am no doc, however, oftentimes I experience what I consider severe pain in my abdomen which turns out to be trapped gas. I have no idea if this is what you are experiencing, but it seems a possibility. Perhaps some anti-gas product would help. Farting helps, lol.
   — catly

December 9, 2003
I am 11 mos. out and have this lower intestinal pain nearly daily. (mine is not generally severe unless I have really had too much sugar, just annoying!) I attribute it to consuming too many things with lactose in them or too much sugar. I also think that the Whey in the protein drink I use might have something to do with it. My surgeon didn't seem at all concerned when I mentioned it to him. I really don't think it is all that uncommon. I think it is my way of dumping. Good luck on your journey. 252/126
   — sherry H.