Re: re: it will get better, right?

July 17, 2001

In a message dated 7/17/01 10:26:38 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< For the last 6 days, or so I have been getting this gripping abdominal

pain.

Usually it's between my belly button and my ribcage, inside and all the

way across my belly and sometimes right through to my back. Sometimes it

feels like it is squeezing my stomach, like a pair of hands, wringing and

choking. Sometimes it stays across the middle of the belly, across the

bellybutton area.

>>

{{{{Terri}}}} I got this when I woke up in the OR (after the operation - they

were waiting for a bed in recovery). I think it was my stomach spasming. I

got it one other time at about four months out after I had my iron/calcium

pills with a protein shake (weird, eh?). The wringing spasms lasted for

about an hour and I was about to go to the ER since it felt JUST like when I

woke up from surgery.

Do you notice any connection with eating? I also got some pressure pain

during the first two months (and on ocassion now) which is centered more in

my back under my shoulder blades. I think this is mainly gas. It is

extremely uncomfortable but not particularly painful (the stomach spasms on

the other hand were painful).

The fact that the pain comes and goes is a good sign, I think --- could be

extreme gas or perhaps your stomach is having spasms for some reason (do you

eat frequently enough? Perhaps your stomach is empty or, conversely, maybe

it reacts when you eat food or certain food(s))? It sounds like spasms to me

and perhaps the nausea/vomiting is somehow related to it. I don't know why

your stomach would react so tenderly now when it didn't before, though.

Perhaps there's some new scarring/adhesions along the staple line in the

stomach? It sounds like a general reaction since you mentioned it really

hasn't mattered when you cut out various foods....

<<<<<<Don't most post-ops hit a low point at 3-4 weeks out? I remember last

week

SueTee posted she was feeling nauseous and miserable (her surgery was 1 week

before mine) and one of the last posts I did was trying to offer her

suggestions on what to do to try to feel better (eat more protein...) HAH!!

>>>>>

I was frickin' walking on air the first four weeks! I mean, talk about

natural high! Then, my fourth week I got pretty tired for about two weeks.

Just overall exhausted. Perhaps it was an aftereffect of having my first

post-op period - it just wore me out. Then, I felt fine and have continued

to feel so. I've just had two incidents: The wrenching stomach feeling one

night (above) and the time when I ate 5 damn cinnamon buns that totally

EXPANDED in my stomach (I wrote about this before). Other than that, it's

just been some uncomfortable gas, pressure feeling in my back under

shoulderblades on occasion, etc.

I'd be concerned if it continues and if the vomiting continues. Hope you are

able to keep enough liquids down. It's a tough call... You'd want to see one

of the surgeons (not just walk into a local ER) if preferable and you will be

seeing Dr Pomp next Tuesday. But, it has been going on for almost a week...

If it gets any worse or extended, I'd make a trip to the local ER and notify

Dr. Pomp of the emergency. Maybe he could guide the staff there to do the

appropriate tests, etc. It might be good to have those on hand for the visit

next week, too. On the other hand, if you feel good and pretty much fully

recover after each attack, it may not be an urgent thing and waiting to see

Dr. Pomp next week would be the better option....

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

five months post-op and still feelin' fabu!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'9 1/2 " )

now: 236 (goin' down again?????)

July 17, 2001