I am six months post-op. I have been vigilant in my new eating habits and have lost 113 pounds in 6 months.

Yesterday I started feeling discomfort on the right side of my chest. It hurts when I cough, burp, or swallow (solids or liquids). I can also trigger it by tucking my chin to my chest. The pain is uncomfortable but tolerable, a solid 3-4 out of 10. The pain is best described as something between a cramping sensation and a gnawing discomfort.

Additional factors. I rear-ended another car in a MINOR accident yesterday, but was certainly suddenly jostled although not violentlty . I've been on roller coasters that rattled me more since surgery, Also, I had some curry for the first time on Sunday and that REALLY upset my new stomach and system with pain and reflux.

I do not have a fever, increased heart rate, and my blood pressure is perfect. I don't take NSAIDs and treat my stomach like a baby. I take 40MG of opeprazole twice a day as per dr.

I understand that no one is truly qualified to diagnose me on here and that the appropriate response is see my surgeon; however, I have only truly started to become concerned this evening as the pain went from a 3 to a 4 and I have a job that demands me for 10 hour days for the remainder of the week. I am traveling out of the country on Saturday morning.

I intend to call my surgeon's nurse practitioner for an emergency appointment with her or my surgeon and if available I'll MAKE the time.

So my questions are:

1) Has anyone else had a similar experience with similar symptoms? What was the end result?

2) Is this an urgent matter that cannot wait until I return to the country July 7th? Specifically, if it was an ulcer is that considered an emergency for sleevers? If my surgeon is not available and they can't squeeze me in what other options should I explore?

3) At what point and with what additional/worsening symptoms would you decide to go to the emergency room and should I try to get to the same hospital where my surgery was done?

4) Is there any value to waiting it out and seeing if some lingering muscle soreness from my fender bender (that I can trigger it by tucking my chin makes me think it could be referred muscular pain) or is or just an angry curry stomach?

5) Worst case scenario for me, do I go to the ER and attempt to insist on a swallow study/CT scan or (even worse) an endoscopy to rule out everything. I am going to the Dutch island of Curacao off the coast of Venezuela and don't think they're probably the best place to go for an expert opinion on chest pain that MIGHT be related to my sleeve.

Thanks for reading.

Sure sounds like your gall bladder is acting up. If it were me, I would definitely see a doctor before leaving the country. If it IS your gall bladder, they may be able to tell you how urgent of a situation it is. You don't want to get into an emergency surgery type situation while out of the country. And, if you do need to have it out, it's a fairly routine surgery. You just don't want to get into an emergency situation -- be proactive about it.

All that being said -- congrats on your awesome success! Great job!

Good luck, and let us know what you find out.