I am losing my mind here. I have had THREE episodes of several abdominal pain. Two of which landed me in the E.R. This pain is right under my breast bone, in the center. It's sharp, like a hot knife and a burning sensation radiates into my back. It actually makes my shoulder blades hurt! I have to double over from the pain. It's just pain. No nausea or anything. Each time it has happened, I was drinking, not eating. And just sipping, nothing drastic. The pain lasts about 30 minutes each episode. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say 7.

I have had my heart tested, pancreas, liver, kidney. Nothing. I've been admitted to the hospital. No one can figure out whats going on. Has anyone experienced this post surgery?

I'm 8 months post op. I am still on PPIs. I lived with acid reflux for YEARS before my surgery, this feels nothing like that.

Gallbladder?

7 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

Gallbladder?

I got my gallbladder removed 8 years ago.

Could it be GERD-related? Have you had an EGD lately? Have you been evaluated for a hiatal hernia?

1 minute ago, MarinaGirl said:

Could it be GERD-related? Have you had an EGD lately? Have you been evaluated for a hiatal hernia?

Yes, had an EGD on the 26th. They said everything looked fine.

What were you drinking?

4 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

What were you drinking?

Just water.

This is a long shot, but I would imagine you're open to any ideas. When I had my lap band, sometimes when I ate too much, I would get radiated pain into my left shoulder. Occasionally, it would happen even if I wasn't eating. It turns out that in the case of the lap band, sometimes it would rub against the vagas nerve, and cause those pains.

Now I realize you don't have the band, and so far, since I had the band revision to bypass, I have not felt the pain, but maybe there is a possibility that when you are drinking, something is hitting the vagas (or some other) nerve. I don't think that is something that is going to show up on conventional imaging, but maybe an MRI?

Again, just a thought. If you search for vagas nerve, you will see it is somewhat common with the lap banders.

Edited August 5, 20188 yr by CyclicalLoser
"Since I had the band" fixed

Nothing to add for solutions- just wanted to give my well wishes. I hope you figure it out fast and feel better!

I did have a similar pain pre surgery life and was diagnosed with what’s called nutcracker esophagus . It’s reflux related. Not sure if that’s helpful but thought I’d mention it. Sounds like a similar pain

Sitting or standing, Hot or cold, bottled or tap,fast or slow, straw or no, sips or gulps. Not trying to diagnosis (not a MD) try to not a pattern if any and report those to the MD to help them help you.

Hope you feel better.

2 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

Sitting or standing, Hot or cold, bottled or tap,fast or slow, straw or no, sips or gulps. Not trying to diagnosis (not a MD) try to not a pattern if any and report those to the MD to help them help you.

Hope you feel better.

Sitting. Cold tap water. No straws, sips.

I have no idea of the cause of your pain. I did a quick internet search and this is what they came up with for "Pain in the sternum". I do not see any that are related to drinking a glass of water. What causes pain in the sternum?

Keep a close eye on it, sometimes when I'm wearing tighter clothing, sitting and eating/drinking, I have to open my bra (at home of course) or clothes. Idk why but it helps, I also get a slight pain for no reason sometimes but nothing that sends me to the ER

There is one other thing that may be going on.

Prior to surgery some people have a pre-existing condition, such as a hernia. But their body is so packed tight with fat that the condition is undetectable. But as the fat disappears, the condition becomes obvious.

Since you are 8 months post op and lost 62 pounds thus far, this may be what is happening.

I had the exact same symptoms/excruciating pain starting at 21 months post-op. I went to the ER twice, hospitalized twice, had a CT, an upper scope, multiple lab tests-all negative. I even had my gallbladder removed as a last-ditch effort, to no avail. My bariatric surgeon said he was "all tapped out" & had nothing else to offer me surgically. Fortunately, my surgeon referred me to a bariatric subspecialist who said he did not believe the upper scope results since a GI doc did it & not a bariatric specialist like him. Sure enough, my marginal ulcer was hiding beneath the cuff/anastamosis; the first doctor did not go far enough down & retroflex the scope.

Read about marginal ulcers. Up to 26% of RYBG patients get one, usually in the first yr post-op. There is a very informative story in Bariatric Times regarding the healing of marginal ulcers which my surgeon did not know. You need immediate-release liquid omeprazole w/ sodium bicarb, not the sustained-release caps. If you have a marginal ulcer, I feel for you. I am still struggling with it 4 months later.

Hope you are feeling better soon. Keep us posted re: your diagnosis & progress.