Every so often, over the past couple weeks, I go through spells where I'm overcome with a wave of nausea and then muscle weakness and mild pain that starts in my chest and spreads to my shoulders. Right now the weakness is in my arms and down my back and I'm a little concerned but not sure how to express what I'm feeling to a healthcare professional (plus, no insurance, hence why I'm asking here).

Has this happened to anyone else? Any thoughts as to what it could be?

Does it happen when you are eating something or right after eating something?

It's happened only two or three times now, so I haven't noticed a pattern. Today I had eaten some refried Beans approx. 30 minutes before it happened. When it happened I was lying flat on my stomach reading. It felt like the area where my stomach is went numb, and then the weakness immediately radiated from there up my chest and down my arms.

Walking around and drinking some Water seems to have helped but there's still residual weakness. Still curious if anyone else has dealt with this.

If it only happens right after you eat, then I would think it might be what you are eating or how much. However, any type of chest pain with weakness in your arms could also be signs of a heart condition, and REALLY needs to be checked out. The next time it happens, you should go to the ER to be evaluated.

Do you still have your gallbladder?

I was gonna ask about the gallbladder too. When I had my gallbladder attacks I was 7 months pregnant and I felt the same way. I couldn't eat anything heavy, greasy, or oddly enough salads and some other foods triggered the attacks. The pains would last 15-30 minutes or so. i would get nauseous, have sweats almost felt like how I would imagine a heart attack would feel. Pains going through my back and sides. B/c I was pregnant I just had to deal with it. Was your gall bladder checked prior to surgery? Also, I read online when having an attack (if this is the case) some foods that are good to help you feel better are green foods especially cucumbers and a "cabbage soup"

Hm, yeah, I still have my gallbladder. I'll look into that, thank you all!

Shumaked, that's what it feels like, I really thought I was having a heart attack or dying or just like something was seriously wrong.

Sounds like it could be. I don't wanna scare you, and I understand your insurance situation, but it's definitely something you want to look at getting taken care if sooner than later. Hence as to why I had mine out when my child turned 6 weeks old. One other thing is I heard from a coworker that she had the same feeling and it was actually her liver. I would suggest to eat light, very light and as green as possible until you can see a dr.

Try to stand or sit when you are eating. You said you were lying flat on your tummy! Your tummy is smaller now and needs room to digest. Are you throwing up! I am nine mts out and in the first four months I experience some of your symptoms but throwing up daily. I had to have another upper GI and they had to go in and stretch my sleeve cause it was too narrow. Be sure to eat slowly and don't eat and drink at the same time. I pray you can get some type of insurance because you suppose to follow up with your surgeon the next five years. If it's concerning your sleeve the ER doctor most likely will refer you back to your surgeon. I pray everything will turn out good. Keep us posted!

Thanks Slimagainsoon! Not that it was my advice, but it's advice I can take with me for future references

I've never had nausea, but I had a lot of chest pain that radiated to my shoulders. It was scary because those are cardiac symptoms. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time as my VSG, and the Hernia was in my thorax. My Doc kept reassuring me it was the hernia repair that was responsible. I was also extremely short of breath with minimal exertion. My friends were sure I was having a heart attack. After 6 weeks, all those symptoms just disappeared. I started exercising and my strength and endurance improved. When in doubt, contact your Surgeon. You mentioned lying on your stomach 30 minutes after eating. I would suggest no lying down for at least 1-2 hours after eating, that could trigger gastric reflux which is very uncomfortable.