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.
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