I'm 2.5 years out from having RNY surgery. Lately I've been dealing with a constant pain that begins right around the middle of my rib cage (both sides) and extends around towards my back. It feels like it's from mid-rib cage down, and it feels like it goes deep, under my ribs. I haven't pulled anything and I know it's not from sleeping wrong. I do plan on contacting my family doctor, however, I just wanted to inquire as to whether anyone else may have experienced a continuous throbbing pain like this before.
I had a similar pain when my Gaul bladder went on me. That's a common problem with WLS patients. I would see your doctor for sure. That can get very, very painful.
I had thought it might be my gallbladder, but I was under the impression that you only got pain on the RIGHT side of your body from that. Am I mistaken? I have to say I haven't had any problems, aside from 3 cases of severe dehydration, in the almost 3 yrs since my surgery. However, the past 5 months have been off and on for me, mostly off and the last month has been pure H-E-double hockey sticks, mainly with this re-occurring pain. I will call my doctor in PA tomorrow (that's where I had my gbs) and find out what I can. Thanks ladies!!
we all agree!!! and here's a little anatomy lesson - the gall bladder lies along the liver, which basically goes across your abdomen - it's larger on the right than on the left, but it is a pretty large organ. sooooo, sometimes, when your gall bladder is inflamed - full of stones - annoyed at something - the pain can SPREAD for two reasons: one, the gall bladder has a degree of 'plumbing' to it - after all, it has to get the gall into the rest of the body. and it can sometimes irritate the liver as well.
soooo, enjoy your chat with the doc!!! and you might have to have some testing done. but you'll be fine!
Mine started in the center (pancreatitis) and went around the ribcage and then around the back. Was gallbladder with pancreatitis. Gallbladder came out. Definitely get in and have it checked.
Thanks everyone! I tried calling my doctor in PA today, but no success. So tomorrow morning I'm calling - I work as a server @ Cracker Barrel and I can say that I know I had 6 instances tonight while on the floor where I felt like I was having an 'attack' and it almost took me down for the count.
I call my GB attacks my 10 on the pain scale now. It used to be Transition labor but now....
It started with "sludge" in the GB and ended with sand sized crystals…the former being sooooo painful that I was rolling around the ER in pain. Get in soon, maybe you can find a solution before it gets that bad.
Angela
Last edited by missangelaks; 02-16-2010 at 11:39 PM.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I did speak with my GBS nurse coordinator today & she was not too pleased with the symptoms I described. She feels that I could have one of two things going on, if not both things. #1 of course is that I'm having issues with my gall bladder & she instructed me to go to my family physician here and get the "gall bladder work up" done, then to have the results sent to her/my GBS doctor there in PA. Also, she said with not being able to explain why the gall bladder would cause the left-side pain, she feels it may be an internal hernia, hiding under my intestines. However, there is no way for it to be detected with a CAT scan or x-rays, so I would need to have an exploratory type thing done. Either way, I'm going to have to get checked out and surgery is very likely.
I would like to thank all of yall for your input. :^) And I will keep yall updated.
Gall bladder pain can be very strange. When I had gall bladder issues, it presented as extremely painful upper back pain. I thought it was because of sleeping with my 6 month old baby and nursing during the night. Five months later I was in the hospital for an emergency gall bladder removal!!! Good luck!
Oh yeah, my gallbladder attacks were THE worst pains of my life. I started getting them while studying abroad in Italy, so I didn't go to see a doctor at the time. Thought it was something in my diet. Kept getting them when I got back to Colorado, and after three straight days of "10 on the pain scale" pains, I had an emergency surgery. It was the same kind of pain that you describe. Horrific.
Moral of this story: Don't ignore it. Get it treated ASAP.
Need some input ...
