6 years out and I had to go to the ER!

Yep.

Me. 

Over the past few years I've had bouts of abdominal pain, but was always able to manage it by drinking a little hot beef consomme or maybe changing clothes if my waistband was a little too snug.  This time was different.

On Wednesday morning nothing I did would make the pain stop.  My stomach was hurting so bad that I could even feel it in my back.  I was doubled over and then curled up in the fetal position crying like a wimpy little ****** and I didn't care who saw me.

They were moving slow in the ER.  It seemed like it took forever to see the doctor.  He ordered a CT with contrast.  By the time I got to the imaging department though, whatever had happened initially had started going back to where it was before and the pain started easing.

The ER doc called in a WLS surgeon for consult and they kept me overnight.  The CT showed some swelling in the mesentery and my lactic acid levels were more than double normal values.  The surgeon said that this is a marker of tissue being deprived of oxygen.  He felt like it was either something herniated that slipped back into place or else my gut twisted temporarily.  I have a followup appointment scheduled in two weeks.  I just came back to the office today.

Happy Thought:  It resolved itself and I didn't have to have emergency surgery.

Scary Thought:  If it hadn't resolved itself, because of the delay in treatment in the ER, I could have lost a piece of intestine or DIED.

Lessons Learned: 
-No matter how far out you are post op, S#IT can happen.
-Don't delay going to ER if there is serious pain in the gut. 
-Call the surgeon to meet you there before you go.
-Tell the ER doc that as a post op RNY, you are at risk for bowel obstruction.
-INSIST that they treat it as a true time-dependent emergency.

I thank God for sparing my life and allowing me to share my story with you all. 

At 6-weeks out, I had excruciating pain in my stomach.....thought I had eaten something that I shouldn't have and was going to "wait it out".  Turns out, that my adhesions had wrapped around my bowel and they were totally blocked...had to have emergency surgery....Part of my intestine HAD died.......I totally agree with you....Go to the ER if you have serious pain.....one week out or six years...it doesn"t matter....belly pain for us can be VERY serious !!!  I, too, am lucky to be here.

thought I had eaten something that I shouldn't have and was going to "wait it out"


This sounds so much like me.  I'd always assume that I just needed to loosen my clothes or drink some hot broth to  "wash away" whatever was making my stomach hurt.

Wow.....a lot to go through and your summative points are right on. Once your gut has been altered, including the connective tissues that keep things in place in normal anatomy you are at risk for tortions and twists and telescoping and other things. Paying attention to gut pain is an absolute! I had a near bowel obstruction when I was going through plastics - pain meds slowed my motility down to a crawl and I got into trouble. Scary experience. Hope you're feeling much better. Susan

Paying attention to gut pain is an absolute!


Truer words have never been written.  Thanks for the well wishes.

Sending you prayers and speedy recovery!

Thank you, Naomi.  I'm feeling pretty good today.

Yep,yep! Been there, done that! My obstruction came at 8 months out. Same thing. Acute pain in the gut. I had surgery and was out of the hospital in 24 hours...but I could've lost part of my intestine, or my life.

Pay attention pre-ops and newbies...and even you veterans who think it won't/can't happen to you, cuz you are too far out from surgery. Be aware of your body and get medical attention when you know something is not right.

I could've lost part of my intestine, or my life.


See, that's the part that freaked me out when the surgeon told me.  We have a very limited window of time - a matter of hours - before there is irreversible damage.  Prompt care is essential.
 
I do not want to die or wind up pooping into an ostomy bag for the rest of my life.

I'm so glad things are ok.