Question:
Does anyone have pain on the left side - not around an incision site?

I had RNY on March 18th and have been completely without complications. I have had this little pain in my left side since surgery, though, and now it seems to be getting worse. It is a burning pain (like something is too tight), even though there may or may not be clothing around the area. I am not sure what is going on and wondered if anyone else has had this problem. If I can't get an answer, I guess I will have to make an appointment with my surgeon, because something just doesn't seem right. Thanks in advance for your help!    — EugeneHinson (posted on April 14, 2008)

April 13, 2008
If "something just doesn't seem right", don't wait...call the surgeon today!
   — ALafferty

April 13, 2008
I am having attacks with a lot of pain. I am four years out from surgery and have these attacks a couple of times a year. They mimic gall bladder attacks..BUT the pain is on the left side below my rib cage... I am checking again with my surgeon's office..
   — Jules-22

April 13, 2008
I had the same pain it was a urinary tract infection. Call the doctor. It could be that which is so simple or could be something worse.
   — nascar_angel_3_2003

April 13, 2008
First of all when soething gets worse, call your sergeon. target they could see with Xray to the stomach to the chest wall. As I was healing,and ther things did not hurt as much, I notice the pull it was causing for about 3 weeks. I don't feel it any longer. I had a RNY. Hoever, with paid, always ask your surgeon if you feel you are getting more pain. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 14, 2008
If it's been a month since surgery and you STILL have the pain, by all means call the surgeon right away. It could be a sign of a problem.
   — Dave Chambers

April 14, 2008
I would definitely call the Dr. But I did have pain in my lower left side it was no where by my incisions and it did get worse before it got better. The Dr. and I came to the conclusion it was from my drain tube rubbing my stomach wall when it was in. (Not sure if you had gone home with a drain tube) But I went home with one and it was removed 6 days later. After I did go home the pain eased then a week later it hurt very bad. The Dr. set me up for a CT Scan and the day before my CT Scan was scheduled the pain was gone and has been gone since. So I didn't have the CT Scan. I would call just to see.
   — lalabear110

April 14, 2008
Dont worry too much about it, I had surgery without in complications and a few weeks after i had the same pain, almost felt like spasms, I saw my surgeon and the first thing he asked was if I was consipated, and my answer yes, he said it was very common and to try to get more fiber or use milk of magnesia
   — dapoohster38

April 14, 2008
I had a pain on the left side. I had open RNY and went back to work after 10 days, in daycare, with the promise that I would do no lifting. I did to much anyway and I pulled a muscle there. It hurt like crazy but went away after a few weeks and no more over doing on my part.
   — Tawnda C.

April 14, 2008
i had surgery the same day as you. i have had some pain on my left side and right at times. i found out the first time it was my lung the bottom of my lung was kinda squished so i had to take antibiotics and do breathing exercizes, now i think the pain i have been having is gas , it has taken me a long time to get all that gas off.
   — christina W.

April 14, 2008
I had my RNY on 3-10-08 and I had a sharp , burning pain on my left side also. It was in the area of my incision but not directly where it was. My doctor told me that it was normal to have pain in my left side because that's where he went in with the camera and had to go through muscle. My pain all but went away around my 4th week post op. But if its so intense and is a constant pain you should check with your doctor. Mine wasn't constant just when I moved a certain way or when getting up and stuff. Best of luck to you! Angela
   — AuntThat

April 14, 2008
Go with your "gut", quite literally in this case. If you feel like something doesn't seem quite right, there very well could be. Trust your intuition and call your surgeon asap. Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC
   — DawnVic

April 15, 2008
I had RNY on March 19th. I was just reading the book from Maria--- (bariatriceating.com) again last night and she talks about that pain. I have it some and she said she finally had to stop bending twisting lifting etc.. and really take care of that area to just make it heal up and stop hurting. She says the pain there is from that being the main area where they cut, pull, tug, etc. during surgery. If you are not comfortable, if you sense something could be wrong, you should call your surgeon for sure. Hopefully it is just the pain as Maria describes in her book and nothing "serious". Good luck!
   — Fluffee

April 15, 2008
I had the same burning sensation that wasn't painful, but strange. It happened more when I didn't take my acid blocker. Now I take it faithfully, that sensation is gone.
   — lkelle002

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