I’m 4 days post op for Gastric Bypass. Everything was going fine until today. My guts are on fire and anytime I try to eat or drink anything I get an immediate stomach ache and feel like I have to use the bathroom. Which sometimes I do, but mostly I’m just in pain until it decides to stop. Is this normal? I’m scared to even put anything in my mouth, it hurts so bad!

What do you mean by your guts are on fire? Do you mean heartburn/reflux/GERD type issues? Diarrhea?

Are you taking a PPI?

I did have diarrhea during the first few weeks while on liquid diet. Liquid in, liquid out basically. I added Benefiber and a probiotics powder and that helped lessen the issue. I never had pain tho.

2 minutes ago, I♡BypassedMyPhatAss♡ said:

What do you mean by your guts are on fire? Do you mean heartburn/reflux/GERD type issues? Diarrhea?

Are you taking a PPI?

I did have diarrhea during the first few weeks while on liquid diet. liquid in, liquid out basically. I added Benefiber and a Probiotics powder and that helped lessen the issue. I never had pain tho.

I mean that just laying here they feel kind of burning. I’m not sure how to explain it. I’ve had heartburn and reflux so I don’t think it’s that. I’m not 100% what GERD would feel like? My dr has me taking omeprazole so I wouldn’t think so. I will definitely try the probiotics, I’m just not sure this pain is normal. Like diarrhea pain, but seems worse….

1 minute ago, Cpach81 said:

I mean that just laying here they feel kind of burning. I’m not sure how to explain it. I’ve had heartburn and reflux so I don’t think it’s that. I’m not 100% what GERD would feel like? My dr has me taking omeprazole so I wouldn’t think so. I will definitely try the Probiotics, I’m just not sure this pain is normal. Like diarrhea pain, but seems worse….

Reach out to your team and see what they say.

I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes!

30 minutes ago, Cpach81 said:

I’ve had heartburn and reflux so I don’t think it’s that. I’m not 100% what GERD would feel like?

GERD is just a more serious version of reflux. The difference is that GERD is recurring, vs. the occasional reflux that everyone gets now and again. Often with GERD, the esophagus is damaged because the lower esophageal sphincter (between the esophagus and the stomach), is damaged. That allows acid to freely flow up into the esophagus.

Bottom line, you may have reflux, but typically you'd need a doctor to confirm GERD.

To your pain... I agree you should speak to your surgical team. This does not sound normal, but they would know best. I would expect you to have some extra pain around day 4 if you had a nerve block like Exparel, but what you're describing sounds different than typical post-surgical pain.

Doesn't sound normal at all. Please seek care.

Agreed, speak to your doctor. GENERALLY speaking, you should be feeling better every day, so sudden unexplained pain is not good. Maybe a stricture? Talk to your doctor's office and be as specific as possible, they may ask you to come in and take a look, maybe a CT scan or even endoscopy to make sure everything is OK. Better safe than sorry.

Thank you all so much for your insight! I’m embarrassed to say, I’m pretty positive it was just extremely painful gas. I’ve never felt that before! It has passed and I’ve been able drink my liquids so much easier now and I feel a thousand times better. Whew! I was really scared for a moment lol

9 minutes ago, Cpach81 said:

Thank you all so much for your insight! I’m embarrassed to say, I’m pretty positive it was just extremely painful gas. I’ve never felt that before! It has passed and I’ve been able drink my liquids so much easier now and I feel a thousand times better. Whew! I was really scared for a moment lol

Great to hear!

11 minutes ago, Cpach81 said:

Thank you all so much for your insight! I’m embarrassed to say, I’m pretty positive it was just extremely painful gas. I’ve never felt that before! It has passed and I’ve been able drink my liquids so much easier now and I feel a thousand times better. Whew! I was really scared for a moment lol

That's good, so it was basically this?

17 hours ago, Cpach81 said:

Thank you all so much for your insight! I’m embarrassed to say, I’m pretty positive it was just extremely painful gas. I’ve never felt that before! It has passed and I’ve been able drink my liquids so much easier now and I feel a thousand times better. Whew! I was really scared for a moment lol

Yeah I felt CO2 gas pressure in my chest until about four or five days post op that made it painful to drink. Once that passed I had no difficulty meeting my fluid or protein goals.

Glad to hear you're doing better!

So glad you are feeling better. I had my surgery last week also. Lets learn together.

PS. The Co2 gas was a killer. I put some music on and did a dance party sitting on my hospital bed (moving my upper body and then legs) to try and get it out. It helped. I had pain on the top of my shoulder (left) for several days. I heard this can be from gas. I used my TENS machine to help that - glad it is gone now.

On 09/05/2022 at 02:52, Cpach81 said:

Thank you all so much for your insight! I’m embarrassed to say, I’m pretty positive it was just extremely painful gas. I’ve never felt that before! It has passed and I’ve been able drink my liquids so much easier now and I feel a thousand times better. Whew! I was really scared for a moment lol

Gas pains can be horrendous!
I’m glad you’re feeling better ?

So glad you figured it out and are feeling better.

It’s could also be nerves from being cut.
I had the same feeling after my c-section and hysterectomy. When I asked my drs they said it was nerve pain from being cut and everything was fine.

Just always reach out to your doctors to be sure.