Question:
6 mo post op. Anybody had this kind of pain before??
I am 6 months post-op open RNY. I am having a pain in my left abdomen right below my ribs. It's a constant pain that SPIKES occasionally. I have gone to see my PCP and he ordered blood work and did x-rays, but found nothing. I ended up in the emergency room (from the pain) on Sunday and the doctors there ran the same tests plus urine and again found nothing. They sent me home with pain medication. My PCP is ordering a CT scan to be done. I just want to know if anybody can give any suggestions as to what this might be, if this is normal or what?? Thanks..... — Tammy K. (posted on January 9, 2001)
January 9, 2001
that is the exact location of my new "pouch" - FYI. But, what it
is, I don't have a clue
— Cindy H.
January 9, 2001
I have had pain in the same area for some time (Post OP 9 months), my
surgeon did all the test and found everything was ok. My WLS Surgeon and
my PCP said that I have scar tissue that is causing the pain. My area that
bothers me on my left side below my rib cage is where a drain tube was
located. I have a history of scar tissue and it can be quite pain full.
My WLS Surgeon said that if the pain continues to get worse that he will
have to go in and remove the scar tissue. Right now we are controlling the
pain with pain medication. I've had 3 surgeries prior to WLS to remove
abdominal scar tissue. It can be quite painful and put you to bed for
days. Hope this can be of some help. Best of luck. You might ask you
doctor about the possiblity of scar tissue.
— ann A.
March 18, 2002
I have the exact pain and I'm 11 months post-op. I ended up in the
emergency room twice, had the same test encluding the CT. They couldn't
find anything wrong. Will we have to live with the pain or will it go away?
I hope someone has an answer.
— Carol P.
March 22, 2002
i had the same problem too the doctors 4 months to finally say BLEEDING
ULCER
— Kelly W.
April 12, 2002
I am almost 4 weeks post op(Lap RNY) and I began to experience a dull but
constant pain on my left side. It seems to be near the main incision and
around my ribs. My surgeon said that this was normal as everything heals.
It might last as long as 6 weeks.
He suggested that I take Tylenol and use moist heat. Since I am back at
work now it is impractical for me to bring a heating pad to the office. I
just discovered a new product that is amazing and VERY helpful. These are
heating strips that you wear called Thermacare. I have been wearing the
ones designed for menstrual pain/cramps. They are activated when the pouch
is opened and exposed to air. There is adhesive to stick them to the inside
of your underwear. The heating tablets are inside a padding and warm up in
about 20 minutes. The strips last for 8 hours. This has made my desk job a
lot easier to handle. If you cannot find them in your local drug store you
can order them at www.drugstore.com.
Good luck to you!
— Sarah M.
April 4, 2005
My surgery date was Jan. 20, 2005. I am having the same exact pain that
you described. Sometimes the pain is unbearable, like today. I had CT
scan and blood work and everything looks fine. They are now treating me
for an ulcer, which I do not think it is. I just am not sure what is going
on. Every other aspect of my RNY has been wonderful. I am down almost 50
lbs since January. I am so excited about the future, but I really want my
side to stop hurting. It is a dull pain most of the time with spikes
occasionally that almost take my breath away. It is not something that I
want to live with for the rest of my life.
— Alicia C.
April 4, 2005
Because intermittent partial small bowel obstructions run rampant among us,
you might want to ask your doc if you can try an antispasmodic (Levsin is
sublingual, so you get your answer within minutes). Once the intestines
have been handled, they are no longer all smooth and perfect and can be
sort of variegated in width. So, some parts may spasm as food passes thru.
It's not enough of a blockage to cause bowel or vomiting issues and it
won't show up in UGI or CTs usually, because it's INTERMITTENT. You know,
your car that dingles and knocks simply will not do it for the mechanic? A
slightly offended intestine won't act up when empty and that's the only way
they can test us. I happened to have some Levsin for another reason and
decided to try it one night while gasping for breath and hoping I would
pass out rather than feel the pain and presto, in 4 minutes, the pain was
gone, receding even sooner. So, altho it didn't define anything
permanently, it did tell us that it was a spasm. Bad news, it simply
doesn't work if I eat stupid. It ONLY works on a spasm, so it's a pretty
simple way to rule out that issue while you are testing for everything
else. You can suggest it, perhaps?
— vitalady
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